The 111th FA Community Shield goes down this weekend between Manchester City and Liverpool the first time the Reds will appear in English football’s annual super cup since 2006, while the Citizens will be looking to retain the pre-season silverware for the first time in their history.
Liverpool vs Manchester City
Venue: Wembley Stadium
Date: Sunday, 4 August 2019
Kick-off: 2:00 PM GMT
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Hottest contest
The Community Shield re-ignites of the rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester City ahead of the start of the 2019/20 Premier League season.
Pep Guardiola led his team as they prevailed over Jurgen Klopp’s side in the hottest contest for the Premier League title and FA Cup.
Liverpool picked up the biggest prize of all the UEFA Champions League, for the sixth time.
Clear favourites
The two clubs definitely have their sights on the new Premier League campaign as the clear favourites for the title.
On the transfer front, City has been the busier of the pair bringing in Angelino from PSV Eindhoven and midfielder Rodri from Atletico Madrid; while Liverpool has been largely quiet, with their only acquisition so far being teenage defender Sepp van den Berg. The Reds have released Alberto Moreno and Daniel Sturridge.
Football pundits will be more fascinated by the tactical battle between Klopp and Guardiola, the German looking to enhance and refine his high-pressing style, while the Spaniard will once again bank on flexibility, fluidity and a crisp passing game.
Head-to-head
The two sides have faced off 165 times and the record favour The Reds, who have claimed 79 wins compared to 44 for the Citizens, with 42 games drawn.
Of significant note is the fact that this will be the first meeting of the clubs in the Community Shield.
Last season City took four points off their two EPL league meetings – a 0-0 draw in October 2018 at Anfield, followed by a 2-1 win for the hosts at the Etihad Stadium in January 2019.
Team news
For Liverpool, they have welcomed back Xherdan Shaqiri and Naby Keita following their respective injury lay-offs, with Alisson, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah also joining the club’s training camp in Evian.
There are no major injury issues concerning Guardiola charges; apart from long-term absentee Benjamin Mendy, this weekend could see the introduction of Rodri, who has featured heavily throughout their pre-season action.
Klopp is already warning Guardiola his side will be a “different animal” saying “It’s a new situation. We have prepared everybody as well as possible. We have to fight at the start of the season 100 per cent with all we have and the good thing is if the opponents want to analyse us now then they think ‘easy job’ but we will be a different animal next week,” said the German.
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