The celebrations of Liverpool's draw against Napoli faded quickly as the focus shifted to Sunday's highly anticipated clash against Manchester United. The rivalry was fierce, the stakes immense, and with the Red Devils struggling under Jose Mourinho, the Anfield faithful sensed blood in the water.
The atmosphere inside Anfield on that day was electric. Fans packed the stands, their voices booming in unison as "You'll Never Walk Alone" echoed through the crisp December air.
From the first whistle, Liverpool seized control, dictating the tempo with their aggressive pressing and slick passing. It took only 11 minutes for the deadlock to be broken. Sadio Mané, cutting in from the left, latched onto a beautifully lofted pass from Fabinho. Then, with a deft first touch and a clinical finish, he sent the ball past David de Gea, igniting wild celebrations.
Manchester United fought back but struggled to string together meaningful attacks. Liverpool's defense, marshaled by Virgil van Dijk, was unyielding. Then, in the 28th minute, Roberto Firmino weaved through United's backline before slotting the ball home for 2-0. Just before halftime, Mohamed Salah got in on the act, pouncing on a loose ball in the box and rifling it into the net. It was 3-0 at the break.
Zachary Bemba, the Ballon d'Or winner, had been relatively quiet in the first half, but the second half was his stage.
In the 61st minute, he received a pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold, danced past Nemanja Matić and Eric Bailly, and curled a stunning effort into the top corner. Anfield erupted. Then, in the 78th minute, he struck again. Bursting through the middle, he combined with Firmino before coolly slotting past De Gea to make it 5-0.
Manchester United snatched a late consolation goal, but it did nothing to soften the humiliation. The final whistle confirmed Liverpool's dominance with a resounding 5-1 victory.
The following day, the news broke across footballing circles: Jose Mourinho had been sacked.
For Liverpool, though, there was no time to revel in their rival's turmoil. The games kept coming thick and fast, and the hunger to maintain their perfect Premier League record burned fiercely within them.
Just five days later, they traveled to Molineux for a clash against Wolves under the Friday night lights. The home side, known for their tenacity, fought hard, but Liverpool's quality shone through.
Zachary Bemba, though not on the scoresheet, was instrumental. His clever pass in the final third set up Salah for the opener. Minutes later, he was involved again, his deft flick finding Gini Wijnaldum in space, who blasted home for 2-0. Then, late in the second half, his surging run drew defenders out of position before he laid off the final ball to Firmino, who sealed the 3-0 victory.
With barely time to catch their breath, Liverpool returned to Anfield for a Boxing Day clash against Newcastle. The stadium was alive with post-Christmas excitement, and once again, Zachary delivered. He opened the scoring with a beautifully placed shot from the edge of the box before doubling his tally minutes later with a precise volley off a well-timed cross.
From there on, the floodgates opened. Salah, Lovren, and Fabinho all found the net as Liverpool stormed to a 5-0 victory, their relentless form sending another warning to the rest of the league.
Before the year was out, they still had one more challenge: Arsenal.
The Gunners arrived at Anfield hoping to cause an upset, but they were dismantled. Roberto Firmino put on a show, scoring a stunning hat-trick, while Mané and Salah added a goal each. A staggering 5-0 win capped off Liverpool's perfect first half of the season.
It was twenty games played. Twenty victories. Sixty points out of sixty. At the top of the Premier League table, they had created a 13-point cushion over second-placed Manchester City.
With confidence soaring, Liverpool marched into 2019, knowing the title was within reach, yet none of them dared to relax.
Among them, Zachary Bemba remained as focused as ever.
As the first dawn of the new year broke over Liverpool, he was already slipping into his morning routine. In the comfort of his Woolton mansion, he stretched on his yoga mat, his breaths slow and measured, visualizing the months ahead. As always, his commitment never wavered.
After a warm shower, he stepped into his sleek, modern kitchen, where a nutritious breakfast awaited—avocado toast, scrambled eggs, and a protein shake.
By 9:00 AM, he was behind the wheel of his Audi RS7 Sportback, the engine's low growl a perfect balance between power and sophistication. The drive to Melwood was smooth, the city still quiet from the previous night's celebrations. Upon arrival, he pulled into his usual parking space and made his way inside.
The dressing room was already alive with familiar faces. Mohamed Salah was adjusting his boots, Sadio Mané lacing up his cleats, and Roberto Firmino grinning at something on his phone. Virgil van Dijk sat nearby, tying his hairband with quiet focus. The air around the place buzzed with lighthearted energy, a mix of New Year's cheer and the ever-present hunger for more victories.
"Happy New Year, lads!" Zachary greeted, flashing a grin as he dropped his bag.
"Happy New Year, Zachary!" Mané responded enthusiastically, slapping him on the back.
"New year, same mission," Van Dijk added with a knowing smirk, his voice calm but firm.
Firmino finally looked up from his phone. "Same mission, same Zach setting us up, yeah?"
Zachary chuckled, shaking his head. "I'll set you up, yes, but don't expect me to pass up a chance to bury one myself."
Salah laughed. "That's what I like to hear! If you don't shoot, I'll be disappointed."
Mané nudged Zachary playfully. "Just don't forget who feeds you when you're on a hat-trick."
Zachary smirked. "Don't worry, I'll keep the balance—some for you, some for me."
The banter eventually faded as Jordan Henderson, ever the captain, reminded them of what lay ahead. "City's next, boys. They're waiting for us."
Salah stretched his arms, nodding. "They'll want revenge."
Zachary leaned against his locker, his expression thoughtful but unwavering. "Let them want whatever they want. But this season, we want the title more."
Mané grinned. "And we'll make sure they know it."
Trent Alexander-Arnold, always quick with a cheeky remark, smirked. "Same plan as usual? High press, quick transitions, make Guardiola suffer?"
Van Dijk chuckled, shaking his head. "That's Klopp's job, mate. He's got all that covered—we just execute."
"Exactly," Henderson agreed, his voice carrying quiet authority. "We stick to what we do best, trust the system, and play our game. If we do that, they won't stop us."
The room buzzed with energy, the determination clear in their eyes. They had been unstoppable so far, and they had no plans of slowing down.