THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
chapter-686

The famous Crystal Palace stadium finally loomed ahead after a few more minutes, its lights shining brightly in the evening dusk. Zachary's anticipation surged, and he felt his adrenaline spiking.

The bus pulled into the stadium's parking area, and the players disembarked, their focus intensifying with each step. Zachary took a deep breath, soaking in the charged atmosphere around him as he followed his new teammates out of the bus.

As he walked towards the entrance, the reactions of the Crystal Palace fans were a mix of hostility and awe. The boos were louder now, but Zachary also heard murmurs of his name, whispers acknowledging his prowess and the impact he could have on the game.

This was the Premier League, where respect for skill often transcended club loyalties, even if only briefly. As he took everything in, Zachary appreciated such a footballing culture.

Inside the stadium, the Liverpool squad made a beeline for the visiting team's locker room, where they quickly began their final preparations.

Though not as grand as Anfield's, the locker room was functional and filled with all the necessities to ready the team for the game. The room buzzed with focused energy as players changed into their warm-up kits and prepared for the pre-match dynamic warm-up.

Then, as the stadium filled up, the team took the pitch for their warm-up. In the midst of the noise and excitement, Zachary remained focused, going through his pre-game routines until he felt completely locked in.

After the warm-up, the players gathered again in the visiting team's dressing room for Klopp's final pep talk. With his trademark passion and tactical insight, Klopp stressed the importance of a strong start, maintaining possession, and exploiting Crystal Palace's defensive weaknesses. His words fired up the team, setting the stage for the exciting showdown ahead.

Finally, at 8:50 PM, Klopp concluded his pep talk and sent the team out of the dressing room. As they left, Klopp patted Zachary on the shoulder and said, "You're starting on the bench, but be ready. We might need you out there."

Zachary nodded, meeting Klopp's eyes with a gaze exuding confidence and determination. "I'll be ready, coach," he promised.

Following his teammates out of the dressing room, Zachary entered the tunnel leading to the pitch. The atmosphere was hyper, the noise from the crowd now a resounding roar.

Zachary also felt the uniqueness of Selhurst Park, with its compact design that felt more intimate and intense compared to Anfield's grandeur. The fans seemed closer to the field, their energy overwhelming.

As Zachary finally stepped onto the pitch and took his place on the bench, he scanned the stadium. The stands were packed, the fans creating a sea of red and blue. The pitch looked pristine, a perfect stage for the night's drama.

Zachary's hope soared as he knew that tonight could be the night he made his mark in the Premier League with Liverpool in such an atmosphere.

Settling into his seat, he watched the starting eleven line up on the field before the tunnel. The floodlights cast a brilliant glow over the stadium, and the sounds from the massive crowd built to a crescendo of expectation as the players went through their pre-match handshakes.

Zachary took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment and the promise of what was to come.

Meanwhile, as the players took their positions on the pitch, Alan Parry and Alan Smith, the Sky Sports commentators, were doing their own thing.

As always, they were positioned in their commentary booth high above the pitch, with a perfect view of the action below. They began their commentary, their vibrant voices echoing through the stadium and into the homes of millions of viewers.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Selhurst Park for this exciting Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and Liverpool," Alan Parry began, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "It's a packed house tonight, and the atmosphere is electric."

"Absolutely, Alan," Alan Smith chimed in. "And what a game we have in store. Liverpool are coming off a strong win against West Ham—and they're looking to build on that momentum here tonight."

"Let's not forget Crystal Palace's last match," Parry continued. "They secured a solid 2-0 victory away at Fulham. It was an impressive performance, and they'll be looking to bring that same energy here at home."

The cameras panned across the field, showing the players shaking hands and preparing for kick-off, and then focused momentarily on Zachary, seated on the Liverpool bench.

"And there he is," Parry continued, his tone shifting to one brimming with anticipation. "Zachary Bemba, the man of the hour and Liverpool's newest star. What a journey this young man has had."

"Indeed," Smith agreed. "Zachary Bemba, fresh from a stellar World Cup campaign with Ivory Coast where he won the World Cup trophy, the Golden Boot, and the Golden Ball. Not to mention his impressive stint with Juventus, where he secured several Serie A titles and two Champions League trophies."

"He's certainly a player to watch," Parry added. "There's a lot of excitement about his move to Liverpool, and fans are eagerly waiting to see what kind of impact he'll make in the Premier League."

The camera lingered on Zachary, capturing his focused expression as he watched the action unfold on the field.

"Will tonight be the night he makes his debut for Liverpool?" Smith pondered. "And if so, what kind of difference will he make? We're all eager and waiting to find out."

Parry then shifted the focus back to the match-up. "Crystal Palace will be a tough opponent. Players like Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke can be dangerous against big teams like Liverpool. Zaha's pace and Benteke's aerial threat will test Liverpool's defense."

"Absolutely," Smith exclaimed. "I can't wait to see how Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez handle those challenges on Liverpool's side. It's also going to be fascinating to witness Klopp's strategy in action."

"Klopp will likely aim to dominate the midfield," Parry chimed in. "With Wijnaldum, Milner, and Keïta starting, they'll look to take control of the game and set up opportunities for their dynamic front three of Firmino, Mané, and Salah. And if Zachary comes on during the game, Liverpool will have even more firepower in midfield and upfront to really overwhelm Crystal Palace."

In the meantime, the anticipation in the stadium reached a fever pitch as the captains completed the coin toss, and the players took their positions, ready for kick-off. Then, as the referee finally blew the whistle to kick off the game, the cheers hit another explosive crescendo.

Zachary felt the adrenaline surge through his veins. The crowd's overwhelming energy, the players' intensity, and the moment's significance all combined to create a heady mix of excitement and determination. He was ready for whatever came next, fully prepared to seize any opportunity given to him by the coach.