Liverpool 3-1 Man City: Darwin Nunez silences doubters as Erling Haaland misses sitter

Darwin Nunez scored a debut goal for Liverpool as the Reds secured a 3-1 victory over Manchester City to lift the Community Shield on Saturday afternoon.

English football’s current two best teams went head-to-head at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium, rather than Wembley Stadium, for this season’s curtain raiser.

Trent Alexander-Arnold put Liverpool 1-0 up in the first half before Julian Alvarez scored a controversial second-half equaliser. But late goals from Mohamed Salah and Nunez won the game for Liverpool.

Adrian made a rare start in goal in the absence of Alisson and Caoimhin Kelleher, but there was no place in the Reds’ XI for the club’s £85 million record signing Nunez.

On the other hand, City boss Pep Guardiola handed a start to the Premier League champions’ star summer signing Erling Haaland.

The bookies’ favourite to win the 2022-23 Premier League Golden Boot award struggled to get involved in the game during the first half. In fact, no player had fewer touches in the opening half (eight) than the former Borussia Dortmund star.

And it was Liverpool who took the lead in the 21st minute through Alexander-Arnold, whose strike from the edge of the box deflected off Nathan Ake before sailing past Ederson.

The assist