City edged out by Liverpool in Community Shield

Men's Team

Four Premier League fixtures in October altered for TV coverage

Liverpool made a fast start and were deservedly ahead when Trent Alexander-Arnold fired past Ederson.

City were much improved after the second half and substitute Julian Alvarez equalised from close range after Phil Foden had caused panic in the Liverpool six-yard box. 

But a late Mo Salah penalty and an injury-time header from Darwin Nunez sealed the victory for Jurgen Klopp’s men. 

It’s the second consecutive season City have lost the traditional curtain-raiser, with our last Community Shield success coming in 2019.

What happened?

Liverpool looked far sharper than City in the opening stages and took a deserved lead when Trent Alexander-Arnold’s first-time strike hit the inside of the post and went in.

But City began to gain control and Erling Haaland forced a save from Adrian after fending off the challenge of Andy Robertson. And getting a left-footed shot away whilst falling to the ground. City quickly recycled possession and a ball into the box saw Haaland get another chance, this time from close range, which he put over the bar and perhaps should have done better. It was a moment to whet the appetite, with Haaland’s physicality and presence in the 18-yard box an exciting prospect.

Riyad Mahrez chested the ball past Robertson and got a shot away seconds after the restart, but Adrian parried away to safety, and just after the hour mark it was Ederson’s turn to make a save as he came off his line superbly to deny substitute Darwin Nunez. 

The second-half introductions of Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden had lifted City and it was the Argentine striker who equalised on 70 minutes after a lengthy VAR delay, poking home from close range after Foden had nicked the ball just ahead of Adrian. Initially, the goal was ruled out for an offside against Foden in the build up, but he had timed his run perfectly and VAR overturned the decision. 

City appeared to be in the ascendency, but with eight minutes of the game remaining, Liverpool were awarded a penalty after Nunez’s header was adjudged to have his Ruben Dias‘ arm. Mo Salah stepped up and fired the ball into the bottom corner past Ederson. 

Haaland had the ball in the back of the net late on as City went in search of an equaliser, but the ball had gone out of play before Foden‘s backheel pull back. 

The game was over as a contest shortly after when Nunez added a third with a close-range header five minutes into injury time, but there was still time for another City chance moments later when Haaland hit the crossbar with the goal at his mercy. 

Work to do

With the 2022/23 season starting earlier to allow for the first-ever winter World Cup, summer preparations have been truncated.

Having looked surprisingly sharp in both US Tour matches, City looked off the pace for the opening half an hour of this one, before gaining a foothold in the game and producing some decent moments.

This was a valuable workout ahead of our Premier League game at West Ham next weekend, with the minutes on the pitch here vital 

The first three weeks of the season see City play three Premier League matches, meaning Pep Guardiola has full weeks before each one to get his side on the training field. That will be prove hugely valuable.

Teams

Liverpool: Adrian, Alexander-Arnold (Milner 74’), Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson (Elliott 73’), Thiago (Keita 85’), Diaz (Carvalho 90’), Salah, Firmino (Nunez 58’)

Unused subs: Davies, Gomez, Konate, Jones

City: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Ake, Cancelo, Rodrigo, De Bruyne (Gundogan 73’), Bernardo, Mahrez (Foden 58’), Grealish (Alvarez 58’), Haaland

Unused subs: Ortega, Phillips, Stones, Mbete, Palmer, Wilson-Esbrand

What it means

Liverpool are the 2022 Community Shield winners, their first success since 2006. 

Up next

The Premier League is back next weekend.

Our defence of the trophy starts with a trip to West Ham on Sunday 7 August, which kicks off at 16:30 (BST).

That gives Guardiola a full week to continue preparations on the training pitch.

With four summer signings currently bedding in, that is a valuable period for the manager to get his ideas across and ensure everyone is ready for the new season.