Tag: Community Shield

Liverpool, Man City treated the Community Shield like a real game

The Community Shield seemed to matter this time

The FA Community Shield functions as a curtain raiser for English soccer, but with Liverpool and Manchester City likely set to battle for every trophy once again, the Premier League giants treated what is ostensibly a friendly like a final.

Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola fielded extremely strong lineups, and kept them out there for the first hour before making subs like…£85m addition Darwin Núñez. Fans in the crowd roared, both teams lobbied furiously for VAR decisions that went their way, smoke bombs were tossed onto the pitch. If the teams were supposed to just be getting an easy run-out in as part of their preseason preparations, no one told them.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s beautifully composed 20-yard finish gave the Reds the lead, but new addition Julián Álvarez got Man City level on a goal that was initially called off only for VAR, after a spell, to overturn that choice.

VAR was involved again on the winner, as Núñez’s header struck Rúben Dias. This wait was even longer, but in the end Mohamed Salah was granted a spot kick after Dias was judged to have handled the ball, and the Egyptian fired home the winner.

Even with Liverpool facing another friendly Sunday—they’ll host Strasbourg at Anfield—they were playing at their familiar high tempo, and Núñez improvised a header in stoppage time to get Liverpool their first trophy of the year.

That said, there was still a preseason sort of moment mixed in. Even deeper into stoppage time, Erling Haaland somehow managed to fire into the stands when standing in front of an open net, capping off a frustrating day at the office for Man City’s biggest summer addition.

Still, the fact was that it felt like it mattered, rather than simply being one more game in the mess of preseason fixtures. Teams generally brush off a Community Shield loss, especially when their opponent isn’t supposed to contend for much in the coming season (see: Man City losing to Leicester City last season).

But when you’re Liverpool, coming off of a season that kept ending with second-place finishes, it makes sense to throw down the gauntlet to Man City and the rest of the league. And if you’re City, of course you want to maintain your place as England’s best team.

Sometimes this kind of ceremonial season kick-off kind of game can just sort of drift by. They give a trophy out, and no one spends time thinking about it again for the rest of the year.

This time, between these two teams? It feels like the first chapter of a saga.

See the goals that won Liverpool the Community Shield

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Three reasons to watch Liverpool vs. Man City in Community Shield

The top two teams in the Premier League will square off in an early-season test

Manchester City and Liverpool will square off at the King Power Stadium on Saturday in the Community Shield, the official kickoff of the season in England.

Liverpool reached the match by winning the FA Cup while City earned its spot by winning the Premier League.

It will be an early test for the teams, who have emerged as far and away the top two sides in the Premier League in recent seasons.

WATCH: The Community Shield is live on ESPN+!  Get ESPN+

Here are three reasons why it’s worth tuning in on Saturday, followed by more information about the game.

1. The battle of the new strikers

Manchester City and Liverpool both spent big on new strikers in the summer. Liverpool paid Benfica a club-record fee of £64 million plus another potential £21m in add-ons for Darwin Núñez, while City paid Dortmund a relatively bargain price of £50m for Erling Haaland. 

Both forwards showed in preseason why their new clubs valued them so highly. Núñez scored four goals in a half against RB Leipzig, while Haaland got on the scoresheet in his first appearance of the preseason against Bayern Munich.

2. How will Liverpool replace Mané?

This match will provide an early look at how Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will go about replacing Sadio Mané, who left this summer to join Bayern Munich.

Mané has been a huge part of Liverpool’s success in recent seasons, meaning his departure will leave a void even if Klopp does have a host of high-quality attackers at his disposal.

With Diogo Jota injured, Luiz Diaz will likely fill Mané’s spot wide right against City. Diaz proved an inspired signing after joining from Porto midway through last season. The Colombian is a different kind of threat than Mané, but his ability to combine with Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and other Liverpool attackers will be vital this season.

3. An early-season statement of intent

City and Liverpool have become something of a duopoly in England. The teams have finished one-two in the Premier League in three of the past four seasons, and are expected to once again go toe-to-toe for the title in 2022-23.

The Community Shield, then, will be a chance for the teams to make a statement in the first game of the season. Liverpool and City could be challenging each other for four trophies in 2022-23, and whoever wins the first trophy of the year will feel just a little better about their prospects heading into the season.

When is the Community Shield?

The 2022 Community Shield will kick off on Saturday, July 30 at 12 p.m. ET.

How can I watch the Community Shield?

The Community Shield will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Where is the Community Shield?

The Community Shield will take place at the King Power Stadium in Leicester rather than its usual location of Wembley Stadium, which is unavailable due to hosting the Women’s Euro 2022 final the following day.

It will be the first time since 2012, when the match was played at Villa Park due to the London Olympics, that the game won’t be held at Wembley.

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