Liverpool Defeat Man City 3-1 To Win Community Shield, Darwin Nunez Was Sensational
Liverpool have won the Community Shield after defeating Manchester City 3-1 at the King Power Stadium.
Jurgen Klopp's men started on the front foot and took the lead through Trent Alexander-Arnold 21 minutes in.
The full-back curled a shot in off the post, but it took a significant deflection off City defender Nathan Ake.
Eyes were on Erling Haaland throughout and he had City's best opportunities in the first half. He fired one straight at Adrian and failed to make proper contact with another.
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Pep Guardiola's side, who have only played two games in pre-season, grew into the contest and started to test Adrian more in the second half.
Trent from the edge of the box 🎯
— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 30, 2022
(via @EmiratesFACup)pic.twitter.com/vrSCSJZlkJ
Second half substitute Julian Alvarez found the equaliser midway through the second half after Adrian failed to hold Phil Foden's strike.
Foden was initially ruled offside, but a VAR review saw the decision overturned and it meant the Premier League champions were level.
It would not be VAR's final involvement in the game. Darwin Nunez's header was blocked by the arm of Ruben Dias and referee Craig Pawson was asked to review the incident.
He awarded Liverpool a penalty and booked Dias for his furious protests. Mohamed Salah stepped up and dispatched his spot kick with precision.
In added time, Nunez was involved in the action yet again.
Mo Salah from the spot...You guess the rest 😏🎯#LIVMCI pic.twitter.com/dx4TJwTETB
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 30, 2022
Darwin Nunez gets his goal 🙌🇺🇾
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 30, 2022
Liverpool draw first blood against Man City this season 👏#LIVMCI pic.twitter.com/4T586WDtQ6
The 23-year-old's header late on sealed victory and a first Community Shield triumph for Liverpool since 2006.
Nunez started the game on the bench and Klopp opted to go with an experienced frontline of Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Roberto Firmino.
Much has been made of the Uruguay international's £85 million price tag, but he has already gone about silencing his critics.
Liverpool start their Premier League campaign away to Fulham on August 6.
City, meanwhile, travel to the London Stadium to face West Ham United on August 7.
Topics: Liverpool, Manchester City, Community Shield
Daniel Marland