There's our answer, the Community Shield is just another step on the preseason journey. I thought so! The Reds are making their first appearance in the Community Shield for 13 years. It was nice to see all those older faces sharing their experience with the game.
The teams both went strong, no kids in this one!
We love a game of two halves against Man City.
City were the much better team first half.
Whenever I saw Walker with his shaved head I thought Guardiola had gone full John Terry (wearing the kit when there's no need to) but seeing the two managers I thought they'd gone too casual with their t-shirts. They looked like like they were the players' dads in a kids' match.
Firmino almost scored an amazing goal. Brilliant touch to bring the ball down, even better flick to turn two defenders before fizzing a half-volley straight at Bravo. What a goal that would've been. Too good for preseason!
Another great touch from Firmino before he threads it through to Salah. Sadly, not as good from him as he shoots wide.
Liverpool got caught out by a free-kick as Sterling volleys home in the six-yard box through Alisson's legs. Somehow Alisson couldn't keep it out. He's just getting conceding out of his system before the real stuff started.
Salah got another chance. He leaves Zinchenko for dead, bursts into the box before shooting just wide of the near post.
Alisson saves well to deny Sterling at his near post. That's more like it.
Salah pauses on the ball instead of playing it to Origi before under-hitting to Robertson. He does win it before threading it through, but Bravo gathers.
Salah pounces on a Zinchenko error before clipping his shot over the bar.
We have our first managerial booking! Guardiola picks up a caution for his animated antics on the sidelines. That's a new rule to look out for.
Into the second half Liverpool did much better. As it went on I doubted Liverpool was ever going to score with the missed chances, no matter how good they did.
Origi's shot deflects kindly for Bravo after Firmino and Robertson combined to play him in.
Wijnaldum combines with Firmino after a Robertson cross is headed clear, but his subsequent shot is blocked.
Van Dijk connects with a volley and it's off the underside of the bar. That's half the ball over the line, now they just have to get the other half over!
Stunning feet from Salah on the edge of the box to turn Silva before rifling low against the post.
Sterling one-on-one but bottles it with Van Dijk chasing him down and Walker screaming for a square-pass. He fluffs his kick and Alisson gathers. Meanwhile, Origi is down injured. He was ignored for too long.
Changes, Matip on for Trent and Keita on for Fabinho.
Another low strike from Salah to the near post but Bravo gets down to save.
The reds finally level. Van Dijk volleys Henderson's free-kick back across goal and Matip's on hand to leap over Otamendi and head home.
More changes. Firmino, Henderson and Origi off. Shaqiri, Lallana and Oxlade-Chamberlain on.
Great run forward from Lallana before he plays in Salah down the right. He cuts inside before pulling the trigger, but his shot is deflected onto the roof of the net.
Another and another shot for Salah. How has he not scored?!
Klopp and Pep going at it on the touchline. Henderson comes off the bench to speak to Pep as well but Klopp sends him away.
Four minutes extra, another Salah shot. He lobs Bravo with a header, that one was finally going in but Walker sprints back to clear it off the line with an overhead kick over the bar. That somehow wasn't given as a cormer.
Finally Salah decides not to shoot, playing in Shaqiri, but Bravo tips his shot behind.
Straight to penalties
Liverpool goes first after Virgil Van Dijk won the toss and chose the end. Xherdan Shaqiri converts - lkay Gündogan responds, burying his kick.
Gini Wijnaldum's strike is saved - Bernardo Silva scores, taking the lead.
Adam Lallana equalises - Phil Foden puts City ahead again.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain puts power into his to equalise - Alisson gets his hands to Oleksandr Zinchenko's effort but it's in.
Mo Salah equalises. - Jesus scores and City win.
Why didn't we have chance to practice penalties against Sporting Lisbon? Why must we keep ending up behind City by such small margins?! It would've been nice to have that edge if it even is an edge but never mind, it was a nice taster for the season.
Next up the Premier League starts again! Norwich at home, Friday 9th August 2019, 20:00.
Maybe a return home is just what we need after everywhere we've been the North West, America, Scotland, France, Switzerland and London.
I know I've already made this joke in the last book but apparently Barcelona want to loan us Coutinho, we'll take Suarez for this match. He loves Norwich.
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LFC Forever 2019/ 20
Non-FictionBack again, this time as six times Champions of Europe!
