Prediction: Liverpool vs Manchester City

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 7/10

Bookmaker: Unibet

With all eyes falling on the King Power this weekend, Liverpool and Manchester City will meet with the Community Shield up for grabs on Saturday evening.

Liverpool

Starting with Liverpool, after being left heartbroken out in Paris a couple of months ago, Jurgen Klopp’s side will be desperate to put those bad memories to the back of their minds. Eventually falling to a 1-0 loss against Real Madrid in last season’s Champions League final, the Reds could also only sign off their summer preparations with a downbeat display. Along with opening their pre-season tour of Australia with a stunning 4-0 defeat against bitter rivals Manchester United, they were last seen in midweek getting hit with a 1-0 loss against Austrian outfit Salzburg. However, while the one-time Borussia Dortmund boss might have seen City snatch away their Premier League crown back in May, Liverpool should be boosted by their most recent meeting against their title rivals. When Saturday’s opponents faced off at Wembley in last season’s FA Cup semi-finals, Klopp’s men picked up an action-packed 3-2 win in the capital.

Team News

Making a big-money move to Anfield this summer, Darwin Nunez should spearhead Liverpool’s charge on Saturday evening. The 23-year-old should be joined in attack by talisman Mohamed Salah.

Reserve goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher could start between the sticks at the King Power here.

Manchester City

As for Manchester City, while Pep Guardiola’s side might have only squeezed in a couple of pre-season appearances this summer, it appears that the mood in their camp is at a high. Signing off their summer preparations with a 1-0 win against German giants Bayern Munich, the one-time Barcelona boss finds his side tipped as a leading pick to reclaim their Premier League crown. Eventually reclaiming their title thanks to a one-point buffer after a thrilling title chase, the Sky Blues will be desperate to lay down a marker on Saturday evening. Signing off last season’s campaign with a real flurry, despite dropping out of the Champions League against Los Blancos back in May, Guardiola would have been hugely excited by Erling Haaland’s immediate impact. Bagging the winner against Bayern Munich out in America last weekend, the ex-Borussia Dortmund superstar arrives in England with a fearsome reputation.

Team News

After arriving in Manchester following a £51.2million deal with Dortmund, Haaland should lead Guardiola’s attack on Saturday evening. The Norweigan superstar could be joined by Jack Grealish.

Likewise, also announcing the arrival of England international Kalvin Phillips earlier in the month, the 26-year-old could join Kevin De Bruyne in midfield.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides faced off in the FA Cup semi-finals last season, Liverpool picked up a 3-2 victory at Wembley.
• Eight of the last nine meetings between Liverpool and Manchester City have finished with both teams finding the net.
• Likewise, six of their last seven meetings have seen over 3.5 goals by the final whistle.
• Liverpool and Manchester City have produced just a single 0-0 stalemate since February 2010.
• The last three meetings between Saturday’s opponents have produced 16 yellow cards.

Conclusion

With the 2022/23 Premier League campaign just around the corner, we really do have a heavyweights affair to whet your appetites. Watching Manchester City just about snatching away Liverpool’s domestic crown thanks to a one-point buffer last season, we should be in for another lively affair on Saturday evening. With Klopp’s side landing an action-packed 3-2 victory when the two sides faced off in last season’s FA Cup semi-finals, the two English icons have a habit of producing fireworks. Along with producing just a single 0-0 stalemate since way back in 2010, it should be noted that eight of their last nine meetings have finished with both teams finding the net. With both sides putting together their final preparations before getting things fully underway next weekend, we’re expecting a lively showdown at the King Power.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 7/10

Bookmaker: Unibet