Liverpool vs Manchester City: The tale of the tape at the King Power Stadium
The familiar rivals will square off in an unfamiliar setting
Last updated 30th Jul 2022
The dust has barely settled on last season's remarkable tussle between the two modern Premier League pace setters, but they are set to clash yet again with the Community Shield at stake.
With just one point separating the two last season - and with both bolstering their already formidable squads with a marquee striker - another grapple for Premier League power is expected.
The two rivals face each at Leicester's King Power Stadium, with Wembley out of action due to the Women's Euros final tomorrow.
So what's the lay of the land on the eve of the season and who is more likely to secure the early bragging rights?
Liverpool
Truth be told, Liverpool travel to Leicester off the back of a somewhat erratic pre-season.
Wins versus RB Leipzig and Crystal Palace would provide assurance to Reds fans that another promising campaign could be on the horizon.
But slipping to defeat to Austrian outfit RB Salzburg - and being comfortably swept aside 4-0 by arch-rivals Manchester United could damper the spirits of hopeful fans.
The Merseyside outfit's been active in the transfer market, acquiring promising talent in attacking midfielder Fabio Carvalho from Fulham and right-back Calvin Ramsay from Aberdeen.
It's the signing of Darwin Nunez for a reported club-record fee of £85million which has caused the most hype, though.
Scoring 31 goals in 56 games in Portugal, the frontman has been brought in to replace Sadio Mane - with the Senegalese making the trip to Bavaria and Bayern Munich.
The former Benfica man will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of another Uruguayan striker, Luis Suarez, who took the Premier League by storm during his 6-year Anfield stint.
After a disappointing end to the 2021/22 season, Jurgen Klopp's men will be keen to start the season as they mean to go in, with their hands wrapped around silverwear.
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola's Citizens go into the Community Shield off the back of familiarly imperious pre-season form - having most recently beaten Bayern Munich in Green Bay.
But it's in the transfer window where they've grabbed the headlines - signing one of the most deadly strikers in world football, Erling Haaland.
The Norwegian ended months of speculation over his future when he agreed to join City, with the Manchester outfit activating his £54m release clause.
Having scored 61 goals in 66 games for Borussia Dortmund, the son of former Sky Blue, Alfe-Inge Haaland, is sure to strike fear into opposition defences all season long.
They've also added the likes of Julian Alvarez and Kalvin Phillips to provide valuable depth in a season which is - once again - expected to go right down to the wire.
It remains to be seen how active City remain in the window, having sold: Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr ZInchenko - there is scope for more additions to bolster Pep's deadly side.
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