Rise of a Football God

(EFL Cup!)

(Semifinal- Leg 1 of 2:)

(Liverpool – Fulham)

(Date: 10 January, 2024)

…

De Cordova-Reid won the man of the match award of the Rotherham game.

Immediately after the game, the winger faced the media where he did an interview, answering multiple questions, including questions relating to the young Nigerian midfielder who made his debut for Fulham today and got a goal for it.

De Cordova-Reid may not have a personal relationship with Sam yet, but they were teammates. He had only glowing words for the young attacking midfielder, wishing him the best to help take Fulham FC to greater heights together.

Shortly after the game, after Sam returned to his hotel room to rest where he got treated to another video call session with his mom and sister back home in Nigeria. After the video call session was when his manager sent him their next fixture.

Apparently, Coach Yemi Daniel was not the only coach who sent his players fixtures for the next game, Coach Marco Silva practiced it also.

When Sam saw the details of the next game though, he was surprised.

The EFL Cup was also known as the Carabao Cup in England.

It was not the tournament that caught his attention though. Rather, it was the opponent that Fulham FC would be facing in the first leg of the Carabao Cup game.

Having watched his team play against one of the best clubs in England in the form of Arsenal just about a week or so ago from the stands, pulling off an upset and winning the game, Sam was about to see his team take on another heavyweight of the English premier league.

It didn't matter that they would be playing Liverpool FC in the Carabao Cup at all, Liverpool was still one of the best clubs in England.

Thinking of Liverpool reminded Sam of his game against Manchester City in the final of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup.

Both of these clubs had a similar level of prestige in the premier league. Under the tutelage of Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool already built a dynasty in England.

And considering that his current team, Fulham was far stronger than his old club, Enyimba FC, Sam could not wait for his team's next game.

He was motivated to do even more in training.

For the next few days, Sam kept on being the first player to report to training every day and in the training sessions, his performances only became more prominent as he slowly settled into his new surroundings.

He was already building a tight understanding with Alex Iwobi. Anytime that they were both on the same 6-side team, their team won majority of the times.

Fulham's manager, Marco Silva saw all these but when the time came, he stuck with his starting XI formation.

(Fulham FC starting XI:)

(B. Leno: Goalkeeper)

(T. Castagne: Right Back)

(T. Adarabioyo: Right Center Back)

(I. Diop: Left Center Back)n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

(A. Robinson: Left Back)

(H. Reed: Center Midfielder)

(J. Palhinha: Center Midfielder)

(B. De Cordova-Reid: Right Winger)

(A. Pereira: Center Attacking Midfielder)

(Willian: Left Winger)

(R. Jimenez: Striker)

Marco Silva's starting XI was a strong one but he left a few big names out of the squad entirely, names like Alex Iwobi.

Just like Sam, Alex Iwobi was still a relatively new player to Fulham FC having signed a contract with them just early last year 2023.

Like most teams did in the Carabao Cup, Coach Marco Silva was not putting all his chips on winning the game, rather keeping certain chips for Fulham's next game in the premier league.

While the likes of Alex Iwobi didn't even make it to the bench, staying out of the lineup entirely, Sam made it to the bench for this game.

Like Fulham, Liverpool approached this game with a reasonably strong lineup with the likes of Virgil Van Dijk and Konate starting in defense, Mac Allister starting in midfield, while Diogo Jota and Luiz Diaz started in attack.

It was a mix of experience and young energy for the Liverpool team as the likes of Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliot also started the game.

One fact played in favor of Liverpool FC for this game though, it was the simple fact that they were playing this game in their iconic stadium, Anfield.

All his life as a football fan, Sam watched most of football's iconic stadiums only on TV, having bitter and sweet memories from them.

Anfield in particular was one of the stadiums he dreaded most.

Afterall, it was this same stadium that killed his favorite club, FC Barcelona's dreams for a 6th UEFA champions league title back in 2018.

Despite coming to Anfield with a solid 3-0 lead from the first leg back in Camp Nou, Barcelona, and with the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez still plying their trades for FC Barcelona, Barca fumbled in the atmosphere of this iconic stadium, surrendering their lead and losing 4-0 in Anfield.

When Sam stepped into Anfield on 10th January, feeling the energy of the fans in red as they sang their iconic song 'you'll never walk alone', he felt goosebumps.

'What… a stadium!'

FWEEEE!

As soon as the referee's whistle went off and the game started, just like most people expected, Liverpool FC started the game on the front foot, dominating Fulham FC in most parameters in the field of play.

Against the run of play though, it was Fulham who opened the deadlock first.

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In an unexpected moment of magic from the Fulham winger, after receiving a pass in the right, Willian, the silky winger went on a mazy run through the Liverpool FC defense, dashing past players with his pace before setting himself up and curling a shot past the Liverpool goalkeeper.

Kelleher who started in place of Allison Becker, the Liverpool no. 1 goalkeeper dived but the ball just barely curled past his hands into the net.

Against the run of play, Fulham FC went on the lead, 1-0.

"GOALLLL…!" Screaming loudly, Willian ran to the corner flag, slapping his chest excitedly as he celebrated wildly.

The whole Fulham FC team celebrated excitedly.

And when their celebration eventually died down, the referee blew his whistle, the signal to continue the game.

FWEEEE!

To Liverpool FC, the game truly started from that point.

A war started on the pitch.