Liverpool 3-1 Manchester City
Liverpool beat Manchester City to win the 2022 Community Shield in a pulsating contest at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
Community Shield: Liverpool vs Manchester City brought together the best two teams in England and they put on a great show at the King Power Stadium as Trent Alexander-Arnold opened the scoring with a curling effort on 20 minutes. City roared back and new boy Julian Alvarez levelled on 71 minutes before Salah settled the game with a late spot kick, and Darwin Nunez made it three in injury time.
The Liverpool vs Manchester City betting odds backed a Sky Blues win and they dominated the stats, but it is the Reds who pick up the first silverware of the 2022/23 campaign.
Highlights of the game
The early stage Liverpool vs Manchester City highlights told a story of Red dominance as Jurgen Klopp’s side came out of the blocks at a breakneck pace.
In the opening minute Thiago had a shot blocked and a couple of minutes later Ruben Dias had to move quickly to stop a Luis Diaz shot. Mo Salah left Joao Cancelo in his wake before firing into the side netting and Andy Robertson hammered his own shot narrowly wide.
And on 20 minutes Liverpool’s early effort paid off when Trent opened the scoring with a peach of a goal. It was another flowing Liverpool move, and when Thiago switched the play out to the right Mo Salah pulled the ball back into the path of Trent who curled a beauty into the left hand corner, with the slightest of deflections off the head of Nathan Ake.
The goal prompted a response from pep Guardiola’s City and when Riyad Mahrez latched on to a poor clearance from Adrian he fed Kevin De Bruyne but he shot past the near post. Then Erling Braut Haaland, who opened his account for the Sky Blues in a 1-0 win over FC Bayern, had two good chances. First he made a determined run and got his shot away under pressure but straight at Adrian. And moments later the big Norwegian met a cross from Bernardo Silva but skewed his flying volley wide.
Manchester City started the second half as they ended the first and the almost drew level when Rodri chipped a ball over the Liverpool defence onto the foot of Mahrez, but his mishit shot gave Adrian the chance to clear.
Guardiola rang the changes on the hour, bringing on Phil Foden and debutant Julian Alvarez for Mahrez and Jack Grealish; while Klopp introduced Liverpool’s latest star Darwin Nunez for Firmino. And it was Nunez who almost made an immediate impact, bursting through on goal and with a one on one he tried to chip Ederson, but hit the Brazilian keeper in the face with his effort.
And then the Sky Blues subs combined to level when Foden’s volley was saved by Adrian and Alvarez turned home the rebound. City celebrated wildly but the linesman’s flag went up for offside, and after an agonising wait for VAR Foden was judged to be onside and the celebrations erupted again.
City pushed for a winner but the game swung again when there was VAR action at the other end and the tension at the King Power reached fever pitch. Salah crossed for Nunez and his goal bound header struck the hand of Dias. It looked like the defender may have been pulling his hand away, but when the ref went to look at the monitor there would only be one outcome.
A penalty on 83 minutes.
Ederson dived the right way but Salah’s spot kick was low, hard and clinically swept into the bottom right corner.
With seven minutes of injury time City had time to level again, but Nunez got his goal, finishing off a brilliant move with a clever header to make it 3-1.
And Haaland still had time to hit the crossbar with the goal gaping.
Delight for Klopp, huge frustration for Guardiola
Key statistics
At a SBOTOP price 2.25 Liverpool were underdogs for this match and with 57 per cent possession and eight shots to four on target City had plenty of opportunity to win. But Liverpool were ultimately more clinical.
Ten of Trent’s 13 goals for Liverpool have been scored from outside the penalty area; he’s better known for his assists though, making 45 in 161 Premier League appearances.
Salah scored six penalties last season and the last he missed was at the King Power in December.
Klopp has now won every piece of domestic silverware as Liverpool boss.
What’s next?
Well it’s first blood to Liverpool and now we can get down to the serious business of the Premier League.
Next Saturday Liverpool open their campaign against Premier League new boys Fulham while Manchester City take a trip to West Ham on Sunday. I’d expect both teams to leave the capital city with three points but the opening day sometimes throws up a shock or two.
Either way we’re sure to be in for another great title race with Manchester City and Liverpool leading the way.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
