The 201st North West Derby came to an end, with Manchester United ultimately securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory.
At Anfield, Manchester United fans reveled in the joy of triumph, while Liverpool fans were immersed in sorrow.
Despite investing heavily in reinforcements, filling most of the gaps in their squad, achieving an impressive 18-match unbeaten run, and even dominating the first half to take the lead against Manchester United... they still lost the match.
While bewildered, Liverpool fans also felt a profound sense of helplessness.
Their eyes involuntarily turned to Jeremy Ling lying exhausted on the pitch, their minds replaying his two spectacular goals.
Could it be that some players were simply destined to be their nemesis?
Once upon a time, Liverpool had miraculously won the Champions League in Istanbul.
But more often than not, their modern fate tasted bitter.
Over the years, they had come agonizingly close to the Premier League Title, only to slip at the most critical moment and let the championship slip away.
Yet, it was precisely these heartbreaking experiences that forged the resilience of Liverpool fans.
In the stands of Anfield, they spontaneously began singing, "You'll Never Walk Alone."
The match they lost today, they would reclaim sooner or later!
...
Manchester United fans, however, had fewer reflections—they simply unleashed their excitement with wild abandon.
Every North West Derby felt like a war, a battle between Liverpool and Manchester, and they relished the feeling of emerging victorious on enemy soil.
Someone started it, and soon the traveling Manchester United fans broke into song.
"We are your loyal supporters!"
"And we come from Manchester!"
"Allez! Allez! Allez!"
This was the chant Manchester United fans had composed specifically for Jeremy Ling, now widely circulated among the fanbase, with even young children able to sing it.
Although Ling had only been in Manchester United's first team for a year and a half, he had been with the club's academy for a full seven years.
The teenager who had crossed the ocean to arrive at Carrington Training Ground had gradually grown into a leader of the Red Devils and the most admired hero in the hearts of Manchester United fans.
Turning the tide with a solo goal to reverse the momentum and rescue Manchester United from the brink of defeat—the heroics of the match propelled Ling to the top of trending lists across major sports media as soon as the final whistle blew.
@SkySportsPL: JEREMY LING HAS DONE IT AGAIN! The 20-year-old single-handedly dismantles Liverpool at Anfield! Is there anyone better right now?
@UtdFaithful: The pendulum dribble past Van Dijk will be replayed for the next 50 years. Generational talent.
@LFC_Thoughts: It hurts to say, but you can't defend against magic. Van Dijk had him cornered, and he still found a way.
@PremStatMan: Jeremy Ling becomes the FIRST player this season to successfully dribble past Virgil van Dijk in a 1v1 situation. Staggering.
Moreover, Manchester United's PR department had invested heavily in promotion, clearly aiming to establish Ling as the global face of the club.
After all, a player who was good looking, scandal-free, and exceptionally skilled was a rarity in the football world, one who could undoubtedly attract more commercial attention to Manchester United.
Thus, Ling's influence gradually transcended the sports section, radiating into other domains!
...
"Excellent! Looking forward to working together!" Jorge Mendes hung up his phone in his office, unable to wipe the grin off his face.
He had once believed that Cristiano Ronaldo would be the undisputed crowning achievement of his agent career, but now he wasn't so sure.
Recently, numerous globally renowned brands had approached him, hoping to establish lucrative partnerships with Ling.
While thrilled, Mendes hadn't accepted every offer.
Some endorsements could achieve a synergistic effect greater than the sum of their parts, benefiting both the brand and the endorser.
However, some brands engage in false advertising or even illegal activities, which can severely damage an endorser's reputation.
As a highly well-known public figure, Ling had to take on a certain level of responsibility and accountability.
...
Back at Anfield, after leading his teammates over to thank the Manchester United fans who had traveled from afar, Ling dragged his exhausted body back to the away locker room.
He leaned against his locker door with his eyes closed to rest.
He was utterly drained from today's match.
First, Liverpool's high press was relentless, completely stifling Manchester United's midfield and forcing him to drop back frequently just to receive the ball.
Each trip back and forth covered dozens of meters, all of it anaerobic exercise, which took a massive toll on his stamina.
Second, Van Dijk's ability was truly exceptional.
Among center-backs over the past two decades, his overall level was at least top three. His one-on-one defending, pressing, distribution, leadership, and awareness were all at the absolute peak of his career.
Throughout the entire ninety-five minutes of the match, Ling had only a handful of opportunities.
If not for Andy Robertson's defensive weaknesses on the flank, the outcome of today's game could have easily swung the other way.
'No wonder he finished second in the Ballon d'Or,' Ling thought, letting out a long sigh.
He wondered what it would be like if Van Dijk were at Manchester United, partnering with Harry Maguire.
"Boom, boom!"
Blaring rock music suddenly erupted in the dressing room.
Jesse Lingard, swaying his hips, sauntered out of the shower area.
The rest of the Manchester United players seemed hypnotized, putting down whatever they were doing to join Lingard's celebratory dance.
"Ling, why aren't you dancing? Don't you like this song? Should I change it?" Paul Pogba asked, puzzled by his captain's stillness.
"You guys go ahead. I need to shower and then head to the press conference," Ling waved helplessly.
Despite being the youngest on the team, he often acted more mature than even the veteran Ashley Young!
Half an hour later, the post-match press conferences were underway.
"Mr. Mourinho, is Manchester United's goal for this season still to win the championship?" a reporter asked.
"Of course, Manchester United's goal has always been to win the championship. The entire team is working hard for it, and I believe you can see that from today's match," Mourinho spoke with conviction, never one to hide his thoughts.
Mourinho had also heavily praised Liverpool's performance before lavishing compliments on his own players.
Although he was extremely strict during training and matches, he was far more approachable than the media portrayed and never hesitated to praise his team after a massive victory.
"Alright, Ling, regarding Van Dijk's pre-match comments about you, do you have any response?" a reporter from The Sun asked, trying to stir up trouble again.
"Sorry, no," Ling frowned slightly.
He couldn't be bothered to respond to such matters—it would only invite tabloid trouble without any benefit.
The other conference room with Jurgen Klopp was even livelier.
"Acknowledging the opponent's strength is a sign of respect for ourselves," Klopp stated, not lashing out at the media but instead offering an objective assessment of the match.
"They performed better and better in the second half, with everyone exceeding their usual level. But our performance wasn't bad either. If you watched the match, you'd see it was fiercely contested, with several players even cramping up."
"And Jeremy Ling?" a reporter prompted.
"Ling? Honestly, he's incredibly difficult to handle," Klopp admitted, shaking his head. "Against other players, my targeted defending might work, but Ling's brilliance lies in his ability to seize opportunities, always scoring goals that seem almost impossible."
Klopp didn't want to lose both the game and his dignity.
Moreover, Ling's performance was truly outstanding.
How many players in today's football can single-handedly suppress Van Dijk and score the winning goal? Klopp found Ling to be a constant headache, unable to devise an effective strategy to contain him for a full 90 minutes.
As a last resort, he had considered man-marking, using Van Dijk to totally neutralize Ling.
But the key question remained: Could even Van Dijk actually stop him when he was in that kind of form?
"We still have room to grow. I look forward to our next encounter!" Klopp said irritably as his final remark before leaving the room.