1 Chapter 1: Prologue...

50:49 - Second Half - Liverpool Vs Manchester United - 3:0 - Commentary Box Anfield - Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher.

Jamie Carragher's voice was filled with smug satisfaction as he spoke, "And as if the night couldn't get any worse for Ten Hag's men, Cody Gakpo scores yet again, making it three goals to nil in what may soon become humiliation for the red devils." Manchester United legend Gary Neville looked on with despair as he witnessed his boyhood club's collapse, unable to do anything to salvage the situation. The match seemed to be slipping away from them, and it was apparent that their opponents were dominating the game, making it almost impossible for Manchester United to make a comeback.

Gary Neville was visibly stunned by what he had just witnessed and took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking. "I just don't understand what happened over half-time to cause the entire Manchester United team to capitulate the way they have," he stated, his voice filled with disappointment. "But Ten Hag will have to do something if he doesn't want this to become a cricket score," he added urgently. Neville's concern was palpable as he expressed his disappointment at the team's performance and highlighted the need for immediate action to avoid a complete rout.

Amid the football match, as the spectators cheered and the players sprinted across the field, Antony, the latest star signing of Manchester United, was in full swing. The right-winger had already broken the club's record by being bought for eighty million pounds. However, just as he was about to make another move, he stumbled and fell to the ground, clutching his hamstring in agony. The game came to a halt, and the medical staff of Manchester United rushed to Antony's aid, analyzing the extent of his injury and providing him with the necessary medical attention.

Gary Neville's expression turned pensive as he heard Jamie Carragher's commentary on Antony's poor performance in the game. "Well, Gary, as bad as it sounds, the injury will give Ten Hag a chance to adjust and see if he can get back into this game, as I think it's fair to say Antony has not played well today," Carragher remarked. Neville's gaze drifted toward Manchester United's bench, which appeared to lack quality options.

Gary Neville's voice lacked enthusiasm as he predicted the viewers at home. He said, "For the people at home, I think it's a logical prediction that we'll probably see Jadon Sancho or Antony Elanga make an appearance, as I doubt Antony will be able to continue with the game." His tone made it apparent that he did not hold high hopes for these players to impact the game significantly.

However, as Antony left the field to the jeers of the Liverpool fans, Ten Hag instead called upon someone else...

"Gary, it seems that Ten Hag has decided to bring in a fresh face for Manchester United - number sixty-seven, Alex Edwards. Even though he is only sixteen, the manager has chosen him over more experienced players for this crucial game." It's a risky move that has Jamie, despite his dislike for Man United, feeling for the young lad as he warms up on the sidelines.

Neville's voice took on a tone of bewilderment as he spoke up, "From the looks of it, even the young Alex Edwards looks shocked to be called upon but has quickly found his way over to the manager to be debriefed. I can't understand why the manager chose him over a more experienced or defensive option." His words were confused, and his mind couldn't grasp why someone with little experience had been chosen over a more seasoned player. The decision had left him feeling perplexed and bewildered.

51:12 - Second Half - Liverpool Vs Manchester United - 3:0 - Subs Bench

POV Alex Edwards:

As soon as Antony retired hurt and limped off down the tunnel, I assumed the manager would bring in one of the more experienced players to replace him. The look on my face and the looks I received from my fellow substitutes made it clear that they shared the exact expectations. To my utter surprise, however, Steve McClaren tugged on my shoulder and told me to hurry up, indicating that I was the one he had chosen to go in for Antony. Still in shock, I hurried to the manager's side, wondering why he had picked me over the others.

As I approached him, I realized I wouldn't get to ask him my question. Before I could say anything, he firmly grasped my arm. His English was not very good, and he struggled to express himself clearly, but I understood he wanted me to do something to impress him.

Listening to him speak, I couldn't help but feel confused and a little overwhelmed. Why would he think I would be capable of such a thing? Sure, I had been a part of the prestigious Manchester United youth academy from a young age, but I knew my abilities better than anyone else. Realistically, I was probably no more than a mid-level player at best - maybe a championship-level winger on a good day, but even that was pushing it. I was still young, developing, and working on the physicality required to succeed at the highest level. 

As I was preparing to express my objections, I was unexpectedly shoved onto the pitch. The roars of Anfield filled my ears as I stood there, wholly bewildered and disoriented. It quickly dawned on me that I was now patrolling the right wing of Manchester United - a lifelong ambition of mine. However, the dreams of my childhood always portrayed me as the greatest player in the world, leading our team to a stunning three-nil victory. Now, the reality was quite different.

Time flew by in the first ten minutes as I relentlessly pursued the ball, my legs moving frantically. However, the exertion had already taken its toll, and I could feel my stamina dwindling rapidly. My legs felt weighed down as if made of lead. Despite this, I continued to press on, determined to keep up with Liverpool's pace.

My body was on the brink of collapse due to the intense physical exertion of the match when team captain Bruno Fernandes made an incredible play out of nowhere. He intercepted a misplaced pass on the edge of our box, and before I knew it, the ball was at my feet. I quickly turned towards Liverpool's goal, and that's when I noticed the towering figure of Virgil Van Dijk charging towards me like a relentless battering ram. 

As the collision seemed imminent, I instinctively braced myself for impact. But instead of the expected pain and chaos, time seemed to come to a standstill. It felt like minutes had passed as I stood there, eyes closed, waiting for the inevitable impact. When I finally opened my eyes, I was shocked that everything around me had frozen in place. The players and supporters were all standing motionless, and an eerie silence had engulfed the entire stadium, Anfield. It was a surreal and unsettling experience.

