Fa Cup winners Liverpool and Premier League winners Manchester City engage in a battle to win an early silverware before the season commences by lifting the Community Shield. This time the event will be staged at the King Power Stadium as the final of the UEFA Women’s Euro is being held at Wembley on Sunday.
This will be the second meeting between the side in this one-off game after City emerged victorious on penalties in 2019 following a 1-1 draw with the Reds in the game.
LIV vs MCI Match Details
Date: 30th July 2022
Time: 17:00 (BST)/ 21:30 (IST)
Venue: King Power Stadium, Leicester
LIV vs MCI Match Preview
So close yet so far for Liverpool as they came near to complete an unprecedented quadruple last season falling short of the Premier League title by a point and then in the Champions League final against Real Madrid. Instead, the Reds had to settle for a domestic cup double in two thrilling finals, both against the same opposition Chelsea triumphing through penalties. Liverpool are willing to mimic their incredible season last time out and has strengthened the squad more with the arrival of free-scoring Uruguayan Darwin Nunez from Benfica. With Mohammed Salah also signing a new extension at the club the air of positivity is blowing in the camp. Though, the pre-season tours have not been that convincing with a 4-0 loss to Manchester United not ideal way to start it with a 1-0 loss to Salzburg in the last friendly also not sitting well. However, wins over Crystal Palace and a 5-0 romping of Leipzig could prove otherwise. The Reds have a chance now to put all the critics into bed by winning the 100th Community Shield a week before the proper campaign begins. It will give them a boost knowing Manchester City, who tipped them to the Premier League title on a dramatic final day of last season by a point again, is in the final. Jurgen Klopp’s men also beat their title rivals 3-2 in the FA Cup semifinal earlier this year after both meetings in the league ended 2-2. However, Liverpool have lost both of last two Community Shield games with the ten time winners yet to win this trophy since 2006.
Manchester City, though, have taken to the pitch to fight for this trophy more than anyone else in the recent seasons courtesy of winning four Premier League titles in five years. Pep Guardiola’s men tasted defeated last year in the hands of Leicester City through an 89th penalty converted by ex-Man City player Kelechi Iheanacho. The season that followed was amazing with the winners of the Premier League season not decided until the final day of the season. To get more excited about, City added two of the best players in their role in this summer window to their already trophy laden squad. First being the clinical scorer, Erling Haaland whose release clause in Borussia Dortmund was triggered in a high price move and second a prominent midfielder in Kalvin Phillips from Leeds. Both have a good chance to start this game as a perfect warm up for the new season in a completely new yet winning environment. City’s pre-season tour was short with only two friendlies played in the USA against Club America and Bayern Munich, triumphing in both comfortably. The latest Community Shield fixture against Liverpool is a chance for them to get their hands on the silverware for a seventh time having lost more than they have won in this contest. City have done it before in 2019 defeating the Reds 5-4 on penalties after Raheem Sterling’s opener inside only 12 minutes into the game was canceled out by Joel Matip’s header in the 77th minute. There was also an acrobatic last gasp goal-line clearance in extra-time from Kyle Walker to deny Salah and Liverpool the trophy on the day.
Pre-season Form
LIV: LWWL
MCI: WW
LIV vs MCI Team News
Jurgen Klopp confirmed goalkeeper Alisson and forward Diogo Jota won’t be featuring on Saturday as they continue to nurse their injury picked up in pre-season. However, the Brazilian will definitely be available for the opening Premier League game against Fulham next weekend. The Portuguese, though, will take a while before being considered for selection again. With Caoimhin Keller also missing out, third-choice keeper Adrian will be seen donning the gloves against Man City. Midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain wish to be back from a hamstring injury he suffered in the pre-season alongside left-back Kostas Tsimikas who was absent from the last game due to a knock. New signing Calvin Ramsey is lacking in fitness and is not ready for action just yet.
Big news from the league champions’ camp is that center-back Aymeric Laporte will miss out on at least the month of the season due to knee surgery. That leaves Manchester City with only three senior center-backs in John Stones, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake with the Englishmen not participating in the pre-season tour to the USA for vaccine status. Right-back Kyle Walker can slot into the position but has only done so in a back three previously while new midfielder Kalvin Phillips looks to be the more convenient option.
LIV vs MCI Predicted Lineups
LIV: Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Virgil Van Dijk, Andrew Robertson, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago, Mohammed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz
MCI: Ederson, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo, De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez, Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish
LIV vs MCI Dream11 prediction
GK: Ederson (8.5)
DEF: Alexander-Arnold (9.5), Van Dijk (8.5), Dias (8.5), Cancelo (9)
MID: De Bruyne (10), Thiago (8.5), Fabinho (8.5), B.Silva (9)
FW: Haaland (10), Salah (10)
