Chapter 20 – The Theatre of Hate (Second Half)

Date: 23 September 2012

Fixture: Liverpool vs Manchester United – Matchday 5, Premier League

Venue: Anfield, Liverpool

Halftime score: 1–1 (Goals: Suárez, Rafael)

The away locker room at Anfield smelled of sweat, and tension.

Sir Alex stood at the front, jacket off, white shirt sleeves rolled. His voice cut through the muffled roars from outside.

"We've wrestled back control," he said, eyes moving from player to player. "They want us to overreact. Keep your heads."

His gaze stopped on Alex, seated between Cleverley and Valencia, still catching his breath from warm-up sprints.

"You'll come on," Sir Alex said simply. "Last thirty. Right wing. Keep the tempo high, be sharp. And don't overthink it."

Alex nodded, pulse rising.

Rooney added, "Play it simple at first. Then—" he smirked, "make them hate you."

A chuckle swept through the room. Tension broke like a window.

Second Half

The whistle blew again.

Liverpool surged forward with renewed aggression, feeding on the fury of the Kop. Gerrard unleashed a rocket in the 52nd minute that forced De Gea into a sprawling save. The ball stayed alive, pinballing through legs in the box before Jonny Evans cleared it.

United didn't buckle. They reset, probing patiently.

Minute 60 – Substitution: Alex Marshall ON, Antonio Valencia OFF.

He jogged on to a mixed chorus of boos and curiosity.

Carrick clapped his back. "They don't know what's coming."

67th Minute – United Goal

Rooney drifted wide, dragging Skrtel with him. A decoy run from Kagawa split the defensive line, leaving a pocket of space begging to be exploited.

Scholes received and turned with elegance only he possessed. His eyes scanned like a radar — quick, sharp.

He slid the ball to Carrick. One touch, then a smooth diagonal out wide.

Carrick: calm as ever. He picks out the youngster on the right flank—Marshall with room to run!

Alex took it in stride, his boots dancing across the slick grass. The touch was velvet, the tempo rising with every stride.

Glen Johnson scrambled into position, but he looked unsure. Alex's body feinted one way, then snapped the other.

He chopped inside—sharp—then surged down the byline with frightening acceleration.

Commentator 1 (Martin Tyler): "Oh, lovely feet from the youngster—Marshall skipping past Johnson like he's not even there!"

Commentator 2 (Gary Neville): "He's been fearless since coming on. And look at that composure—he's not rushing it."

Alex lifted his head, heart pounding. A blur of red and white crashed the box.

Where is he?

There. A glimpse of movement.

Van Persie ghosted in toward the near post, just ahead of Agger.

Alex didn't hesitate. He wrapped his foot around the ball — a whipped, low, teasing cross with wicked curve and pace.

The kind that begged to be touched.

Neville (urgent): "That's a perfect ball in—"

Tyler: "VAN PERSIEEEE—!"

The Dutchman slid in full stretch.

Contact.

The ball shot under Reina's diving arm and into the netting with a satisfying thud.

GOAL. 2–1 UNITED.

The away end exploded. Players swarmed Van Persie, but Alex was the one Rooney pointed at from midfield, yelling with a massive grin.

Tyler (voice rising): "What a delivery from Marshall! The 17-year-old with the awareness of a seasoned pro—inch-perfect for Van Persie to finish!"

Neville (laughing): "That's no fluke, Martin. That's a lad who knows exactly what he's doing. Sir Alex will love that."

Van Persie jogged over, clapping Alex on the back. "Perfect," he said with a wink, "absolutely perfect."

Alex smiled, chest rising and falling. The cold, the noise, the pressure—none of it mattered anymore.

He belonged here.

2–1 United.

74th Minute – Liverpool Response

Suárez almost equalized moments earlier — a brilliant flick-on from Gerrard released him inside the box.

He twisted past Evans and let fly with the outside of his boot — vicious, curling.

But De Gea stood tall.

Thud!An outstretched boot. A vital deflection.

The ball ricocheted out for a corner.

(Martin Tyler):"That is massive from De Gea! Point-blank save with his foot — and Liverpool can't believe it!"

(Gary Neville):"Top drawer, Martin. You expect Suárez to bury that. But De Gea — just world-class reactions!"

Anfield seethed. Boiling. Fuming. A cauldron of rage and desperation.

The fans screamed. You could taste the venom in the air. Spit rained down near the corner flag.

