Chapter 472: The Charm of a 300-Million-Euro Man!
Chapter 472: Chapter 473: The Charm of a 300-Million-Euro Man!
“How does one player manage to score five goals and provide two assists in a single football match?”
“Liverpool are now 7-0 up against Aston Villa. They’ve scored seven goals!”
“Núñez, who has faced so much criticism from Liverpool supporters, and Gakpo, who came off the bench, both seem to be showing signs of change.”
“Those changes may not be obvious yet, but at least they’re sending Liverpool supporters a positive message. The new players Liverpool spent so much money on are genuinely working hard and thinking about how they can bring trophies to this club.”
“That’s the only way Liverpool can climb out of this slump as quickly as possible, and this emphatic victory is the perfect example!”
Klopp stood on the touchline applauding Leo.
After seeing a performance like this, Klopp knew Liverpool had a very good chance of getting back on track quickly.
“Klopp is making another substitution. Leo is coming off, and Ødegaard is coming on!”
“Leo has done everything he needed to do today. Now he can leave the pitch and enjoy the applause from the Liverpool supporters!”
Before coming off, Leo placed the captain’s armband on Rodri’s arm.
Rodri was now Liverpool’s vice-captain.
Whenever Leo wasn’t on the pitch, Rodri and Van Dijk would take turns wearing the armband.
“I often wonder, given Leo’s current market value and his status at Liverpool, is there even a club that could buy him?”
“Even if someone did manage to sign him, they’d probably have Liverpool supporters coming after them!”
“And Leo is worth 300 million now. I remember saying during the last UEFA European Championship that there might be clubs willing to pay 300 million for him, but Liverpool wouldn’t sell.”
“You’d probably have to offer an absurd amount of money, enough to buy an entire club, before Liverpool would even consider selling him!”
After Rivaldo finished, Scholes looked at him and smiled.
“Even if it were enough money to buy an entire club, I still don’t think Liverpool would sell Leo.”
“At this point, he’s practically part of the Liverpool crest itself. He’s not just a player, and he’s not simply another Liverpool player.”
Liverpool’s substitutes continued pushing forward and creating chances, but Klopp had reminded them not to humiliate Aston Villa too badly.
After all, this was a Premier League match being watched by countless supporters, and Liverpool and Villa had always had a good relationship.
Watkins eventually scored Villa’s consolation goal.
Liverpool defeated Aston Villa 7-1, a scoreline that would forever rank among the most iconic in football history.
“The match is over! Aston Villa have been beaten by Liverpool in Premier League Matchweek 16.”
“After taking all three points against Villa, Liverpool climb to seventh in the table, level with Brighton. But they’re still twelve points behind the leaders because Manchester City have just beaten Watford 3-0. They haven’t slipped up!”
“Liverpool’s next match will be a direct showdown with Manchester City, the first Premier League meeting between the two sides this season.”
“Liverpool will certainly want to beat City. The gap to the top is already too large, and if they want to challenge for the Premier League title, beating Manchester City is the first step!”
Hearing Scholes talk about Liverpool challenging for the title, Gullit thought he was getting ahead of himself.
“Scholes, I don’t think Liverpool should be thinking about the title. Their goal should be finishing in the top four, just like last season. Securing UEFA Champions League qualification would be enough.”
“Yes, this was a huge win, but do you really think one victory is enough to put Liverpool back in the title race? No chance.”
Rivaldo also believed Liverpool still weren’t ready to challenge for the title.
“I think Liverpool need at least another two years. Maybe then they’ll have a chance of getting back to where they were before, and I mean only a chance.”
Rivaldo knew exactly what a title-winning side was supposed to look like.
Exploding for one huge victory did not mean Liverpool would suddenly start beating every opponent consistently.
To win a league title, what mattered was collecting points week after week.
A seven-goal win and a one-goal win were both worth exactly three points.
If a seven-goal victory were worth seven points, then perhaps Liverpool really would have a chance.
After the match, Leo returned to the locker room, put an arm around Núñez and Gakpo, and praised their performances.
The newer players were always delighted to receive praise from Leo.
At the post-match press conference, Leo, who had been directly involved in all seven goals, naturally became the focus of every reporter’s questions.
One reporter even repeated Rivaldo’s comments to him.
“Leo, even after your huge win over Villa, Rivaldo still said Liverpool aren’t back in the title race. Do you think he’s right?”
Leo listened carefully to everything Rivaldo had said.
Then he looked around at the reporters, especially the Liverpool beat reporters.
He recognized those expressions immediately.
They wanted to agree with Rivaldo, but they were reluctant to give up hope. Somewhere inside, they still believed Liverpool might have a chance.
Leo was certain he had seen those looks more than once before.
“If Rivaldo were one of us, he wouldn’t say that.”
“I can tell every one of you very clearly that Liverpool’s goal this season is to challenge for the title.”
“We will absolutely not settle for a top-four finish like last season.”
“And I’m saying this seriously and responsibly. This isn’t blind confidence. It’s a conclusion I’ve reached based on the current state of the team and the form and performances of our players.”
“I can tell you with complete certainty that we’re already on our way back into the title race.”
After speaking, Leo nodded to the reporters and quickly left.
The reporters tried to follow him, but Liverpool staff stopped them.
Leo soon made his way out of the club.
He was about to head for the parking garage and get into his Ferrari when he noticed several supporters trying to climb over the Liverpool club gates.
Security personnel were doing everything they could to hold back the overexcited fans.
Leo was already used to scenes like this.
He quickly walked over and tried to calm everyone down.
“I recognize quite a few of you. Please stop trying to break into the club like this.”
“We’ve already had to replace these gates several times, and I’ve paid for them every single time.”
“If this keeps happening, I won’t even be able to afford fuel for my Ferrari.”
The supporters outside the club burst out laughing.
Leo joined the security staff in getting everyone to calm down, disperse, and head home.
Gakpo and Mac Allister stood a short distance behind him, watching Leo deal with the supporters.
“When do you think I’ll ever become this popular in football?”
Gakpo asked Mac Allister with complete seriousness.
Mac Allister thought about it just as seriously before answering.
“That’s the charm of a man worth 300 million.”
“And you’re currently worth 30 million.”
Gakpo immediately turned around and walked away without saying a word.
Leo caught up with them from behind.
“Gakpo, why are you walking so fast today? Wait for us.”
“Don’t talk to me, you irritating 300-million-euro man!”
“What 300-million-euro man?”
“Mac Allister, what’s wrong with Gakpo?”
“No idea. He suddenly started acting like this.”
“It’s fine. Ignore him. I’m riding shotgun in the Ferrari today!”