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| Players of Liverpool pose for a photograph with The FA Community Shield after the final whistle of The FA Community Shield between Manchester City and Liverpool FC at The King Power Stadium on July 30, 2022 in Leicester, England. |
Summer signing Darwin Nunez sealed victory as
Liverpool landed the first blow of the season on champions Manchester City by
winning a thrilling Community Shield encounter.
The FA Cup winners were pipped to the Premier League
title by a single point last term after a season-long fight with City, but came
out on top in a tremendous game in Leicester.
Playing at the King Power Stadium rather than
Wembley – which will host Sunday’s Women’s Euros final – the two sides did not
hold back in a match that tends to be badged as a ‘glorified friendly’.
Reds full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold scored the
opening goal with a curling effort from the edge of the box which took a slight
deflection off Nathan Ake and nestled in the far corner.
He celebrated by raising his finger to his lips in
front of the City supporters, who had helped generate a thunderous atmosphere
by trading jibes with their Liverpool counterparts.
City’s star summer signing Erling Haaland showed
glimpses of what he will bring by drawing a good save from Adrian, while Nunez
had a one-on-one effort kept out by Ederson.
But it was another newcomer – Julian Alvarez – who
scored next, staying alert after Phil Foden’s shot was saved to poke home the
equaliser from close range, with the goal awarded after a lengthy VAR check.
Mohamed Salah edged Liverpool back in front by
scoring from the penalty spot with eight minutes remaining after referee Craig
Pawson adjudged – from looking at the pitchside monitor – that Ruben Dias had
handled inside the area.
And Nunez had the final say, stooping to head in
from close range before wheeling off to celebrate in front of his new
supporters.
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