Manchester City vs Liverpool
As superiority goes, there can be no doubt that the best two sides in England last season are contesting the curtain-raiser to the new campaign.
In what was the closest finale since Manchester City won the title on goal difference from Manchester United in 2012, City and Liverpool were entwined in a classic two-horse title race.
Indeed, the lead changed hands a record 32 times atop the Premier League table over the course of nine months before City edged it by a point.
Now both sides prepare to renew hostilities in the Community Shield ahead of what could be another fascinating season.
City, kings of England after claiming an unprecedented domestic treble, face Liverpool who enjoyed the glorious consolation of winning the Champions League.
Community Shield highlights could await us at Wembley?
Talking Points
Or could they?
How serious will the respective managers really take this?
Jurgen Klopp gives the impression he is not fussed and even went so far as to say the match should be cancelled.
Is that the German’s way of trying to lull City into a false sense of security or is he just pointing out, correctly, that little can be read into results until the competitive action begins on April 9.
For some stars of both clubs, there has been no rest and that will surely be reflected in the sides Klopp and Pep Guardiola select on Sunday.
Guardiola will agree with his counterpart to a large extent but will want to start the campaign with another trophy before they begin their title defence at West Ham on August 10 and send out a message to their closest rivals last term.
City ran away with the title in 2017/18 with a record-breaking 19-point lead over second-place United but Liverpool achieved a remarkable improvement last season, collecting 22 more points than their previous campaign.
Indeed, last season’s race was the tightest ever during the modern era – with the two teams averaging only 1.6 points apart after matchdays from start to finish.
Given that record, it was hardly a surprise that both clubs have made little movement in the transfer window this summer, with City only signing Rodri – a long-term replacement for 34-year-old Fernandinho.
He should feature here in what, while only a warm-up, does have silverware at stake, so expect it to be more competitive than what fans have witnessed in pre-season to date.
History
Historically, Liverpool have defeated City almost twice as many times as City have triumphed.
But the Abu Dhabi funded era is a very different beast, even if Liverpool have enjoyed significant victories over them in recent seasons.
Last year, a missed Riyad Mahrez penalty meant the league encounter at Anfield finished goalless but goals from Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane fired City to what was an ultimately crucial 2-1 success at the Etihad Stadium.
The season before, Liverpool won three of their four meetings, including a thrilling 4-3 league win and in both legs of the Champions League quarter-finals.
City thrashed Klopp’s men 5-0 at home in the league but only after Liverpool harshly had to play nearly an hour with 10 men.
Their last meeting at Wembley came in the 2016 League Cup Final.
On that occasion, Fernandinho put City in front before a late Philippe Coutinho equaliser took the match to extra-time and penalties.
City won 3-1 on spot-kicks to lift their fourth League Cup.
Interestingly, only three of the players in Liverpool’s starting line-up that day remain regulars in the side and six have been sold or released.
On saying that, only four of the starting XI remain City regulars.
Betting Tip
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Manchester City vs Liverpool | Total Goal 2-3 @ 1.88 |
| August 4, 22:00 (GMT+8) |
Considering only one point separated these sides at the conclusion of last season’s Premier League, SBOBET’s Community Shield betting odds are pretty one-sided.
That will partly reflect that the Merseysiders have had a mixed pre-season, yet results count for little up to now and they have not been at full strength either.
1X2 odds price City @ 1.91 and Liverpool out @ 3.85 with the draw @ 3.40. If the scores are level after 90 minutes, the contest will be decided by a penalty shoot-out.
Likewise, Asian Handicap odds favour City -0.75 @ 2.28 with Liverpool +0.25 @ 2.33.
Over 3.00 goals @ 2.38 will appeal to some considering how these sides love to attack, while a repeat of their last meeting at the start of the year – correct score 2-1 – is available @ 7.00.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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