The crisp December morning air carried the promise of another thrilling Premier League clash as the clock struck 5:30 AM at Liverpool's Melwood training ground.
The players, bundled in tracksuits and jackets, boarded the team bus with quiet anticipation. The early kick-off against Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium loomed, and though the hour was ungodly, the mood was electric.
Liverpool sat atop the Premier League table, unbeaten in 15 games, and the squad brimmed with belief.
Zachary Bemba, fresh from his Ballon d'Or triumph and rested after sitting out the Burnley match, was among the first to board.
His headphones rested lightly around his neck, but he wasn't listening to music—his thoughts were fixed on the game ahead. His mind visualized the pitch, the runs he would make, the passes he would deliver, and the goals he would score.
