Community Shield: Man City look stronger ahead of Liverpool clash

Manchester City and Liverpool meet in the 2022 Community Shield in a fixture between the Premier League’s two dominant forces. 

Wembley is traditionally the backdrop for the season curtain raiser, but with the Women’s Euro 2022 final taking place at the London venue on Sunday, it is the King Power Stadium, home of 2021 Community Shield winners Leicester, that plays host to Saturday's fixture.

City start this match as 2.44 favourites, with Liverpool on offer at 3.05. A draw can be backed at 3.7. 

City will start strong

Manchester City have been regulars in the Community Shield in recent years, with this their fourth appearance in five seasons by virtue of their domination of the Premier League. Pep Guardiola has walked away victorious on two of those occasions, though through 90 minutes he has seen his side win one, draw one and lost one. 

Last term, they suffered a 1-0 reverse against Leicester at Wembley. The squad picked that day, though, was far from their strongest XI, with players still recovering from summer international tournaments. Among the players fielded were Cole Palmer, Samuel Edozie and Ferran Torres, who was sold to Barcelona in January. 

That has not typically been Guardiola’s approach, with the Spaniard offering strong teams when they are available. This was the case in 2019, when they last met Liverpool in this showpiece fixture. That match finished 1-1 but City edged matters on penalties. 

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has seen his side taste defeat at the hands of Man United and Red Bull Salzburg during pre-season

Third time lucky for Klopp?

Liverpool, meanwhile, have not won this competition since 2006, making it one of the few trophies that Jurgen Klopp has yet to lift with the club. This will be the third time he has led his side into the Community Shield, losing on both previous occasions against City in 2019 and Arsenal in 2020 on penalties after 1-1 draws. 

The Reds are coming off an indifferent pre-season in which losses against Manchester United and Red Bull Salzburg sandwiched wins over Crystal Palace and RB Leipzig. With a friendly at Anfield against Strasbourg to come on Sunday at Anfield, there is no need to use this encounter as a fitness exercise for fringe players, so look for Klopp to field a strong team. 

Alisson and Diogo Jota have been ruled out by the German, but there could be a competitive debut for big-money summer arrival Darwin Nunez.

A history of goals

Manchester City will feel they have a point to prove against Liverpool, having failed to win any of their three meetings with the Reds last season. This will also be an opportunity to showcase how dangerous they will be with new signing Erling Haaland in tow. Backing them at 1.73 on the Draw no bet market looks a strong option. 

Goals are likely, meanwhile. In each of the last seven games between these sides, six have produced at least four goals. However, the Community Shield is not typically a break-neck fixture. Each of the last five have seen under three goals, including Man City’s 2019 meeting with Liverpool. Backing both teams to score at 1.66 covers both bases nicely as a blow-out victory seems unlikely.

Recommended bets

Man City DNB @ 1.73

BTTS @ 1.66