Darwin Nunez has proven to be a fantastic signing for Liverpool unlike Erling Haaland as the Uruguayan star helped Liverpool beat Manchester City 3-1 in the 2022 FA Community Shield.
Erling Haaland and Manchester City will never forget Saturday, July 30, in a hurry as Darwin Nunez, Liverpool’s most expensive striker, used the date to confirm that he is a good signing.
In the months to come, these two heavyweights will be battling it out for bigger trophies if the results of recent seasons are anything to go by.
During the 2022 FA Community Shield, Jurgen Klopp’s team took the early lead in the most important season opener in English football, while Nunez had the more memorable start to the game.
Although Haaland’s time at City will undoubtedly come, his frustrating afternoon was summed up in the final seconds of this match when, with a goal practically open to him, he ballooned the ball against the crossbar and over.
The former Borussia Dortmund striker gave himself a mocking smile, but not the one Nunez had flashed when he dove to head in Andrew Robertson’s knockdown following a cross from Mohamed Salah.
After being denied earlier in the match by Ederson, Liverpool’s new £85 million signing made a lively cameo in the 58th minute. The Uruguayan’s joy of scoring early was palpable and was shared by his teammates and the ecstatic fans.
Trent Alexander-first-half Arnold’s goal put City, who played second best for much of the game, behind until another newcomer, Julian Alvarez, leveled the score 20 minutes from time. Ruben Dias was found to have handled Nunez’s header from Salah’s cross when Liverpool regained the lead.
The Egyptian converted flawlessly from the penalty spot, and Liverpool took control of the Community Shield match—the first to be played outside of Wembley in ten years.
Even though Jurgen Klopp complained about the timing of the match—only 63 days had passed since Liverpool’s defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Paris—City was the team that appeared the least prepared of the two.
Before this match, Liverpool had played twice as many preseason friendlies as City had in their two trips to the US, and it was evident, especially during the opening half-hour when Pep Guardiola’s team found it difficult to gain possession of the ball let alone hold onto it.
The opportunity that ended with Andrew Robertson heading Trent Alexander-Arnold’s lofted cross to the far post into the side netting was a good one for Liverpool, and it served as something of a practice run for the goal that came seven minutes later.
Alexander-Arnold speared a pass to Luis Diaz after destabilizing City with his excellent side-to-side ball movement. The ball was rolled into Alexander-Arnold’s path by Mohamed Salah after Thiago Alcantara clipped a beautiful pass back to the right side.
The English defender recognized the opening and curled a shot that gained speed after deflecting off Nathan Ake’s head to give the diving Ederson no chance from the same area in that central right position where he had earlier crossed for Robertson.
Kevin De Bryune, Belgium midfielder, had a generally dismal afternoon, but he provided a lasting reminder of his everlasting quality when he swung a cross deep to the far post, where Adrian stopped Phil Foden’s effort as a substitute.
However, the Liverpool goalkeeper was unable to control the ball, and Alvarez sprinted in to bury the loose ball. Despite being first disallowed for offside, the goal was awarded following a thorough Var review.
Alvarez was receiving a lot of coaching from Guardiola on the sidelines, so he was not immediately aware the goal had been awarded. Julian, welcome to Pep’s world.
The city’s festivities wouldn’t last very long. Liverpool’s day was pretty much today.
The #HendoShuffle 🤩🏆 pic.twitter.com/oict2hVXIu
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 30, 2022
