"I think all three are great young players. Coutinho and Sterling have been consistently performing throughout this season with Liverpool. They are crucial to Liverpool's setup. Meanwhile, what Kenneth Lee is doing is exceptional. I don't know who is the best, but perhaps this match will provide the answer," said Jurgen Klopp when asked in a pre-match press conference about who the best player is between Coutinho, Sterling, and Kenneth, ahead of the Liverpool vs. Manchester City match.
---
The match kicked off with a rapid tempo, as Liverpool immediately pressed high, their energy palpable. The attacking trio of Sterling, Coutinho, and Lallana relentlessly hounded Manchester City's defenders, closing down space and forcing them into errors, eager to regain possession.
Liverpool deployed a flexible 3-4-3 formation that seamlessly shifted into a 4-3-3 when they needed to defend. Emre Can, positioned as a center-back, had the freedom to push up into midfield, while Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson provided stability in the center. Alberto Moreno, as a wing-back, offered width on the left, and Lazar Markovic mirrored him on the right.
When out of possession, Liverpool maintained their 3-4-3 shape, pressing in numbers and making it challenging for City's defensive midfielders to link up with their attacking players.
In the 5th minute, Kenneth Lee dropped deeper between Henderson and Joe Allen, signaling to Yaya Touré to pass the ball to him.
Henderson and Allen immediately tightened the gap, closing in on Kenneth like two predators on their prey. Their intentions were clear: deny him space.
Yaya Touré hesitated for a moment, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. The young player was in a tight spot, with two midfielders closing in fast. But Touré's trust in Kenneth prevailed. With a sharp pass, the ball rolled swiftly toward Kenneth.
As the ball approached, Kenneth took a light, deft touch, guiding it behind him. He quickly spun on his heel, regaining control while evading the pressing duo of Henderson and Allen.
"Hah! Not this time," Henderson muttered under his breath, his attempt to track Kenneth foiled by a quick and skillful turn. The young City player had already shaken off both of them, leaving them in his wake.
Kenneth's confidence grew. He darted toward Emre Can, who was waiting in front of him. With a sharp move, he pushed the ball to his left, quickly sprinting after it. He knew Henderson was still close, his footsteps closing in from behind, but Kenneth remained cool under pressure.
"Focus. Just like we practiced," Kenneth whispered to himself, his eyes locked on Aguero ahead of him.
Seeing the opportunity, Kenneth played a perfectly timed pass to Aguero, who had slipped into space. Aguero controlled the ball and found himself face-to-face with Mignolet. With the goal at his mercy, Aguero aimed for the far post and unleashed a powerful shot.
"Mignolet!" the crowd gasped as the goalkeeper leaped to his right, extending his arm in a desperate attempt to stop the strike. With cat-like reflexes, Mignolet managed to palm the ball away, denying City what seemed like a sure goal.
The rebound fell perfectly for David Silva, who arrived just in time to capitalize on the loose ball. Silva took one touch, then fired his shot toward the empty net.
"Silva, no!" screamed the City supporters as the ball sailed high, missing the target by inches and landing in the stands.
Peter Drury, commentating passionately, couldn't contain his excitement. "Kenneth gets the ball, but Henderson and Allen are closing in on him! What a brilliant move! And look at him go, driving at Liverpool's backline, skips past Emre Can with ease—Henderson's chasing him! Quick pass to Aguero—Aguero's through! He shoots—and Mignolet with a miraculous save to the far post! The rebound for Silva—but he skies it! What a chance! What a moment created by the young Kenneth!"
The moment left the Liverpool fans nervous, their earlier joy now replaced by tension. Even Jurgen Klopp stood up from his seat, his hands clenching in frustration.
Despite the missed opportunity, the match continued at full pace. City had shown their intent. Liverpool, however, remained resolute, pressing high and looking for another opening.
As Liverpool built up play, Kenneth positioned himself centrally, between Joe Allen and Henderson. Whoever received the ball was immediately pressed by him in an attempt to regain possession.
Mignolet opted to pass the ball to Dejan Lovren. Aguero sprinted toward Lovren while Nasri marked Lazar Markovic. Lovren passed the ball back to Emre Can, who then sent a long pass forward.
Sterling began his run to meet the ball, but Vincent Kompany was alert and headed it clear toward Joe Hart. The Manchester City goalkeeper comfortably caught the ball.
In the 10th minute, Yaya Touré, visibly frustrated as he searched for an open teammate, played the ball back to Vincent Kompany, hoping to reset the attack.