Alex didn't stop. He tracked back tirelessly, legs burning, shadowing Johnson's overlapping runs.

Every duel, every clearance, every ball — felt like war.

United gritted their teeth. This wasn't a game anymore. This was survival.

82nd Minute — United Goal

Scholes received the ball near the halfway line. Calm. Poised. Eternal.

He moved like a man unbothered by time. He didn't run — he flowed.

He picked the ball clean off Joe Allen, as if stealing candy from a distracted child.

Neville (in awe):"Look at him… Scholes. Just glides past Allen. The man's 37 but still dictating this match."

Alex took off down the right, waving for the ball — desperate to break into space.

But Scholes lifted a hand, motioning him to hold.

Wait.

A heartbeat. A feint. Then—

There it was.

A disguised, devilish pass. Threaded like a needle between two defenders.

It wasn't meant for the wing.

Rooney.

He read it. He always did.

He ghosted in behind Skrtel, chest puffed, timing flawless.

Reina came charging out — all limbs and panic.

Rooney didn't panic. He never did in moments like these.

He shaped his body and side-footed it into the far corner, smooth and certain.

Tyler (roaring):"Wayne Rooney! Clinical! Scholes the architect, Rooney the executioner — and that… could seal it!"

Neville:"Mate, what a pass. That's Paul Scholes at his sneaky best — eyes looking right, foot slipping it through the middle. Pure genius."

Tyler:"And Manchester United lead 3–1 at Anfield. Ruthless. Absolutely ruthless!"

Rooney turned and pumped his fist, but he didn't over-celebrate. He pointed to Scholes first, then jogged back with a smirk.

Sir Alex didn't celebrate either. Just a firm nod, arms crossed.

That'll do.

Alex jogged past Rooney on his way to reset.

"Beautiful," Rooney muttered with a grin. "Let's finish it."

The scoreboard read 1–3.

But it might as well have read: Statement Made.

Post-Match – Full Time at Anfield

Liverpool 1 – 3 Manchester United

The referee blew the final whistle.

A chorus of whistles and boos followed. Not from the away end — they were singing. Bellowing.

"We are top of the league!"

Scarves spun. Flags waved.

The United players embraced each other briefly — Rooney slapped Van Persie's back, Rafael pointed at the sky. Scholes simply walked off like it was a training ground session.

Alex stood still for a moment on the pitch. Breathing in. Letting it soak.

An assist.

At Anfield.

Dreams didn't feel like this.

They were worse — because dreams ended.

This? This was real.

(Martin Tyler):"What a performance from Manchester United — but special praise for the youngster Alexander Marshall. Just sixteen. A Premier League debut. And he didn't just show up — he made an impact."

Gary Neville:"Massive mentality from the lad. Big stage. Hostile crowd. Didn't shrink — grew into it. That assist to Van Persie — brilliant decision-making. This boy's the real deal."

Tunnel – Post-Match Corridor

Alex walked with the rest of the team down the tunnel. Applause from the staff and kit crew followed. Even Rio gave him a little shoulder bump.

"Not bad, kid. Not bad," he smirked.

Inside the changing room, the mood was buzzing.

Rooney flopped into his seat and chucked his boots into a bag. "You've just made the hardest debut you'll ever get. Rest of 'em are easier now."

Sir Alex entered moments later, quieting the room with just his presence.

"Good result," he said, voice sharp but proud. "But it's just one match. You win titles in May. Remember that."

Then his eyes shifted to Alex.

"You."

Alex straightened like a cadet.

Sir Alex gave a small nod. "You didn't play like a debutant."

That was it.The biggest compliment of them all.

Outside the Stadium 

It was raining again.

Alex sat by the window as the team bus pulled away from Anfield. The lights of the stadium faded behind them.

His phone buzzed.

[Dad]

Proud doesn't even begin to describe it. Your mum's crying again.

He smiled.

[Big Brother]

Tell Van Persie I want his boots. Also… you're a f**ing baller.*

He chuckled.

Then another ping.

[Wayne Rooney]

We need to talk tomorrow. You're ready.

Mentorship Path Update: Wayne Rooney – Progress 3/10New Objective Unlocked: Earn Respect in the Dressing Room (0/3)

Alex leaned back. Head against the cool glass. Heart racing.

This was the end of the beginning.

Anfield was only Chapter One of a greater war.

Season 1 – Complete.