Nunez scores as Liverpool WIN the Community Shield

New signings star for both teams but the Reds were more clinical

Author: Ellis MaddisonPublished 30th Jul 2022
Last updated 2nd Aug 2022

Liverpool have beaten Manchester City at Leicester City's King Power Stadium in the FA Community Shield.

A line was drawn under last season ahead of today, after Liverpool fell just short of Manchester City by losing out on the title by one point, but first blood this time around goes to Klopp.

Leicester's King Power Stadium was chosen to host the Shield due to the Women's Euro Final being held at Wembley on Sunday 31st

Both club's new £85m men were able to start the game but only Manchester City's Norwegian star Haaland got the nod, with Nunez starting on the bench.

Liverpool went 1-0 up on the 20 minute mark, when Trent Alexander-Arnold neatly swept his strike past Ederson after running on to a setback from Salah.

But it was City's other new forward Alvarez that got them back level, scooping into the net after Adrian's deflected save from a Foden shot fell right into his path.

Nunez came on in the second half and was a handful for City's back line, winning the crucial penalty after nodding down a header in the box onto Dias' arm, which Salah dispatched.

Nunez then added his own name to the scoresheet, heading in during added time from point blank range, ending the game 3-1.

The key moments

Liverpool were well on top in the first 15 minutes, with Salah winning several early battles against Cancelo, beating him easily in the 3rd minute, but firing his shot wide.

A mix-up in midfield gave De Bruyne a trademark chance on his left foot but, similarly to Salah, put it into the side netting.

The next big moment came for Liverpool's Andy Robertson on 13 minutes, after a classic cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold to the back post, where the Scotsman put his header just wide.

Manchester City fans were in full voice in Leicester City Centre before the game

Liverpool took the lead after a neat bit of play from Salah, who took the ball down nicely to set up Trent Alexander-Arnold to sweep it past Ederson.

As the half went on De Bruyne began pulling the strings and Manchester City began to create more chances, with two big ones coming for Erling Haaland within seconds of each other.

The first was strong play to hold off Robertson, but he couldn't beat Adrian, while the second he got all wrong, coming onto a quick cross with the wrong part of his foot. A smart defensive clearance if it was in his own box.

58 minutes in and it was Liverpool's record signing Darwin Nunez's time to shine, having almost an immediate impact when knocking the ball past an onrushing Ederson who brought him down, only before it was called back for offside.

Liverpool fans enjoying pre-match drinks at one of the allocated supporter bars

Nunez had another chance 5 minutes later where he was played through one-on-one with Ederson, but the Brazilian made the save.

The game really started opening up at 69 minutes and both team's players were finding much more space.

That's when Man City's Alvarez, tipped to be the next Aguero, brought them back level, reacting quickly by poking the ball into the net after Adrian's initial save of Foden's shot.

Manchester City fans soon fell silent though, after Nunez won a penalty due to a clear handball from Dias.

The penalty was well-taken by Salah, who just had to get on the scoresheet to make it 2-1.

Nunez then put the cherry on the cake in stoppage time for both Liverpool and his brief cameo by latching on to a cross to head past Ederson from 3 yards. Couldn't miss.

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