The Greatest of all Time

Chapter 688  The Debut

As Zachary and Jordan Henderson geared up on the sidelines, a sense of anticipation swept through Selhurst Park.

The Crystal Palace fans and bench appeared increasingly anxious. Having witnessed Zachary's World Cup brilliance and impressive Champions League performances with Juventus, they knew his entry into the match would make things more challenging.

Meanwhile, the few Liverpool fans who had made the trip to London were visibly thrilled, their cheers growing louder and more passionate as Zachary completed his warm-up on the sidelines.

The commentators, Alan Parry and Alan Smith, added to the anticipation. "And there he is, Zachary, warming up on the sidelines," Alan Parry announced. "The world-class signing from Juventus, fresh off a World Cup victory with Ivory Coast. This could be a game-changer, Alan."

"Absolutely, Parry," Alan Smith replied. "Zachary's presence on the pitch is bound to lift Liverpool. We've seen what he can do on the biggest stages. The Crystal Palace defense will have their hands full when he steps onto the field."

As the seconds ticked by, the ball went out of play for a Liverpool throw-in during the 73rd minute. Jürgen Klopp finally called the two substitutes over, whispering a few words into their ears, which were inaudible to the watching crowd. However, the solemn nods from Zachary and Henderson and Klopp's earnest expression made it clear that he was giving them critical instructions.

The fourth official then raised the substitution board, signaling the first change. Jordan Henderson replaced James Milner in central midfield. Then, the official fumbled with the board again before finally displaying Zachary's number.

The excitement around the stadium spiked as Zachary prepared to step onto the field for his debut, replacing Naby Keïta in midfield. Klopp gave him a pat on the shoulder, and the few traveling Liverpool fans behind one of the goals stood up, holding banners to welcome Zachary to Liverpool.

The commentators were also animated. "And here he is, Zachary is finally making his debut for Liverpool," Alan Parry exclaimed. "A player with numerous Serie A titles, two Champions League trophies, and a recent World Cup victory. This is a huge moment for him and the club."

"Indeed, Parry," Alan Smith added. "And he's wearing the iconic number 8 shirt, following in the footsteps of legends like Steven Gerrard. The fans are in for a treat. Let's see what Zachary can bring to this already dynamic Liverpool side."

Zachary, however, was focused on the game. The crowd's excitement faded into the background as he exchanged glances with his teammates, who nodded encouragingly. He jogged onto the pitch, taking his position in midfield, slightly towards the right side, ready to receive the throw-in.

The referee then blew the whistle, and the game restarted with Trent Alexander-Arnold making the throw-in to Mohamed Salah, who had opened himself on the right flank.

Salah received the ball with his back to the opposing goal, bringing it under control with his chest. He held off Patrick van Aanholt, the Crystal Palace left-back marking him tightly, before playing the ball to Georginio Wijnaldum, the midfield pivot.

The link-up between the Liverpool players was seamless, a result of many hours of practice. Wijnaldum received the ball and immediately played it forward to find Zachary, who had just stepped away from his marker.

Zachary's newly acquired SSS-grade Ball Control was magical as he received the ball with a well-timed, effortless first touch. He expertly shifted his body, letting the ball roll past Luka Milivojevic, Crystal Palace's central midfielder, who tried to sneakily dispossess him.

Zachary felt the slight tug on his shirt as Milivojevic attempted to recover, but his SSS-grade agility allowed him to accelerate away, leaving the midfielder behind.

Now, with a bit of space and a few precious seconds to decide his next move, Zachary's SSS-grade Spatial Awareness kicked in. He spotted Sadio Mané, unmarked and beginning a daring run down the left wing.

Zachary's reinforced mind and high game intelligence worked in harmony as he assessed the risks and opportunities within an instant. Without hesitation and before any other opponents could close him down, he raised his leg and unleashed a daring cross-field pass over the entire midfield.

The ball soared gracefully through the air, perfectly weighted, and descended just as Mané arrived. The few traveling Liverpool fans roared with excitement at Zachary's first complete pass for Liverpool as Mané chested the ball forward and continued his run toward the other side of the field.

Zachary's clever pass had bypassed most of the Crystal Palace defense, giving Mané a clear path. However, as Mané approached the edge of the box, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who had initially seemed out of position, recovered quickly.

