The King Power Stadium, the setting for this years Community Shield between Liverpool and Manchester City! For the first time since December 2019!! And it’s all thanks to Matt on Tour who has given me his ticket for today’s game! Excited isn’t the word for me right now!!
The game at Birstall has done and now it’s off to Leicester for the big one! I’m all parked up and now it’s off to the ground!
Off I go to the Counting House just down the road…
Not so much happening in there… Let’s try the Local Hero…
Much better in here! After a certain few chants later it’s time for me to head to the ground! £30 for this ticket! Fabulous! An absolute privilege to be with the Liverpool fans in a neutral ground for the first time ever! Hopefully not the last time!
Out come the teams for their warm-ups! Great to see some of the world’s highest rated players for a change!
The warm-ups are done and the atmosphere is building!
Out come the teams and now for the national anthem… I couldn’t get a word of that! The Liverpool fans drowning it out with boos and chants of Liverpool!
Kick Off! 3 minutes in and Fabinho has the ball in midfield for Liverpool and he plays it forward looking for Mo Salah, he drives into the box from the right, he beats his man and shoots… Side netting!
“Oh Manchester is full of s***! It’s full of s***! S***! And more s***! Oh Manchester is full of s***!” Liverpool fans in fine voice today so far! Liverpool starting the better of the 2 teams here!
21 minutes on the clock and Liverpool come forward, they have it on the left and it’s played out to the right hand side, it’s played to Trent Alexander-Arnold on the edge of the box to shoot first time… IT’S IN OFF THE POST!!! LIVERPOOL LEAD!!! 1-0!!! Fantastic!!! What a strike!!! Liverpool have deserved that!
3 minutes later and City come forward, it’s played in to Kevin De Bruyne in the box on the right and he’s got a sight of goal here, he shoots… Side netting! Big chance!
33 minutes on the clock and City come forward down the left, it’s played across to Haaland who gets his shot away… Adrian saves for Liverpool! Liverpool clear but City get it back on the left, crossed in again, Haaland stretches for it… He can’t get enough on it… Mahrez heads the loose ball at goal from close range… Adrian catches! Close for City there!
39th minute and City play down the left with Jack Grealish, he plays it across to Kevin De Bruyne on the edge of the box, it’s played to Mahrez on the right of the box, he gets a shot away… Straight at Adrian! “We’ll be coming! We’ll be coming! We’ll be coming down the road! When you hear that noise of the Bill Shankly boys! We’ll be coming down the road!” Great chant by Liverpool! Liverpool lead 1-0 at half time.
Second half, City come forward straight away, the ball is chipped into the middle for Mahrez and he brings it down and shoots… Adrian saves again!
“I’m so glad that Jurgen is a red! I’m so glad he delivered what he said! Jurgen said to me you know! We’ll win the Premier League you know! He said so! I’m in love with him and I feel fine!” What a chant! It keeps on coming too!
59 minutes now and HERE HE COMES!! Darwin Nunez is on for Liverpool! Boy I would love a goal for him today! He’s played through over the top and he’s in straight away here, Ederson comes for it… Nunez is brought down… The flag goes up! Offside! It doesn’t matter!
63 minutes gone and Liverpool come forward, it comes to Jordan Henderson and he plays it through to Darwin Nunez in the box, he shoots… Saved by Ederson!
70th minute and City play forward, the ball is played into the Liverpool box and here’s Foden… Good save by Adrian… It’s loose… It’s turned in!! City are level… But the flag goes up! Offside! VAR will look at this… Goal given! City do score! Alvarez the scorer and it’s 1-1!
That has dampened the mood in this end… Or has it? “All around the fields of Anfield Road where once we watched King Kenny play and could he play! Stevie Highway on the wing and we had dreams and songs to sing! Of the glory around the fields of Anfield road!” Liverpool fans still going strong!
79th minute and Salah has it in the right, he crosses and here’s Nunez with the header… Blocked! But surely that was by a hand! It’s not given and City break… Clear handball! City’s break comes to nothing and play is stopped for VAR, surely they will over turn this! Referee goes over to the screen… Uh-oh!
Penalty is given!! Definitely the right decision there but surely Referees have to see decisions like that! Mo Salah will take the penalty… AND SCORE!!!! 2-1!! Come on Liverpool!!!
86th minute and Liverpool have a corner, it’s played short, it’s crossed into the middle… Darwin Nunez with the header… Just wide!
Into stoppage time now and Liverpool come forward, it’s played out to Mo Salah on the right of the edge of the box, he crosses, Andy Robertson wins the header and heads it across goal and here’s Darwin Nunez… HE’S GOT IT!!! HE HAS GOT HIS GOAL!!! And there is the icing on top of the cake for Liverpool today!! 3-1!!
90+6 on the clock now and City come down the right, it’s played to Phil Foden on the edge of the box and he shoots on the turn… Adrian parries and here’s Haaland running in… He’s hit the bar! He’s missed from 4 yards! Absolute sitter!! Can this day get any better? Full time here! Liverpool win the Community Shield!! What a day it has been for Liverpool! “One kiss is all it takes…!”
FT: Liverpool 3-1 Manchester City
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 10/10 – Fantastic! Especially from the Liverpool fans! A few songs from City but the Liverpool fans were the best on the day!
- Build-up – 6/10 – Pretty decent in the local hero bar but I’ve had better build-ups…
- Expense: 10/10 – £30 for the ticket and £20 for the fuel… Was it worth it? Hell yes!!!
- Overall Experience: 10/10 – Without question! One of the best experiences I’ve ever had at a game! Wish I could watch Liverpool more often!! Simply sensational!
36/40