Don't know if am the only one swimming in this excitement, but whatever the case may be, the season is finally here and even the breeze heralds it's presence. Sunday's Community shield clash came with lots of excitement for football fans, as the premier league defending champions Manchester City took on the European Champions Liverpool. Of course, this match wasn't just about winning the trophy, both teams played for bragging right and pride.
With Liverpool coming into the game as European Champions, they sure had something to boost them into the game. But this was a Pep Guardiola Manchester city that are beginning to see themselves as invincible in English football. After winning the League two times in a row, a feat not so many teams in Premier league can dream of even in decades to come, the Citizens were ready to prove why they are the most dreaded team in England. It was indeed a clash of two champions, and it was generally a scintillating spectacle to behold after a while.
I've been missing some beautiful football mixed with uncertainty and tension for some time now, especially after the AFCON and Copa America tournaments came to an end. For Liverpool, it was one of those games that does not reflect was transpired in the pitch, as many feel the European Champions deserved to win the game. However, for City, it's a match that shows what they know how to do best "Win." For Pep's side, whether their performance dropped in the second half or not, luck has always been their company, and in today's Community Shield match, it came through for them.
It was really a tough battle and I for once had to shelve from placing a bet in such a high profile match. While it took Liverpool the entire 45 minutes to find their spark and fight their way back into the game, Manchester City appeared like they exhausted their strength in the first 45minutes of the match. The league champions had opened the scoring quite early to tell the world they're not here to joke with Klopp's side. A well worked free-kick by the Citizens culminated in Raheem Sterling tapping in the ball from close range to beat Alisson Becker.
Sterling's 12th minute goal kept City on a 1-0 lead into halftime. He appears to be Pep Guardiola's favorite foot soldier and not even the boos from Liverpool fans could distract him. Liverpool came back into the second half with their usual fighting spirit, and except for fortune, City wouldn't have survived the entire 90 minutes without conceding two at least three goals from their rivals. A motivated Liverpool side outplayed City and dominated the entire second half as they pressured for an equaliser. With Van Dijk and Mohammed Salah hitting the woodwork in second half, City could perceive the smell of a goal.
I was seeing that typical Liverpool side that sent Barcelona parking from the champions league with a historic comeback, and I was pretty sure that one goal advantage against a team like Liverpool was nothing to be proud of. With 12 minutes remaining on the clock, the substitute Matip leveled the score with a header. With the game now 1-1, I knew the remaining minutes will see Manchester city struggling for breath as Liverpool came harder on them. This was totally a different Liverpool team from what we saw in the Preseason, and even though they ended up losing this Community Shield on 4-5 penalty shootouts to City, they are ready for the season.
And to Pep Guardiola's city, congratulations to you guys on your first trophy heading into the season. It's this winning mentality that City will need if they're to contend the heat Liverpool will prepare for them, but for now, they remain a team to beat in England.
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