Manchester City and Liverpool resume hostilities in tonight’s Community Shield clash. The curtain raiser to the English season couldn’t have been more delicious, given the two sides’ recent skirmishes. It’s only been a little over a month since Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola were caught prowling the touchlines, but the interval has been long enough to set the stage for a classic punch-up. While the shield isn’t high on the sweepstakes, the two managers- fast friends off the field- are unlikely to pass up a chance at claiming bragging rights. 

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Pushed out of its regular Wembley home– due to the Women’s Euro 2022 final- Leicester’s King Power Stadium will be awash with red and blue. It also serves as indoctrination into the humdrum of English football for Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez. The newly acquired duo line up on opposite sides, each gunning to make a mark on the occasion. 

The Merseysiders will be without first and second-choice keepers Alisson and Caoimhin Kelleher. Portuguese sharp-shooter Jota also sits out the clash. Veteran Spaniard Adrian starts between the sticks, donning the Liverpool shirt for the first time since last September. For the Mancunians, defender Aymeric Laporte is walking wounded after a knee surgery. John Stones, Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden gave the club’s US Tour a miss, while Ruben Dias and Haaland are low on minutes. 

Since the final day humdinger in May, the rivals are much changed, personnel-wise. Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling have swapped the City blue for Arsenal red. Fernandinho has departed for home shores. Julian Alvarez, Kalvin Phillips and the oft-mentioned Haaland have sauntered into Kippax territory, lending City even greater edge going forwards. After Sadio Mane and the rarely used Takumi Minamino bade their Anfield goodbyes, Klopp snapped up Uruguayan goal-getter Nunez in a record transfer. Fabio Carvalho- from Fulham- is the latest whippersnapper teenager at the Reds, bought for a meagre £5 million. 

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Predicted Line-ups:

Liverpool: Adrian (GK); Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Virgil Van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara; Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz. 

Manchester City: Ederson (GK); Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Joao Cancelo; Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo Silva; Riyad Mahrez, Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish.