Two late goals handed Liverpool their first trophy of the season as they defeated Manchester City 3-1 in the FA Community Shield at the King Power Stadium.
Liverpool were rewarded for a brighter start as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s deflected strike put the 2021-22 FA Cup winners a goal up at the break.
Premier League champions Manchester City hit back in the second half through Julian Alavarez before Mohammed Salah’s penalty and Darwin Nunez’s injury-time header sealed the silverware for Liverpool.
Salah was the first to see a chance go just wide inside five minutes having worked his way into the box.
Manchester City followed suit through Kevin De Bruyne, whose shot was deflected into the side netting by Virgil van Dijk.
With 21 minutes gone Alexander-Arnold had put Liverpool in front, with the defender also involved in the build-up.
The England international found Roberto Firmino on the far side of the box who passed on to Van Dijk, with Salah then providing the assist to Alexander-Arnold whose strike was deflected off Nathan Ake.
Erling Haaland, City’s new star striker, was twice involved in the latter stages of the first half, doing well to send a shot on target as he lost his balance but couldn’t do the same moments later, using his wrong foot to poke wide.
Pep Guardiola’s charges were not able to find the back of the net as the first half drew to a close.
After a VAR check, substitute Alvarez’s 70th-minute equaliser was confirmed with the Argentine forward judged on side in the build-up before tapping home a rebounded shot from Phil Foden to bring City level.
Liverpool would trail for only 13 minutes as Salah sweetly struck a penalty after Joao Cancelo was penalised for a handball in the box.
The Reds’ win was sewn up in the fourth minute of added time as Nunez heading in his first goal for Liverpool.
The victory meant Jurgen Klopp completed the domestic set with his first Community Shield as Liverpool manager.
