With both Liverpool and Manchester City signing big-name strikers this summer, it’s likely the conversation will be about them in the build-up to the Community Shield.
Both are in line to start for their new clubs in their first taste of competitive action.
The Premier League winners face the FA Cup winners at the King Power Stadium and one of these stars could make the difference on their debuts.
Darwin Nunez vs Erling Haaland anyone?
🚨 #LFC boss Jurgen Klopp confirms Alisson will miss Saturday's Community Shield against #ManCity 🔴❌pic.twitter.com/KmPk0kqUeT
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 28, 2022
Team news and predicted line-ups
For Liverpool, they will be without their first and second-choice goalkeepers in Alisson and Caoimhin Kelleher sidelined with knocks means Adrian will deputise in goal.
Diogo Jota will also miss the clash with a hamstring suffered in pre-season; a setback for the Portuguese international who had just recovered from a similar injury.
Kostas Tsimikas and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also join the striker on the sidelines.
Alisson and Jota to miss the Community Shield. “Ali trained so he will be definitely available for Fulham, but not for the weekend,” Klopp confirmed. “Diogo was not here with us so how could he play a football game? That will take a while unfortunately. That’s it.” #LFC 🔴
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) July 29, 2022
For City, Pep Guardiola revealed today that Aymeric Laporte will be out of action until September in their only real injury worry.
Trevor Sinclair believes Haaland will get his debut on Saturday: “I can’t see him not starting, it’s a curtain raiser, a showcase game, you want your top players starting,” he told talkSPORT.
“He looks sharp and has had a good few weeks under his belt to get extra fitness work in, and also getting used to Pep Guardiola’s style of play. It will be difficult for Haaland to grasp something’s under Guardiola, but top players find a way.”
Predicted Line-ups:
Liverpool: Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago, Henderson; Dias, Nunez, Salah
Man City: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Cancelo; Rodri, De Bruyne, Silva; Grealish, Foden, Haaland
