Chapter 6: Silence in the Opposing Stand
July 16, 2014. A hot summer evening in Liverpool. The sun was slowly setting, casting a warm, golden glow over Anfield, where the energy was palpable. Tonight was not just another preseason game—it was a statement of intent. Real Madrid, the reigning European champions, had arrived at Liverpool's fortress, ready for battle. But this was no ordinary Liverpool team; it was one built to shock the world, guided by Jürgen Klopp and led on the pitch by Abdul Azim, the young, bold owner-player.
The crowd's roar reverberated through the stadium, a cacophony of chants, songs, and clapping that enveloped Anfield in an electric atmosphere. The famous "You'll Never Walk Alone" rang through the air as scarves were held aloft in the summer breeze, the fans fully behind their team. Tonight was more than just a preseason friendly—it was a glimpse into the future.
As the teams prepared to take the field, the commentary of Peter Drury filled the broadcast. "A warm summer's evening at Anfield, and it feels like something monumental is about to unfold. The reigning European champions, Real Madrid, face a Liverpool side under new leadership, with a young and daring owner-player in Abdul Azim at the helm. The question on everyone's mind: can this new Liverpool match up to the giants of Europe?"
Jim Beglin added, "Peter, this is more than just a preseason match. There's an energy here tonight, and these fans—they feel like they're about to witness the start of something special."
Team Lineups
Liverpool (4-3-3)
GK: David De Gea
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold
CB: Virgil van Dijk
CB: Kalidou Koulibaly
LB: Andrew Robertson
CDM: N'Golo Kanté
CM: Kevin De Bruyne
CM: Paul Pogba
RW: Mohamed Salah
ST: Abdul Azim (C)
LW: Sadio Mané
Real Madrid (4-3-3)
GK: Iker Casillas (C)
RB: Dani Carvajal
CB: Pepe
CB: Sergio Ramos
LB: Marcelo
CM: Xabi Alonso
CM: Toni Kroos
CM: Luka Modric
RW: Gareth Bale
ST: Karim Benzema
LW: Cristiano Ronaldo
Inside the tunnel, the tension was thick. On one side stood the fresh-faced Liverpool main squad, their expressions sharp and serious, ready to prove themselves on one of football's biggest stages. On the other, Real Madrid's lineup was as intimidating as ever, featuring some of the game's brightest stars—Ronaldo, Benzema, Ramos, and Modric. Legends in their own right, all focused, all ready.
Azim, wearing the captain's armband, took a deep breath. He could feel his heart pounding, but he was calm, composed. He glanced at his teammates: Salah, Mané, Van Dijk, and De Bruyne, each standing tall, ready for battle. This was their moment.
Jürgen Klopp stepped forward, clapping his hands to bring the team into a tight huddle for the final pep talk.
"Lads, this is it. The first real test," Klopp's voice was calm but charged with fire. "We're facing the best, but don't forget, this is our house. Anfield is where we set the tone."
He looked directly at Azim. "Azim, you lead the charge. Gegenpressing starts with you. When we lose the ball, we hunt it down and force them to make mistakes."
The players nodded, absorbing the intensity of their manager's words. Klopp's voice then grew stronger. "Salah, Mané, Azim—use your pace. Run into the channels, stretch their backline, make them panic. Long balls are there to be won if the space opens. But if they try to sit deep and park the bus, we switch to rondo, tiki-taka—show some flair, boys! Make them chase us."
He turned to Trent and Robertson. "Corners, fullbacks—that's yours. Azim, you're on free kicks and penalties. Be ready."
Klopp paused, letting his words sink in before a wide grin spread across his face. "We play with heart, with passion. This is Anfield. Let's show them what we're made of. Make these fans proud!"
The team broke the huddle with a cheer, the roar from the fans growing even louder as Liverpool marched out of the tunnel. The Madrid players walked beside them, their faces set with a mixture of calm determination and steely professionalism. Cristiano Ronaldo, with his usual swagger, was the focus of the cameras, while Sergio Ramos led the team, his gaze locked ahead.
The captains met in the center of the field. Azim shook hands with Casillas, Real Madrid's captain, both standing tall as the referee presented the coin. It flipped through the air before landing in Liverpool's favor. Azim nodded to his team, signaling that they would kick off first.
