Liverpool face arch-rivals Manchester City in Saturday’s King Power Stadium showdown with both teams vying for the Community Shield.
Jurgen Klopp’s Merseysiders, who got their hands on both domestic cup competitions last season, will hope to win the Community Shield, a trophy the Anfield giants have clinched on 10 occasions in the past, for the first time in 16 years.
It was a mixed bag of results for Liverpool in the recently concluded pre-season tour with two wins and two defeats as the last high-billed outing prior to facing Man City in the weekend clash finishing in a 1-0 defeat to Austrian outfit Red Bull Salzburg.
Pep Guardiola’s City, meanwhile, banked upon summer recruit Erling Haaland’s debut goal in sky blue to emerge narrow victors over Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich at the Lambeau Field.
The Etihad outfit were handed a defeat in last year’s Community Sheild matchup against Leicester City and Guardiola would be counting on his star-studded side to get the job done this time around against Klopp’s Liverpool who have proven to be the fiercest of competitors in recent years for the Manchester Blues.
WHEN & WHERE?
Date: Saturday 30 July 2022
Time: 4 PM GMT
Venue: King Power Stadium
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp will be fretting over the fitness levels of key duo Alisson Becker and Diogo Jota with the former likely to return in time for the City clash, according to Klopp’s recent comments when quizzed upon his first-choice goalkeeper’s availability.
A fresh concern on the injury front for Liverpool came ahead of the defeat to RB Salzburg with Greek international wing-back Kostas Tsimikas missing out on the friendly fixture with a minor knock.
Midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is not expected to make the matchday squad following his picking up a muscle injury in the pre-season game against Crystal Palace.
Alisson’s deputy between the sticks in the Ireland international Caoimhin Kelleher sat out Liverpool’s pre-season tour with an injury and a timeline for his return to the fold remains up in the air.
KEY BATTLE
Luis Diaz vs Kevin de Bryune
Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool gear up for life without the long-serving winger Sadio Mane, who left the Reds to sign for German champions Bayern Munich this summer, and leaves a major void to fill in Liverpool’s front three.
Klopp would be counting on his January signing Luis Diaz to replicate his form which was on show during the backend of last season with the pacy Columbian forward proving to be an instant hit for his new side since his move from FC Porto.
For City, remains the Belgian playmaker Kevin de Bryune who has been a thorn in the flesh for Liverpool in past seasons and could be key to his side’s chances of claiming the win and silverware.
MATCH PREDICTION
It is a tough match to call between two top teams with our prediction being that the result would be decided through a penalty shootout which has been of good fortune to Liverpool in recent memory.
