Read Novel Full Chapter 757: Post-Match
Chapter 757: Post-Match
The stadium still buzzed in the aftermath of Liverpool's triumph, the low hum of conversation blending with the occasional cheer as fans lingered in their seats. Red confetti clung to the grass and fluttered in the breeze, glowing under the floodlights that now bathed Wembley in soft, golden light. The air held the weight of something significant, the kind of match that left a mark long after the final whistle.
Just off the edge of the pitch, the Sky Sports Premier League post-match show began. Inside a sleek glass-fronted broadcast booth stationed near the halfway line, Kelly Cates stood poised and focused. She wore her headset like a seasoned pilot, one hand on her earpiece, the other gripping a stack of notes. Behind her, the big screen cycled through highlights from the match. Around her, the Wembley atmosphere pulsed.
"Well," Kelly began, her voice cutting clearly through the hum of the crowd. "What an afternoon here at Wembley Stadium. Liverpool are Community Shield winners, after a commanding 2–0 win over Manchester City. The goals came from Zachary Bemba, and his return to the pitch could not have gone any better. Alongside me, Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville. Gentlemen, talk me through what we just witnessed."
Jamie Carragher leaned toward the monitor, still half-distracted by the replays. His expression was animated, almost buzzing with approval.
"I'll tell you what we witnessed, Kelly," he said, gesturing toward the pitch. "A proper statement. From Liverpool, yes… but more specifically, from Zachary Bemba. This wasn't just a warm-up or a fitness check. This was a message to every top side in Europe. The lad didn't just show up… he also controlled the tempo, turned defense into attack, and finished like a veteran who never left."
Gary Neville sat back, arms crossed, nodding slowly. His voice was more measured, but no less impressed.
"I've got to say, I had doubts. Coming back from the kind of injury he had, in a match with this intensity, against City of all teams... you wonder whether a player has lost that edge," he said. "But Zachary looked sharper than ever. His positional awareness was spot on. He didn't overdo it. He picked his passes accurately, and that second goal… honestly, that's the kind of composure you expect from someone who's been in mid-season form for weeks."
As they spoke, the screen behind them played slow-motion highlights: Zachary shielding the ball deep in midfield, allowing İlkay Gündoğan to overcommit; the deceptive dummy that sent the German the wrong way; the perfectly timed sprint into the open lane, and the final pass from Oxlade-Chamberlain that set up the chance.
Kelly turned slightly toward the footage. "Let's talk about that sequence, because it wasn't just about the goal… it was the entire build-up. It started with Liverpool under heavy pressure from the City press."
Carragher nodded eagerly. "Exactly. What Zachary did there was subtle but brilliant. Most players panic in those tight pockets, especially with three City shirts closing in. But he didn't. He used movement to manipulate the press. That dummy he pulled on Gündoğan, it wasn't just flair… it was bait. It opened the channel he needed to move forward."
"And he didn't hesitate," Carragher added. "Once he broke the first line, he played a simple ball to Henderson, then received it again in space from Oxlade-Chamberlain. It was classic give-and-go football, but with an intelligence that you don't often see in players of his age. When the return pass came, he knew exactly what he wanted to do."
The screen froze on the moment Zachary dropped his shoulder to fake a shot, causing Zinchenko to commit and slide past him. Then it resumed, showing the calm, deliberate finish just inside the far post.
"Cool as you like," Carragher said, shaking his head in admiration. "He didn't lash at it. He didn't rush. He just paused, let the defender slide by, picked his spot, and buried it."
Kelly turned back toward the camera. "It's easy to forget this was Zachary's first competitive match back. Not only did he last eighty-five minutes, he scored twice, helped set the rhythm in midfield, and barely put a foot wrong. What does that say about his preparation… and about Liverpool's chances heading into the new season?"
"That they're ready," said Neville, without hesitation. "There's a balance to their game again. And with Zachary back in the mix, they've got someone who can knit everything together. He brings control. You can play through him, play off him. His decision-making today was exactly what Liverpool needed in that midfield."
Carragher leaned in. "And it's not just the talent, it's the growth. He's playing smarter football now. Less chaos, more control. Those quick passes between the lines, the awareness of when to slow it down and when to break… it's matured. It's what makes Liverpool look complete again."
Neville nodded, arms folded as he considered the months ahead. "Look, I still think Liverpool might hit a few bumps later in the season, especially when the fixtures pile up. Depth will be tested in December, as always. But this eleven? It's as sharp as any team in Europe right now. And having Zachary back is the final master stroke."
As Neville finished, the screen shifted briefly to show live images of the Liverpool players heading back down the tunnel. Some waved at fans, others posed for photos, medals swinging against their chests.
Kelly glanced at the monitor showing Liverpool's jubilant players heading into the tunnel, then turned back to her colleagues with a fresh note in hand. "Let's take a look at what's coming next. Liverpool's August? Packed to the brim. The curtain-raiser at Anfield is just six days away, where they'll kick off the Premier League season against Norwich City on a Friday night under the lights."
Carragher leaned forward, nodding. "That opener won't be a walkover, either. Norwich might be newly promoted, but they'll come in fearless. First game of the season, nothing to lose, and they'll want to make a statement. Plus, you've got a packed Anfield and the pressure of expectation. Those nights can swing either way if Liverpool don't start sharp."
Kelly continued, her tone building. "And barely five days after that, they're off to Istanbul for the UEFA Super Cup final. It's a midweek European clash against Chelsea, which is another huge test."
"That's going to hit them hard," Carragher said, eyes narrowing slightly. "It's the travel, the heat, the short turnaround. Chelsea, for all the changes they've had this summer, still know how to show up on a big night. It's a final. Lampard will have them fired up, and Liverpool won't be at home anymore. Different energy. Different pressure."
Neville joined in, arms crossed as he considered the broader picture. "And if you think it eases up after that, forget it. They've got Southampton away right after coming back from Turkey, which is always a tough fixture for a team just off a European trip. Then Arsenal come to Anfield the following weekend, and they round out the month away to Burnley. That's four league matches and a continental final in just over three weeks."
Carragher gave a short laugh. "Which is why what we saw today matters. They didn't just win. They looked sharp. They looked organised. That's the foundation you need before a stretch like this. You want rhythm, you want confidence, and you definitely want your big players fit and firing."
"Especially someone like Zachary," Kelly added. "We saw it in his control today, how he managed tempo. Klopp's going to need more of that composure once the legs start to tire in week two or three of this stretch."
Neville nodded. "Norwich will test their sharpness. Arsenal will test their structure. Burnley will test their toughness. But in between all of that is travel, recovery, rotation. Klopp's going to need smart decisions from his squad. Not just flashes of brilliance, but discipline. The kind of football that gets you points even when you're not perfect."
"And if Zachary stays fit," Carragher said, "he becomes the X-factor in all those matches. He makes things easier. Opens doors when games are tight. Controls tempo when the squad's stretched. That second goal today, the way he paused and picked his spot? That's the kind of moment that swings tight fixtures your way. That's the difference between a point and three."
Kelly looked into the lens one final time, her voice steady, but brimming with anticipation. "So there it is. Liverpool draw first blood in the new campaign. Zachary Bemba announces his return with a performance full of class and clarity. And now, with the Premier League kicking off next week, the Super Cup waiting in Istanbul, and a long season ahead, the questions will only get bigger. But if today was anything to go by, Liverpool might just have the answers."
The broadcast slowly faded to a wide shot of the pitch, where the last of the fans filtered out beneath the stadium lights. The stage was set, and a new journey had begun.