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Manchester City kicked off their 2022/23 domestic campaign with a 3-1 defeat in the Community Shield against rivals Liverpool inside of a lively King Power Stadium in Leicester.
After a short pre-season in which the Blues only played two friendlies to prepare for the season.
The slightly flat start to life back in high-intensity environments was to be expected.
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A number of City newcomers made their debuts for the club, including star striker Erling Haaland, who played 90 minutes on the day, despite some suggestions that he may not be fully fit for the opening weeks of the new season.
Pep Guardiola’s men were slow out of the gates and allowed Liverpool to build momentum, and with just over twenty minutes gone were punished when a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross found its way through traffic and ricocheted in off the post, giving the FA Cup holders a much deserved lead.
Despite the Cityzens growing into the game after the Liverpool opener, the lead held until the half-time whistle, leaving Pep Guardiola to ponder a new way to crack Liverpool’s solid rearguard in the second interval.
Picking up where they left off in the first half, City pushed for an equaliser but were met with a stubborn Liverpool defence.
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Shortly before the hour mark City newcomer Julian Alvarez made his debut for the club, coming on with Phil Foden in an effort to pull Guardiola’s men back into the game.
As if he could see into the future, Guardiola’s changes paid off with twenty minutes remaining.
After his initial header was saved, Phil Foden recovered the ball from the sprawling Liverpool keeper and Alvarez was waiting to poke home and equalise in front of the travelling City supporters.
Only ten minutes later Jurgen Klopp’s men were gifted a way back into the lead when Darwin Nuñez’s headed effort was blocked by the hand of Ruben Dias, seeing the Reds given a penalty kick.
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The subsequent spot-kick was calmly slotted home by Mo Salah, reclaiming Liverpool’s lead with under ten minutes remaining.
A stoppage time flurry from City put the leaders under pressure, but failed to result in an equalising goal.
A late headed strike from Nuñez was the final dagger for the Blues, seeing Jurgen Klopp’s men secure their first piece of silverware this season.
It was a disappointing start to the campaign for the Premier League champions as they appeared stil in need of time to shake off the preseason rust.
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They will have a chance to find their footing in just a week as they travel to West Ham United for the opening weekend of Premier League duties.
Featured Image Credit: PA Images / AlamyTopics: Manchester City, Liverpool, Community Shield