Liverpool vs Manchester City Community Shield Preview and Betting Tips

Two of the English most powerful teams are going to open the season of football in Great Britain. The European champion against the Premier League and the FA Cup winner. City dominated domestic competitions in the previous season, winning both major trophies, and Liverpool earned the spot in the Community Shield, after finishing second in the Premiership. Though this match doesn’t have some competitive character, whenever City and L’Pool meet, the intensity rises.

Liverpool finally recorded a win during the preseason. Their first victim was Lyon, whom they defeated with 3-1. After four straight failures in which they allowed at least two goals, and suffered three losses, Klopp’s boys finally started looking like the Champions League winners. But what made the difference in this meeting was Firmino’s, and Salah’s come back to the starting lineup. With them, the Reds were much more fluid upfront and were pressuring the rival’s defence immediately. The team looked much better, and Lyon simply had no chances of avoiding a defeat. What didn’t change is the efficiency in their matches. This was the fifth during this preseason test which ended with at least three goals. And only one during that span hadn’t seen both teams score and over 3.5 goals.

The Citizens didn’t have some super strong opponents during their preparations. West Ham, Kitchee, Yokohama Marinos and Wolves. They easily defeated the first three rivals, while lost to Wolverhampton on penalties, after a goalless draw during the regular part of the match. We need to say that Guardiola’s machinery didn’t have all the players at disposal, as many of them participated in international campaigns with the national teams. Still, that didn’t affect the efficiency of their games. Just as Liverpool, whenever City plays, goals are certain. Those three wins came with both teams scoring and at least four goals.

Team News

Sadio Mane probably won’t play in this match. The Senegalese’s come back from the African Cup of Nations is scheduled for Monday after the game. Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri are back in training after respective injuries but aren’t 100% sure for this clash.

Meanwhile, City also has several players who had a rough summer. Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus, and Nicolas Otamendi started training with the club this week. Ederson and Fernandinho are still not back in England, but they are expected to be very soon. Be sure to wait until the last moment and see which lineup will start for City.

Prediction

The first pick will include goals. We aren’t quite sure what will be City’s starting lineup, so focusing on goals is the safest thing to do. Scores in this event are sure, regardless of the players on the court. Our choice here is over 2.5 goals and both sides to the net. When looking at the recent preseason matches, that is a regular thing, and the odds are quite good in this case. Bet365 offers 21/20 on this, which we have to accept.

We shall stick with the efficiency also in the second proposition, and this pick will be even safer than the opening one. Seeing at least one goal in each of the halftimes is pretty realistic here. Having in mind how City and L’Pool play, risk should be low.

Source: whoscored.com