Chapter 7 : Realization

Barou's eyes lit up as he received the ball. He charged downfield, his stride powerful and unrelenting, until he faced Liverpool's imposing center-back, Virgil van Dijk. The two locked eyes, both reading each other's intentions in a split second. With a deft feint, Barou shifted his weight, catching van Dijk off-balance, then cut inside and unleashed a thunderous strike.

The ball flew past Alisson and crashed into the net.

"GOAL!" the commentator yelled, his voice filled with disbelief and excitement. "Barou Shoei has done it! Luton takes the lead at Anfield!"

Slot's jaw tightened as he watched the scene unfold. He turned to his assistants, muttering, "They capitalized on our high line. We'll adjust. Focus on isolating their midfield anchor and target their defense. That's where they're vulnerable."

---

Liverpool responded with renewed intensity. Slot's adjustments were clear—Liverpool pressed even harder, with Salah and Núñez exploiting the gaps in Luton's back line. Slot directed his players to expose Luton's lack of a solid center-back, pushing Darwin Núñez into aerial duels and urging Salah to cut inside, targeting the weaker spots in Luton's defense.

"Exploit their central defense!" Slot shouted from the sidelines. "Draw their midfield forward and break through their lines. They don't have the depth to cover every attack."

Salah, Núñez, and Jota combined their efforts, bombarding Luton's goal with relentless shots and crosses. But Wakabayashi was in a league of his own. He blocked every shot, his reflexes sharp, his focus unbreakable. Even as Liverpool's attacks grew desperate, Wakabayashi remained calm, his presence radiating a fierce confidence that steadied his teammates.

As the minutes ticked down, Luton's resolve was tested to its limits. Liverpool's relentless pressure was exhausting, and Slot's tactical targeting of their weak spots put immense strain on the defense. But every block, every interception, and every save fueled their determination. They knew they were close.

In the final moments, Liverpool won a corner. Alisson, their goalkeeper, sprinted upfield to join the attack, leaving Liverpool's goal empty in a last-ditch effort. Alexander-Arnold whipped the ball into the box, and Núñez leapt, meeting it with a powerful header aimed at the bottom corner.

But Wakabayashi was ready. Diving with every ounce of energy he had left Wakabayashi stretched out his hand, his fingertips grazing the ball—but just barely missing. The crowd held their breath as the ball sailed past him and hit the back of the net. Anfield erupted in cheers, and Liverpool's players celebrated. But then, the referee raised his hand and blew his whistle, signaling for offside.

Darwin Núñez's celebration was cut short as he looked over, bewildered. The linesman's flag was up. The goal wouldn't count. Relief washed over Wakabayashi and the rest of the Luton players, while the Liverpool fans groaned in disappointment.

The commentators' voices buzzed with intensity.

"Liverpool thought they had the equalizer, but it's ruled offside! Luton Town's lead stands, but only by the slimmest of margins!"

On the sidelines, Arne Slot clenched his fists, frustration evident in his sharp gaze. He knew they had nearly cracked Luton's defense, exploiting the lack of a solid center-back. Slot turned to his bench, muttering, "That weakness in their back line… we'll break through next time. They're holding on by a thread."

The game resumed with only minutes left, and Liverpool continued to press, but Luton held firm. Wakabayashi made one final save as Salah fired a shot from the edge of the box, and moments later, the referee blew the final whistle. Luton had done it—they had defeated Liverpool at Anfield.

---

In the locker room, the atmosphere was electric. The players hugged and celebrated, laughter and cheers filling the space. Rahmat stood in the center, pride swelling in his chest as he watched his players revel in their hard-fought victory.

But as he joined in the celebration, Rahmat's mind began to turn over Slot's tactics and the way Liverpool had exploited Luton's defensive weaknesses. Despite Wakabayashi's incredible goalkeeping, they had been exposed multiple times. He could still hear Slot's voice echoing in his mind—"Exploit their central defense." Liverpool had nearly equalized, and if it hadn't been for the offside call, the game could have ended differently.

At the post-match interview, Rahmat and Wakabayashi faced a packed room of reporters, their earlier skepticism now replaced with respect and curiosity.

"Rahmat," a reporter asked, "three matches, three wins against top teams. What's the key to your success so far?"

Rahmat smiled, his voice calm but filled with conviction. "There's no secret—it's belief, hard work, and a team that fights for each other on the pitch. But we're learning each game. Today showed us that we're still growing, still improving. There are areas we need to strengthen, and I know we'll keep working to become even better."

The reporters exchanged glances, intrigued by Rahmat's hint of caution despite their victory.

Another reporter turned to Wakabayashi. "You made incredible saves today, keeping Liverpool at bay. How did you handle the pressure of facing their attack?"

Wakabayashi's gaze was steady, his voice filled with quiet determination. "My job is to protect the goal, no matter who's attacking. Liverpool is a strong team, but I trust my skills and my teammates. Today, we defended together, and that's why we won."

A final question came from a journalist near the front. "Rahmat, are you planning to reinforce your squad? You've pulled off impressive wins, but some say Luton's defense still needs work."

Rahmat nodded, his expression serious. "We're always looking to improve. This league is unforgiving, and we know we'll face more challenges. If there's an opportunity to strengthen our team—especially our defense—we'll take it."

As the interview concluded, Rahmat felt the weight of the season ahead more than ever. His players had risen to every challenge, but he knew they couldn't rely solely on individual heroics. They needed balance, stability, and a fortified defense to withstand the relentless grind of the Premier League.

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Later that night, Rahmat sat alone, reviewing the match footage. He could see it clearly now: even with Wakabayashi's heroics and Aoyama's control of the midfield, Luton's defense had gaps. His summoned players were formidable, but they weren't invincible. If they were going to survive the season, especially against teams as disciplined and ruthless as Liverpool, they needed reinforcement in the center of their defense.

Rahmat leaned back, the realization settling heavily on his shoulders. They needed a solid center-back—a defensive rock to support Wakabayashi and provide stability against relentless attacks. He made a mental note to focus on this as soon as possible before the pre season transfer window closed.