As Azim jogged back, the atmosphere inside Anfield was electric, a wall of sound rising from the stands as the whistle blew to start the match.
Peter Drury's voice cut through the noise, "And here we go. Anfield crackles with expectation as Liverpool, led by their new captain Abdul Azim, take on the might of Real Madrid. What a contest we have tonight."
The first minute of the match set the tone. Azim immediately took control from the center, quickly laying the ball off to Kanté, who shifted it wide to Trent Alexander-Arnold. Madrid, as expected, pressed high, with Ronaldo and Benzema closing in fast. But Liverpool's passing was swift and confident, bypassing the pressure with ease.
Trent sent a perfect diagonal ball over the top to Robertson, who stormed down the left wing, his pace too much for Carvajal. Azim, Salah, and Mané darted into the box, their movements perfectly in sync. Robertson whipped in a dangerous cross, aimed directly at Azim, who leapt high between Ramos and Pepe.
Jim Beglin's voice came in, "What a start from Liverpool, the pace, the precision... Azim leaps!"
Azim's header connected cleanly, the ball flying towards the top corner, but Casillas—ever the world-class goalkeeper—leapt at full stretch, tipping the ball over the bar. The Liverpool fans let out a collective groan, the tension already building.
Azim clenched his fist. This was no time for hesitation. He activated the System Features—six of the eight abilities that would take his team to the next level:
Stamina Boost surged through his veins, a jolt of energy that spread through the entire team, keeping their legs fresh and ready to press harder, longer.
Synchronize Mind linked every player, allowing their movements to flow in perfect harmony. No more hesitation, no second-guessing—every pass, every run, every press felt like second nature.
Ball Trajectory showed him the exact flight path of the ball, a translucent arc only he could see, giving him an edge in every situation.
Weakness Detection highlighted the physical vulnerabilities of the Madrid players. Ramos' slightly weakened left knee, Modric's fatigue from international duty—all glowing faintly, giving Azim valuable information.
Vision Enhancement widened his perspective to 360 degrees. He could see everything—the positioning of every player, the gaps in Madrid's defense, and the spaces to exploit.
Time Slowdown allowed him to slow time in key moments, giving him clarity and precision when the pressure was at its highest.
With these features activated, the game would no longer be played on equal footing. Azim could see the future, feel the rhythm of the match like never before.
Liverpool's press was relentless. Kroos and Modric, usually so composed in the center of the park, found themselves constantly swarmed by red shirts. Every time Madrid tried to settle, Kanté or Pogba were there to break up the play. The fans roared with every tackle, every interception, the sound reverberating through the stadium.
Azim was everywhere. He dropped deeper into midfield, pressing Modric and cutting off passing lanes, then sprinting forward to support the attack. His pressing forced Ramos into a rushed clearance, which landed at De Bruyne's feet. With a quick one-two with Pogba, De Bruyne threaded a through ball to Salah on the right wing.
Jim Beglin commented, "Madrid can't breathe here. Liverpool are suffocating them. Salah's in space!"
Salah sprinted towards the box, cutting inside past Marcelo, and delivered a curling cross towards the far post. Azim saw it coming. He knew exactly where it would land. Timing his run perfectly, he rose above Ramos and Pepe, his header aimed once again for the top corner.
But Casillas, showing his world-class reflexes, dived to parry it away. The ball spilled into the box, and Mané reacted first. He fired a shot, but Ramos managed to block it with a last-ditch slide.
In the 10th minute, Madrid tried to play out from the back, but the pressure was too intense. Casillas, under pressure from Mané, played a risky pass to Pepe. Azim's speed kicked in, allowing him to close the distance faster than anyone could react.
Azim intercepted the pass with a perfect touch, faking a shot to send Casillas diving in the wrong direction. With the Madrid defense frozen, he coolly rolled the ball across to Mané, who slotted it into the open net.
"GOOOOAAALLLL!" The sound from the crowd was deafening, the stadium shaking with the force of the celebration. It was 1-0, and Liverpool were in full control. The fans clapped, cheered, and sang louder than ever, while the Madrid supporters sat in stunned silence.
