Willard's brace helped Liverpool lead 3-1 away from home, sealing the victory. Even players who had some doubts about Klopp's reuse of Velarde are now convinced.
Such a performance in the first game is worthy of Klopp's importance and expectations. If Willard can maintain or even improve in the future, then the Red Army is expected to be revitalized.
However, West Ham have not given up yet.
After the game restarted, the Hammers pressed forward sharply and counterattacked wildly, trying to score two goals in a row to equalize the score.
But Klopp also immediately made substitutions, removing the two wingers Coutinho and Firmino and replacing them with two defenders. Coupled with the fact that Willard spared no effort to fill in positions everywhere, West Ham United's fierce attack did not achieve any effect.
After 3 minutes of stoppage time, the referee Bobby Medley blew the whistle to end the game. The Red Army Liverpool won 3-1 in the away game with the help of Velarde's brace and Firmino's goal. The Hammers helped West Ham United win the 20th round of the Premier League, which was also a good start to the first game of the 2016 New Year.
"competition is over."
"It's so unexpected."
"I thought that Willard, who officially transferred yesterday and would start today, would not perform very well. Not only did he play his first game perfectly, but he also made as many as 9 interceptions, 6 steals, and 7 assists. Successful duels, 5 sabotages, 2 key clearances, and organized and launched multiple threatening attacks, with a passing success rate of 95%, and finally scored two goals, scored twice, and helped Liverpool 3-1 in the away game. Defeat West Ham United and achieve three consecutive Premier League wins.”
"Willard was also elected Man of the Match for his brace and defensive performance."
"At the same time, according to statistics from a third-party data collection company, Willard ran a distance of 16,315 meters in the entire game, surpassing the 16.1 kilometers set by Beckham in the 2001 World Cup qualifying match between England and Greece, and creating a new record. The world record for running distance in a single football match.”
"This is too capable of running."
"You know, Beckham came out of a life-and-death battle at the last moment of the World Cup preliminaries, and this was just an ordinary Premier League game."
"This proves from the side how wide the scope of Velarde's activities is in this game."
"If we encounter a life-or-death battle in the future, or an important game like the Champions League final, with Willard's free-playing style, I don't think it's surprising that he ran 18 kilometers in a single game."
"When other players in the five major leagues average running distance of just over 10,000 per game, Willard's free agent style of play supported by his abundant physical strength is really equivalent to having one more person fighting. And this running distance in a single game The world record may have to be constantly refreshed by Willard himself.”
It was only when Willard was celebrating after the game that he learned from his assistant coach that he had surpassed Beckham and set a new world record for running distance in a single game. It was an unexpected surprise.
The experience in this game is not low either, starting at 1 million + 2 goals 2 million + winning bonus 2 million + A-level performance 5 million = 10 million. Although it is not as high as the national team game, it is a daily game in the Premier League. The Premier League + FA Cup + EFL Cup has many games, which is enough to make up for the lack of experience in a single game as compared to the national team game.
Moreover, according to Willard's experience playing in South America, since the starting price of the Premier League is 1 million, then the Europa League, Champions League and other European competitions will inevitably increase by 10 times to 10 million, just like the national team games. It is obviously a higher price. Great place for experience.
Willard is motivated to upgrade again.
Klopp attended the post-match press conference with Velarde. The reporters naturally chased and beat Velarde, trying to find out more gossip. Klopp's free agent tactics have also become the focus of reporters' attention.
That afternoon and the next day, many media outlets in England and even throughout Europe focused on the news that Willard scored twice in his Premier League debut and set a world record for running distance in a single game.
After all, Velarde is the new South American Footballer of the Year and the most important transfer during the European winter transfer period. Although the winter transfer period is not over yet, most teams will not make big moves during the winter transfer period. With a transfer fee of US$50 million, Willard is basically the top bidder in this winter's transfer period.
"New South American Footballer Alan Willard scored twice in his Premier League debut to help Liverpool win 3-1 away from home! 》
"Liverpool defeated West Ham United 3-1 in an away game to win three consecutive league games. New aid Alan Willard started the game and scored twice! 》
"Willard played as a free man in his Premier League debut, scored twice with his new style of play, and set a world record for running in a single game with a running distance of 16,315 meters! 》
"Willard scored twice and set a world record for running distance in a single game, making the most perfect debut in the Premier League! 》
After just one game, the Red Army fans who had doubts about Liverpool spending $50 million to introduce Velarde suddenly became his fans.
He scored twice in the first game and set a world record for running distance in a single game of 16,315. He also reactivated the fascinating free agent style and performed well. How can he not be liked and admired?
Liverpool is undoubtedly a giant and has no shortage of championships, not even the Champions League. But the problem is that since the top league was restructured from English League One to the Premier League, it has never won a Premier League championship. However, its archrival Manchester United has won a full 13, and has surpassed Liverpool in the number of English top league titles.
This has become the Achilles heel of the Red Army. Liverpool's desire for the Premier League championship is deeper and more persistent than the desire for the Champions League.
Because Liverpool, the Champions League champion, has won five, even though the reformed Champions League also won one through the miracle reversal of AC Milan in Istanbul in 2005, the Premier League has none. Although the Champions League is more important and technical than the Premier League, here in Liverpool, the Premier League champion is obviously more scarce.
The big addition of Willard, his perfect performance on his first show, and his brand-new free agent style of play gave everyone in Liverpool hope.
The free agent play is not the first of Willard and Klopp, but even if the opponent knows it, it is difficult to restrain it. Just like Messi and Ronaldo, you know how good he is, and you hoard heavy troops to besiege the two, but you still can't stop the outstanding performance of the two outstanding players.
Same here with Willard.
In the first game, they ran a world record of 16,315 meters, which is almost equivalent to the running amount of two people. Coupled with Willard's super personal ability, isn't this equivalent of one more person fighting for Liverpool?
With such strength, even if you know what Willard is going to do, you can't stop him.
In a short period of time, it may be difficult for any team or coach to find a way to restrain Velarde. The only hope may be that Willard himself is exhausted and takes the initiative to rest.
But before joining Liverpool, Willard had rested for more than a month. Moreover, after the Copa Libertadores final in August, Atletico Hurricanes played only one game a week, so Willard's physical reserves are completely fine.
Even if we fight on multiple fronts, it shouldn't be difficult to finish the second half of the Premier League season. Even if there are physical problems, they will have to wait until next season to break out.
This is everyone's judgment based on Willard's current physical fitness. They don't know that Willard can always add points to 100. When his physique reaches the full value of 100, not only his physical strength, but also his anti-collision and injury resistance will reach 100. By then, he will have no worries about his physical fitness. Not to mention double matches a week, there will be no problem with three matches a week.
