Liverpool secured their 16th Community Shield with a 3-1 win over old foes Manchester City at the King Power Stadium. Goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and new signing Darwin Núñez saw the Reds win the annual curtain-raiser.
With big money transfers made by the two clubs during the summer, only City’s £51 million signing, Erling Haaland lined up to start the game. However, it was a blast from the past that showed silky skills from the start as Salah fired into the side-netting to send the City defence an early warning. As quick as a flash, the Citizens hit back through Kevin De Bruyne, but he also found the wrong side of the goal in an open start to the game.
Liverpool appeared the brighter of the two sides in the opening 15 minutes as they went close to opening the scoring when a dinked cross to the back-post for full-back Andy Robertson to head, yet again, hit the side-netting. That dominance was exemplified midway through the first-half, after Alexander-Arnold curled a lovely effort into the corner from a Salah pass to give Liverpool the lead.
Manchester City scored 150 goals last season in all competitions, so Liverpool couldn’t afford to switch off. Haaland went close on two occasions – the 22-year-old’s first effort was saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Adrián, while his second attempt was placed wide. City almost equalised a minute into the second period when Riyad Mahrez’s scuffed effort was easily saved by Adrián. Liverpool brought their new signing Núñez on inside the first 15 minutes of the second half, while City responded by sending new striker Julián Álvarez onto the field of play.
Núñez went close to scoring his first goal on English soil for Liverpool when he went one-on-one with Ederson, but the City goalkeeper saved well. City equalised through Álvarez with 20 minutes to go, after the striker stabbed home the rebound from Phil Foden’s effort following a lengthy VAR check for offside.
Liverpool were given a penalty with eight minutes to go when a Núñez header was handled by Rúben Dias. Salah stepped up to send the ball into the corner. Núñez wasn’t to be denied his first goal for the Reds, heading in at close range to put the game beyond doubt and give Liverpool their first Community Shield since 2006.