Madrid, desperate to regain some control, pushed forward. Ronaldo, frustrated at being marked out of the game, drifted into central positions, looking for space. With Benzema dropping deep to link up play, Madrid slowly began to work the ball forward.
Peter Drury noted, "Real Madrid—wounded but dangerous. Ronaldo, as always, searching for a way to break through."
A quick throw-in found Modric, who turned and launched a cross-field pass to Ronaldo. The Portuguese star, with his back to goal, was immediately swarmed by Van Dijk and Koulibaly. He managed to lay it off to Benzema, who found a gap and surged forward.
But Kanté was there, as always. He closed down Benzema, cleanly winning the ball with a perfectly timed tackle. The crowd roared their approval as Liverpool once again transitioned into attack.
Madrid's frustration grew, and in the 20th minute, a hard tackle from Ramos on Salah led to a free kick in a dangerous area. Azim stepped up, the fans chanting his name as he placed the ball on the turf.
As he lined up the shot, he activated Time Slowdown, feeling the world slow around him. His focus narrowed, his vision locked on the top corner of the goal. He struck the ball cleanly, curling it around the wall. Casillas, rooted to the spot, watched helplessly as the ball dipped and slammed into the top corner.
"GOAL! Azim strikes again, and Liverpool lead 2-0!" Peter Drury exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement.
The Madrid players were stunned into silence, and the Liverpool fans were in ecstasy. Anfield had not seen such dominance in years.
Madrid, shocked by Azim's stunning goal, desperately tried to regroup. But Liverpool were relentless in their attack. In the 30th minute, De Bruyne found space in midfield and threaded a through ball into the path of Azim. With Ball Trajectory and Weakness Detection guiding him, Azim exploited a small gap between Ramos and Marcelo.
Azim surged forward, timing his run perfectly. Casillas charged out, but Azim faked a shot, sending the keeper sprawling before calmly lifting the ball into the open net.
"3-0! Abdul Azim again! This is extraordinary," Jim Beglin remarked in awe. "Real Madrid simply cannot cope with Liverpool tonight."
The fourth goal came just before halftime, and it was one for the history books. In the 44th minute, Liverpool earned a corner. Robertson delivered a high, looping cross, and Van Dijk rose to meet it. His header ricocheted off Pepe, landing at the feet of De Bruyne, who quickly flicked it back toward the center of the box.
Azim, positioned perfectly, saw his opportunity. With Time Slowdown active, he executed a flawless bicycle kick, sending the ball rocketing into the top corner. Casillas was left motionless, watching helplessly as the ball rippled the net.
"GOAL! Azim with a bicycle kick of the highest quality! Anfield is witnessing magic tonight!" Peter Drury's voice cracked with emotion as the crowd erupted once more.
"It's a hat trick for Abdul Azim!" Drury's voice was filled with awe. "What a performance from the Liverpool captain. He has torn Real Madrid apart."
4-0, and the Liverpool fans were in a state of euphoric disbelief. Madrid's players, known for their composure, were visibly shaken.
With the first half nearing its conclusion, Madrid made one last desperate push. Ronaldo, determined to salvage some pride, collected the ball just outside the box and unleashed a fierce shot toward the top corner.
But De Gea was ready. The Liverpool goalkeeper flew through the air, his body fully stretched as he tipped Ronaldo's shot over the bar with his fingertips. The Madrid fans groaned in disbelief, while the Liverpool supporters leapt to their feet, applauding their keeper's brilliance.
The referee blew his whistle, signaling halftime. The players walked off the pitch, the scoreboard showing 4-0 in favor of Liverpool. Anfield was a cauldron of noise, the fans singing and chanting, fully aware that they were witnessing something special.
As Azim walked off the field, the adrenaline still pumping through his veins, he knew this was just the beginning. The second half awaited, and Liverpool had no intention of taking their foot off the gas.
Peter Drury: "What a first half from Liverpool. Four goals to the good against the reigning European champions. Abdul Azim—well, what more can you say? The man is a revelation, a leader on and off the pitch, and Real Madrid have no answer for him tonight."
Jim Beglin: "It's been a masterclass in pressing and attacking football. Klopp's gegenpressing at its finest. Madrid looks stunned, and Liverpool—this is their statement to Europe: we're coming."