Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk; two world-class goalkeepers in Ederson and Alisson; and arguably the top two coaches in the game Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp. With lots of A-list talent and a winning pedigree between City of Manchester and LiverpoolSaturday’s Community Shield clash (live on ESPN+ in the US at 12 p.m. ET) was more than a curtain-raiser to the new season, it was a display of excellence that has become the defining match of English football.
Sure, Manchester United with. Liverpool is still the match that attracts more global attention than any other in the Premier League, but for now, it is no longer a level competition. Liverpool beat United 9-0 on aggregate in two games last season, making that rivalry somewhat irrelevant in deciding the outcome of title races and silver cup battles.
The same applies to United vs. Arsenal. The two clubs dominated the Premier League for nearly a decade in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with one or the other winning the title for nine consecutive seasons from 1995 to 1996 and 2003 and 2004, but A generation of fans who grew up without have seen them go all out for the title. The rivalry, if it persists, has been reduced to Europa League qualification rather than major trophies.
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Liverpool vs Man City is now the Premier League’s headline action and this weekend’s Community Shield meeting feels more like a tasting for the main event over the next nine months than a stress-free warm-up to the campaign ahead. .
Eighteen other clubs will contend for the Premier League title in the 2022-23 season, but it is virtually impossible to make the case for anyone but Man City or Liverpool who are becoming champions next May. Community Shield will give us a glimpse of how superior they are.
Tottenham have invested well this summer, providing coach Antonio Conte with the reinforcements he required to be able to turn the team into title challengers, but while the six newcomers – Richarlison, Ivan Perisic, Yves Bissouma, Djed Spence, Fraser Forster and Clement Lenglet – arguably made Spurs the best of the rest, they are still a gap away from the top two. Meanwhile Chelseaunder new owners following the departure of Roman Abramovich, it seems on the brink of crisis with manager Thomas Tuchel complaining about the lack of new signings and pre-season performances by his current players.
United are an unknown under new manager Erik ten Hag after the club’s worst ever Premier League season. They brought in Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen and Tyrell Malaciabut still can’t convince the main midfield target Frenkie de Jong leave Barcelonawhile Cristiano Ronaldo continues to be a distraction because of the desire to leave Old Trafford.
And although Arsenal have strengthened under Mikel Arteta, including the signings of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Man City, the Gunners are yet to win the title for the first time since Arsene Wenger’s “The Invincible” in 2003-04.
Man City and Liverpool are miles ahead – runners-up Liverpool were 18 points behind third-placed Chelsea last season – and both have strengthened throughout the summer, so their hegemony they are only likely to be extended in the coming months. The Community Shield will only give the rest an unsettling view of how far away they are.
Both have reshaped their squads this summer, losing players who have contributed to their success in recent seasons – Jesus, Zinchenko and Raheem Sterling has left the City; with Sadio Mane, Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino leaving Anfield – but it’s been so consistent and consistent at each club that substitutes have been signed to long-term contracts.
Haaland and Kalvin Phillips arrived at Etihad – Haaland as the long-awaited replacement for Sergio Aguero; Phillips fills the void left by the departed Fernandinho – for less than £100 million combined. Both are proven at the highest level, with the 22-year-old Haaland justifying his payout as a generational talent with Borussia Dortmund and FC Salzburg.
Given Haaland’s goal threat, City may have to change the way they play and become more direct to ensure he gets the service he needs, but with such a dangerous focus on his team. them, any change can only make them better. In tight matches – both games against Liverpool ended in 2-2 draws last season – Haaland can be the deciding difference, especially in the Champions League.
Liverpool’s big challenge is to ensure a seamless transition from Mane to Darwin Nunez£90m summer signing from Benfica. Mane scored 120 goals in 269 appearances for the club, recorded 38 assists, so £27m he left Bayern Munich would be a loss for Klopp’s team, but Luis Diaz has proven himself to be a quality addition since arriving at Porto for £37.5m in January and the signing of Nunez continues to develop Liverpool’s attack.
Meanwhile, Salah’s decision to sign a new contract this summer, ending the uncertainty over his future at the club, is a big boost ensuring that Liverpool retain a player who can. overtake Haaland and win another Golden Boot this season.
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Shaka Hislop feels Manchester City have no reason to worry that pressure will come on Erling Haaland in his first season in the Premier League.
It is difficult to find the weak point of either team. Liverpool achieved an unprecedented treble last season, while City once again displayed incredible quality and determination to withstand Liverpool’s challenge to win the Premier League again.
The presence of each other as rivals is expected to propel them forward – the same thing happened with United and Arsenal during the height of their rivalry – the key to success this season will certainly lie in where who plays best in the match against each other . If there is a winner when they meet at Anfield on October 15 or at the Etihad on April 1, it will be an important outcome for the winner. And while the Community Shield isn’t considered a major title, winning it will be crucial this weekend.
Any possible advantage of either side would be welcomed by either Klopp or Guardiola. Rivalry between the two teams has been minimized, so Saturday’s winning mentality cannot be overstated – nor can the loss be overstated.
Neither team will look over their shoulder at the chasing group. Instead, they were staring at each other, waiting for the first blink or sign of weakness. That’s why Community Shield is so important. Both the manager and the group of players may want to suggest otherwise by downplaying the importance of the game, but every game matters now when Liverpool face Manchester City and this one is no different.
