Huge boost: Pre-match injury news emerges that'll delight Liverpool supporters - opinion

Liverpool will take on their Premier League title rivals Manchester City this afternoon in the Community Shield at the King Power Stadium, and a major boost has been handed to the Reds ahead of that clash.

Taking to his pre-match press conference on Friday, City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that defender Aymeric Laporte will not be available for the match.

The 51-year-old revealed (via Liverpool Echo): “Laporte is injured. He had surgery after the last few games [of last season], he made an incredible effort. He had surgery, he’s doing incredibly well, you have to do careful. It’s his knee, he might be out until September.”

There is no doubt that Liverpool supporters will be delighted with the news that City will be weakened ahead of the clash this afternoon and potentially going into the beginning of the season, should Laporte not recover in time for the return of the Premier League next week.

A composed presence at the back, the Spain defender posted the Cityzens’ best passing accuracy of anyone who started a league match for them last term (94.7%), while his match average of 1.6 successful aerial duels shows that he also carried out his defensive duties consistently and competently.

The two clubs have been battling it out for domestic supremacy for the last four years and have developed a position-based rivalry, where unfortunately Liverpool have frequently come out worse during the respective reigns of Jurgen Klopp and Guardiola.

However, yet again the Reds will hope to fight until the final day to secure their second Premier League title this season, and the Community Shield is the perfect opportunity for the Merseysiders to get some bragging rights over their fiercest competitors for top spot.

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