Liverpool and Manchester City rivalry started in a grand style before the new season, the two teams faced off at the FA Community Shield on Saturday evening and it was a fantastic performance for Liverpool that went on to win their first title in the new season.
Manchester City was eliminated from the FA Cup last season by Liverpool and the Merseyside club went on the win the title against Chelsea in the final after a penalty shootout.
The performance from both clubs in the community shield wasn't as competitive as the FA Cup Semi-final clash last season, Manchester City wasn't good enough yesterday and I was surprised how they couldn't even score a decent goal despite starting their new goal machine.
The team looked unorganized from the first minute of the match to the end, I don't know why they didn't have enough preseason matches but I can tell that the players had too much rest and it made them struggle against Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp's side went on tour for their preseason matches and you can see the teamwork within them yesterday, they looked like a team who is set for the return of the English Premier League.
Liverpool won the title with ease, Manchester United would have made them sweat yesterday if they had played against the red devil, it was just easy for Liverpool despite the absence of Alisson Becker in goal due to the injury he sustained during the preseason.
Liverpool got the opening goal in the first half from Alexander Arnold's strike, the right-wing back gave his side the lead and it looked like he is set to take on the new season challenge. The English man was an effective tool to Liverpool run for quadruple last season and even though they couldn't achieve it, his contribution couldn't be ignored.
Manchester City's new player, Alvarez got an equalizer for his side in the second half of the match. I actually thought the goal which wasn't supposed to be a goal would wake the team but it was the other way around, it only got worse for them after Roberto Firmino was substituted for Nunez Darwin in the second half.
The new Liverpool man became trouble for the Manchester City defenders, they conceded a penalty against him by stopping his header with a hand in the box. Mohammed Salah stepped up to convert the penalty to put Liverpool ahead for the second time in the match.
Manchester City kept knocking for an equalizer while Liverpool did seek for the third which came in the closing minutes of the match, Nunez Darwin secured Liverpool's first title in the 2022/23 season and you can tell that he is ready just like every other Liverpool player.
Winning a title on his first competitive match with a new club should give the Uruguay attacker a huge boost for the new season, it was his first silverware in his career and I understand why he pulled his shirt to run around when he got that goal. The future looks pretty for him with Liverpool and I am wishing them success as the new season commences next weekend.
811.107 SRY