Liverpool beats Man City for Community Shield

LEICESTER, England (AP) — Darwin Nunez shaded Erling Haaland in their first matchup by scoring Liverpool's final goal as they beat Manchester City 3-1 in the Community Shield on Saturday.

City, last season's English Premier League champion, and Liverpool, the FA and League Cup winner, paraded their big summer signings at King Power Stadium in Leicester but it was the Uruguay international who upstaged City’s Haaland.

Nunez came off the bench in the 59th minute with the score at 1-1 and his aerial presence won the late penalty from which Mohamed Salah put Liverpool in front for a second time.

But the former Benfica striker, having earlier been denied by City goalkeeper Ederson, was not finished there and stooped to head home his first for the Reds in domestic competition in added time.

One new City signing did make his mark — former River Plate forward Julian Alvarez coming off the bench to cancel out Trent Alexander-Arnold's opener — but the focus was really on the big men up top.

The traditional season curtainraiser played out as expected with England's top best sides going at it once again, but it was the nuance of what the new signings might bring which attracted the intrigue.

Haaland scored 86 goals in 89 matches for Borussia Dortmund before his summer move and he is likely to add many more for City once he and they have adjusted to each other.

The Norway international had the fewest touches of any player in the first half — eight — and the service he received throughout was scant. But he was always a threat, and his last chance in stoppage time was his worst shot when he blasted against the crossbar when faced with an open goal six yards out.

“He fought a lot and made the movements,” City manager Pep Guardiola said.