The defender intercepted Mané with a perfectly timed sliding tackle. Mané tried to outmaneuver him, but Wan-Bissaka's daring slide brought him to the ground. The Liverpool players, including Roberto Firmino and Jordan Henderson, yelled out for a foul.

The referee, faster than the protests, blew his whistle and awarded Liverpool a free-kick just a few meters from the left edge of the box. Then, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a yellow card for Wan-Bissaka. The Liverpool fans erupted with anticipation as the referee didn't just stop at that but showed Wan-Bissaka a red card for his second yellow of the match, sending him off.

Some chaos emerged on the pitch as the Crystal Palace players tried to argue their case, but the referee dismissed them with a wave and motioned for Wan-Bissaka to leave the pitch.

It was then that an air of calmness descended around the Liverpool camp. With a numerical advantage, they were less worried about letting their 1-0 lead slip away. Klopp nodded repeatedly, clearly pleased with his substitute, Zachary, and the immediate impact he had already made on the game.

Meanwhile, the referee was already organizing the defensive wall on the pitch. As for the Liverpool players, they quickly set up for the free-kick close to the edge of the box, gearing up for another opportunity to extend their lead.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jordan Henderson, Sadio Mané, Mohamed Salah, and Zachary all stood around the ball, each a free-kick specialist in their own right. Although they didn't argue, it was evident that each of them wanted to take the kick.

Virgil van Dijk, sensing the tension, stepped in. "Guys, let's give this one to Zachary. It's his debut, and he's earned it," he said, his calm authority leaving no room for dispute.

Zachary thanked his new teammates and picked up the ball, placing it carefully on the free-kick spot. He could feel the eyes of everyone—the fans, the opposing players, his teammates, and coaches—on him. But his composure and mental strength allowed him to push through and block out the pressure.

His enhanced spatial awareness and game intelligence then came into play as he observed the setup of the Crystal Palace defense.

He noticed the defensive wall, tightly packed and positioned near the left edge of the box, around 20 yards from the goal. The Crystal Palace goalkeeper stood alert, slightly off-center, trying to cover as much of the goal as possible. As for the Liverpool players, they had already positioned themselves strategically, ready for any rebounds or second chances.

After making his observations, Zachary took a deep breath and centered himself. He couldn't deny feeling the pressure of the moment—on his debut match for Liverpool—but he reminded himself that a little bit of pressure was good. He had converted many free-kicks before, and this was no different.

The seconds ticked by, and then all other thoughts faded into the background as the referee blew the whistle. Zachary took a few steps back, then made an angled run towards the ball, striking it cleanly with his right foot.

The ball soared gracefully over the wall, curving beautifully, although it packed an incredible momentum behind it. The Crystal Palace goalkeeper stretched to his full length, but the shot was perfectly placed, sailing just out of his reach and into the top right corner of the net.

The stadium erupted as the ball nestled into the back of the net, signifying that Liverpool had extended their lead to 2-0 in the 77th minute. The Liverpool bench jumped up in unison, celebrating wildly. Even Klopp pumped his fists, a broad smile spreading across his face, clearly pleased with Zachary. On the pitch, Zachary's teammates rushed to him, patting him on the back and offering high fives.

"Great strike, Zach!" Jordan Henderson exclaimed, his voice full of admiration.

"Welcome to Liverpool, mate!" Sadio Mané added, his grin wide and genuine.

"Keep it up! We need more of that," Trent Alexander-Arnold said, a mix of excitement and encouragement in his tone.

Zachary celebrated in a reserved manner, aware of the moment's significance while showing his respect for the opposition. He hugged his teammates, acknowledging their support while feeling like he had unloaded a weight from his shoulders.

He hadn't messed up on his debut; instead, he had already begun to silence the doubters. His future at Liverpool now seemed even more promising.

As the players finally returned to their positions to restart the game, the commentators were still discussing the goal excitedly.

"Well, Alan, what a debut for Zachary! Scoring from a free-kick like that just a few minutes after stepping on the pitch as a substitute—it was simply sublime," Alan Parry said, his voice filled with awe.

"Absolutely, Alan. His technique was simply flawless... And to do that under pressure—in front of these fans, it's something special. Liverpool have got a gem on their hands here," Alan Smith replied, his tone equally enthusiastic.