As my heart rate began to quicken, a sense of panic started to set in, and a sudden, resounding ding rang through my consciousness like a church bell tolling. At that moment, an extraordinary and luminescent screen materialized before my eyes, illuminating my surroundings with a mesmerizing glow.

[Congratulations on unlocking the football template system. As a reward for unlocking the system, you will be allowed a low-tier template pick to begin your footballing journey]

[Would you like to redeem it now? YES Or NO]

When the prompt appeared on my screen, I didn't waste any time and clicked on the affirmative option. Almost instantly, a trio of cards, shrouded in dark and ominous shadows, materialized before my eyes, leaving me intrigued and slightly bewildered.

As someone who has spent considerable time playing FIFA, I have become quite familiar with the concept of a player pick. So, when it suddenly appeared on my screen, I knew exactly what was happening. Despite this, I couldn't help but feel a sense of panic and excitement coursing through my veins.

I had a grand vision of becoming one of the best players in the world and of all time. I dreamed of leading my boyhood club out of mediocrity and back to its former glory. The system I had at my disposal was a powerful tool that could potentially help me achieve these dreams. However, I knew I couldn't let future thoughts distract me from the present moment.

As I focused on the cards, the shadows that seemed to obscure them gradually dissipated. With that, my available options were finally revealed.

[Ian Wright, Rating 87 ST

Pace: 88

Shooting: 89

Passing: 69

Dribbling: 82

Defending: 40

Physicality: 76]

[Frank Ribery, Rating 88 LM

Pace: 89

Shooting: 85

Passing: 85

Dribbling: 90

Defending: 37

Physicality: 65]

The array of options presented was truly impressive, and I struggled to contain my excitement at the mere thought of selecting the legendary Frank Ribery. However, little did I know how grateful I would be for my restraint, as the final option proved an absolute game-changer.

[George Best, Rating 88 RW

Pace: 91

Shooting: 88

Passing: 81

Dribbling: 92

Defending: 59

Physicality: 70]

My father has always had a deep admiration for football, and there is one player in particular that he holds in the highest regard. This individual is George Best, a true Manchester United icon and a holy trinity member alongside other legends such as Dennis Law and Bobby Charlton. Best's achievements on the pitch were extraordinary, as he won the Ballon d'Or and held the legendary number seven shirt, which is considered a badge of honor among Manchester United players. In the eyes of many fans, Best was arguably the best player ever to grace the field for this storied football club.

I was given a unique opportunity to acquire some of his legendary football skills. However, it was the younger, less polished version of the incredible George Best. Despite this, I wouldn't hesitate to select him and benefit from his unparalleled talent.

At that moment, I stood frozen, waiting for a response. The silence around me was deafening, and I couldn't help but wonder if perhaps Van Dijk had successfully tackled me and everything that had happened since was simply a figment of my concussion-addled mind. But just as I began to give up hope, a searing bolt of pain shot through my body, causing me to wince and squeeze my eyes shut tight. The agony was so intense that I could feel my heart racing in my chest, and for a moment, I thought I might pass out from the sheer shock of it all.

As the excruciating pain slowly dissipated, I slowly regained consciousness, only to find myself standing on the bustling football pitch of Anfield. The ball was at my feet while Van Dijk's towering figure loomed behind me. It seemed as if the world around me was moving usually, unaffected by my recent experience. Yet, something inside me felt altered, as if I had undergone a profound transformation that I couldn't quite put into words.

As Virgil van Dijk charged towards me, I braced myself for impact, just like before. I imagined myself the legendary George Best, ready to take on any challenge. But to my surprise, as the giant defender approached me, he seemed no more than a stationary cone, blinded by his arrogance and underestimating my skills as a sixteen-year-old. With lightning-fast reflexes and unnatural grace, I put the ball on my right foot and spun around him, leaving him in my dust. The crowd cheered as I pulled off the ultimate humiliation for any defender - a nutmeg on the mighty Dutch defender.

I was suddenly at the halfway line, with Liverpool's only defender swiftly following close behind as I charged towards Liverpool's goal. George's impressive pace meant I found myself on the edge of the box in no time. With energy and legendary dribbling skills, I smoothly glided around Liverpool's defense, leaving Konate and Robertson stranded in my wake. It was thrilling as I made my way towards the goal, with the roaring crowd in my ears.

As I confidently knocked the ball past Trent, I found myself in a one-on-one situation with Allison Becker, who is widely regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers in the world. The atmosphere at Anfield was tense and quiet, as the excitement of leading their rivals 3-0 had been completely overshadowed by my incredible feat of dribbling past their entire defense as a mere sixteen-year-old.

As I approached the ball, I felt a surge of confidence. I knew exactly what I was going to do with it. With a gentle curve, I sent it flying towards the bottom right-hand corner of the net. Allison, the opposing team's goalkeeper, could only watch helplessly as the ball sailed past him and into the back of the net. 

At that moment, the away end erupted in cheers and applause. It was a beautiful goal, and everyone knew it. But for me, the job wasn't finished yet. Instead of basking in the glory of my achievement, I immediately sprinted towards the goal, snatching the ball from the net and racing towards the kick-off spot. 

With each step, I felt a sense of determination and purpose. I knew we still had work to do, and I was ready to do it. The game was far from over, and I was determined to give it my all until the final whistle blew...