Kompany received the pass but failed to control it cleanly. The ball bounced awkwardly off his foot, and in an instant, Philippe Coutinho, lurking nearby, pounced on the loose ball and intercepted it with ease.
Realizing the gravity of his mistake, Kompany reacted instinctively. He rushed toward Coutinho, attempting to block him and force him wide, desperate to prevent him from getting a clean look at goal. But Coutinho, with his trademark composure, calmly assessed his options and passed the ball to a speeding Raheem Sterling instead.
Sterling, now in full stride, dribbled forward with purpose, his eyes scanning the field. He spotted Jordan Henderson on his left and slid the ball to him, inviting him into the attack.
Henderson, making a clever diagonal run, cut inside just enough to create space. With a quick glance at the goal, he unleashed a curling shot that arced perfectly toward the far post.
Joe Hart, diving with all his might, stretched his fingers toward the ball, but it was too far out of reach. He watched helplessly as the ball sailed past him and nestled into the bottom corner of the net.
Anfield erupted in a deafening roar, the fans celebrating the breakthrough goal. Kompany stood motionless, his face etched with disbelief. The weight of his error hung over him—he knew he had let the team down in a crucial moment.
"I should've blocked that shot," Kenneth thought, his stomach twisting with discomfort. He had been marking another player and hadn't anticipated Henderson's strike. The goal caught him off guard, leaving him momentarily frozen.
But there was no time for regret. The match was far from over, and City had barely begun to respond. The game had just begun, and there was still plenty of time to make up for the mistake.
Manchester City kicked off again, starting the game at a slower tempo. During this period, Liverpool also eased off their usual intense pressing. Instead, they adopted a mid-block strategy to disrupt City's play when the ball crossed into the halfway line.
Here's an enhanced version with better narration and the inclusion of Peter Drury's commentary:
---
In the 18th minute, Kenneth dropped deeper into midfield, positioning himself between the lines to receive a pass from Fernandinho. It was a subtle change in positioning, one that caught the Liverpool defense off guard momentarily.
Henderson and Joe Allen, however, had learned their lesson. This time, they adjusted quickly, one pressing while the other held back, anticipating that Kenneth might attempt to slip past Henderson again.
As the ball rolled toward him, Kenneth received it with a calm touch. He held it for a split second, allowing the pressure to build before quickly releasing it to Yaya Touré, who surged forward with purpose.
Sterling, sensing the danger, dropped back to apply pressure on Touré, but Touré was quick with his decision-making.
"Here!" he called, directing the pass back to Kenneth as he looked to maintain control of the ball.
Kenneth accepted the ball once again and took it in stride, dribbling with purpose. Henderson, still chasing him, was close but not quite close enough to disrupt his rhythm. With a deft touch, Kenneth passed the ball to David Silva just as Joe Allen lunged to make a challenge, but he was a second too late.
Silva, with his typical finesse, brought the ball out wide, creating space on the right before passing it back to Kenneth, who had continued his run.
Kenneth, now facing the Liverpool defense, carried the ball sideways, weaving as he drew defenders toward him. With a quick glance and no hesitation, he played the ball to Aguero without even looking, his instincts doing the work for him.
Peter Drury's voice rang out with excitement as the play unfolded. "Kenneth Lee, what a pass! He's opened up Liverpool's defense with ease. Aguero's in! Aguero strikes—"
Aguero, with a quick adjustment, found the space and fired a shot toward the far post. Mignolet lunged to his right, fingertips stretching, but the ball was out of reach. The net rippled as Aguero's shot hit the mark.
"GOOOOOAL!" Peter Drury exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. "Aguero equalizes, and Liverpool's lead is wiped out! A stunning moment, and it's all thanks to a brilliant sequence of passes from City's attack. Incredible vision from Kenneth Lee!"
Aguero raised his arms in celebration, but as he turned to Kenneth, a grin spread across his face. "I didn't think you would pass to me, honestly," he said, a mix of surprise and admiration in his voice.
Kenneth, unruffled, replied with a shrug and a casual smile. "That's the point, I think. When people expect me to do one thing, I'll do the opposite."
The match quickly resumed, the tempo high and the stakes even higher.
In the 31st minute, Lazar Markovic shrugged off Nasri, gained possession, and passed it to Adam Lallana.
Lallana stopped the ball and then passed it into the space ahead of Sterling. The Liverpool wonderkid used his full speed to beat Zabaleta, who was too slow to catch him. Sterling carried the ball to the center, cut inside, and shot toward the far post. Fortunately for Joe Hart, the ball veered wide of the goal.