Two late goals handed Liverpool their first trophy of the season as they defeated Manchester City 3-1 in the FA Community Shield at the King Power Stadium.
Liverpool were rewarded for a brighter start as Trent Alexander-Arnold's deflected strike put the 2021-22 FA Cup winners a goal up at the break.
Premier League champions Manchester City hit back in the second half through Julian Alavarez before Mohammed Salah’s penalty and Darwin Nunez’s injury-time header sealed the silverware for Liverpool.
The side-netting was regularly rippling in the opening stages, Salah was the first to see a chance go just wide inside five minutes having worked his way into the box.
Manchester City followed suit through Kevin De Bruyne, whose shot was deflected into the side netting by Virgil van Dijk for the first corner of the game.
Having been set up well by usual partner in crime Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson headed from close range with 15 minutes gone.
The Scouser in our team ❤ pic.twitter.com/TcquALloGi
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 30, 2022
Alexander-Arnold made sure of Liverpool’s dominance six minutes later as he put Liverpool in front, with the defender also involved in the build-up.
The England international found Roberto Firmino on the far side of the box who passed on to Van Dijk, with Salah then providing the assist to Alexander-Arnold whose strike was deflected off Nathan Ake and in much to the delight of the travelling Liverpool fans.
Manchester City looked for a response and were closing to finding one through Riyad Mahrez as he forced Liverpool’s third-choice goalkeeper Adrian to tip the ball behind having been given space to run in the middle, before the flag was raised for offside.
Erling Haaland, City’s new star striker, was twice involved in the latter stages of the first half, doing well to send a shot on target as he lost his balance but couldn’t do the same moments later, using his wrong foot to poke wide.
Pep Guardiola’s charges were not able to find the back of the net as the first half drew to a close, but were on the front foot at the start of the second half as Mahrez forces Adrian into a save from deep in the box.
On comes La Araña! 🕷
— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 30, 2022
🔴 1-0 🔵 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/of5TKTUgUY
Nunez was brought into the game for Liverpool on the hour mark and almost had an instant impact as he was brought down by Ederson in the box before referee Craig Pawson signalled for offside.
After a VAR check, substitute Alvarez’s 70th-minute equaliser was confirmed with the Argentine forward judged on side in the build-up before tapping home a rebounded shot from Phil Foden to bring City level.
Liverpool would trail for only 13 minutes as Salah sweetly struck a penalty after Joao Cancelo was penalised for a handball in the box.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 30, 2022
The Reds’ win was sewn up in the fourth minute of added time as Nunez heading in his first goal for Liverpool before celebrating vociferously in front of his new adoring fans, a scene repeated at full time as Jurgen Klopp completed the domestic set with his first Community Shield as Liverpool manager.
Stats
Liverpool: 13 Adrian, 66 Trent Alexander-Arnold, 32 Joel Matip, 4 Virgil van Dijk, 26 Andy Robertson, 14 Jordan Henderson, 3 Fabinho, 6 Thiago Alcantara, 11 Mohamed Salah, 9 Roberto Firmino, 23 Luis Diaz
Substitutes: 27 Darwin Nunez for Firmino 59’, 19 Harvey Elliott for Henderson 73’, 7 James Milner for Alexander-Arnold 74’, Naby Keita for Thiago 85’, 28 Fabio Carvalho for Diaz 90’, 17 Curtis Jones for Salah 90+5’
Substitutes not used: 95 Harvey Davies; 2 Joe Gomez, 5 Ibrahima Konate, 17 Curtis Jones
Coach: Jurgen Klopp
Goals: Alexander-Arnold 21’, Mo Salah (P) 83’, Nunez 90+4'
Bookings: Nunez 90+5’
Manchester City: 31 Ederson, 2 Kyle Walker, 3 Ruben Dias, 6 Nathan Ake, 7 Joao Cancelo, 17 Kevin de Bruyne, 16 Rodri, 20 Bernardo Silva, 26 Riyadh Mahrez, 9 Erling Haaland, 10 Jack Grealish
Substitutes: 19 Julian Alvarez for Mahrez 58’, 10 Jack Grealish for Foden 58’, 8 Ilkay Gundogan for De Bruyne 73’
Substitutes not used: 18 Stefan Ortega Moreno; 4 Kalvin Phillips, 5 John Stones 79 Luke Mbete, 80 Cole Palmer, 97 Josh Wilson-Esbrand
Coach: Pep Guardiola
Goals: Julian Alvarez 70’
Bookings: Ruben Dias 83’
Referee: Craig Pawson
