LIVERPOOL 3, MAN CITY 1
Liverpool put down an impressive marker for the new season with victory against Manchester City, the clash of last season’s top two in the Premier League, to lift The FA Community Shield.
Goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez gave Jurgen Klopp’s FA Cup winners their first piece of silverware of the new campaign. as they defeated the Premier League champions.
It was a merited victory as Liverpool produced an impressive display with Salah, after recently signing a new contract, the lynchpin of the side as they recorded their first Shield victory since 2006.
And after losing Shields to City in 2019 and 2020, it was sweet for Liverpool to finally get the better of them in the traditional curtain-raiser to the new season.
City, beaten by Leicester in last season’s Shield, had their moments but were not at their breathtaking best.
And the loss was at Leicester’s King Power Stadium as Wembley could not be used because of this weekend’s women’s Euro final.
City manager Pep Guardiola was happy with his side’s performance, even though they lost.
“Our game was there, and it was really good. We created enough chances,” he said.
“We need to improve and this month to get the tempo, and we will do it.”
Embed from Getty ImagesGuardiola was happy with the performance of new-boy Erling Haaland.
He added: “He had two or three chances in the first half and one at the end. He fought a lot and showed good movement.
“It was good for him to see the reality of a new country. He was there and, though he didn’t score, he will do so on another day.
“He has incredible quality and will do it. He has an incredible sense.”
Klopp described it as a good start adding it was a “good watch”.
He was delighted with the display from Nunez, saying: “Strikers are a special species and they need goals or goal involvements.
“Even if he hadn’t scored, he won the penalty with his header and had a very good chance before that.
“To get the chance was the icing on the cake. You could see in his face and in his teampmates how happy they were.”
Klopp was also pleased with the quality from his side’s bench saying they all contributed.
Haaland went straight into the action, starting up front for the Premier League champions.
But £45million acquisition Kalvin Phillips from Leeds was on the bench, as was Argentine new boy Julian Alvarez and England international Phil Foden.
Fernandinho has gone so Ruben Dias took the captain’s armband.
Klopp left big summer signing Nunez on the bench.
Now without the services of the departed Sadio Mane, it meant Salah, Roberto Firmino and Luis Diaz started up front.
A goalkeeping crisis with injuries to Alisson and Caoimhin Kelleher meant third-choice Adrian started.
The Liverpool fans didn’t cover themselves in glory pre-match as they jeered the National Anthem, just as they did in the final of the FA Cup in May.
From the start, the pace and tempo was pulsating as both sides wanted to set a marker for the new campaign – far removed from some of the tepid Shields of previous years.
Liverpool set the early pace with Salah a threat on the right every time he ran at Joao Cancelo.
Salah and City’s Kevin De Bruyne both flashed early shots into the side netting while Andrew Robertson headed narrowly wide.
It was no surprise when Liverpool, impressive early on, took a 21st minute lead.
Salah provided the assist with a cut back from the right for Alexander-Arnold to sweep home a shot which flew in off the upright, albeit with a nick off the head of Nathan Ake.
City came more into the game into the final 20 minutes of the half as De Bruyne’s deflected effort rippled the side netting before Haaland had his first chances, two in quick succession.
Adrian kept out his initial effort with his legs then he dived in with his wrong leg and just failed to connect with a low ball across the face of goal.
Riyad Mahrez had a great chance for City early in the second period when he got behind the Liverpool defence only for Adrian make an important block.
Just short of the hour, City made a double change as Jack Grealish and Mahrez were replaced by Phil Foden and Julian Alvares. Liverpool brought on Nunez for Firmino.
Nunez had an early chance when out clean through by Jordan Henderson only for his shot to hit Ederson full in the face as he needed treatment for the blow.
City equalised with 19 minutes left after a decision to rule out Alvarez’ goal for offside was overturned by VAR.
De Bruyne floated a ball into the box to Foden’s whose shot was blocked by Adrian with Alvarez reacting quickest to fire home the loose ball.
The assistant referee flagged for offside but, after a lengthy wait, the goal was awarded. It was a mighty close call, underlined by the time it took to make a definite ruling.
City brought on Ilkay Gundogan for De Bruyne while Liverpool replaced Alexander-Arnold with James Milner and Harvey Elliott for Henderson.
Liverpool then appealed for a penalty as Nunez’ header from Salah’s cross hit the arm of Dias.
Referee Craig Pawson waved play on but after protest VAR intervened and, after viewing the incident, sent Pawson to the pitchside monitor and he awarded a penalty which Salah converted low to the left of Ederson.
Then in the fourth of seven added minutes, Liverpool sealed victory with their third goal.
Salah’s cross was headed back across the face of goal by Robertson for Nunez to stoop and nod the ball low past Ederson.
And in the last minute, Haaland missed a sitter as he looked certain to score his first competitive goal for City.
Foden’s initial effort was parried by Adrian and fell invitingly to Haaland who, from six yards, struck the top of the crossbar, a miss which characterised their performance and showed they were not firing on all cylinders.