Community Shield: Man City v Liverpool – Jurgen Klopp’s Reds face battle to knock Pep Guardiola’s champions off their perch
- Sunday’s Community Shield will give some indication where the clubs will stand at the end of the season
- Treble winners expected to get the better of the Uefa Champions League winners and clinch a third consecutive EPL title
The margins between Liverpool and Manchester City were small last season. One point divided the teams in the Premier League. It appears to be a tantalisingly tiny gap for Jurgen Klopp’s side to overturn. In reality it is massive.
If Liverpool can reverse places at the top of the table in the coming campaign it would be one of the greatest feats in Anfield’s history.
The Community Shield match on Sunday at Wembley between the teams is unlikely to give much of an indication about how the campaign will develop. Both sides would like to win but the game will have little impact beyond Sunday afternoon. It is probable that next season’s title winners will be on show at Wembley.
City are the favourites. Their unprecedented clean sweep of domestic trophies last season confirmed their status as English football’s dominant side. Liverpool’s remarkable campaign was rewarded with Champions League success but Klopp’s side have an uphill battle in their attempt to overcome the champions.
The financial gulf between the clubs has been a huge concern at Anfield since Fenway Sports Group took over in 2010. City’s financial firepower weighs heavy on minds at Anfield. Klopp has twice talked about the Etihad’s spending in the past week, prompting responses from Omar Berrada, City’s chief operating office, and Pep Guardiola. There is bad blood between the clubs.