Who: Man City - In the Community Shield
When: Saturday 30 Jul @ 17:00 BST
Where: The King Power Stadium, Leicester
Normally the FA Community Shield kicks off the season for top flight English football at Wembley Stadium in London, but this summer the Women's Euro 22 is in its final stages and the Ladies 3 Lions are in contention for silverware; thus the move to the Foxes home ground at The King Power. Best wishes to these young women! Aye!!
The recent rail workers strike is bound to have an effect for the Reds faithful who are traveling for this tie. Bus and car caravans will be the order of the day I'm thinking.. Remember Reds.. Be kind to our rivals at City and if you see the three City fans expected to show up in Leicester; with their thumbs out, beside the road; give 'em a lift.
Team News:
With the summer business all but done and dusted; preseason friendlies in the bag bar one.. The time has come to begin yet another season under Klopp and his staff as they chase down our rivals at City.
After losing the league last campaign by a single point yet again. The reds should be primed and ready for the challenge as they run the gauntlet into a hectic autumn campaign with the League, Cup ties and Champions League football coming a month earlier than usual to make way for the World Cup held in Dubai beginning in November.
The New Subs Rule:
This term will see a significant rule change regarding subs allowed increasing from 3 to 5. Expect Jurgen to make the most of this change as the term progresses.
Mane Exit:
One obvious absence from the side this go round is Sadio Mane who chose to leave Liverpool for another challenge in the Bundesliga with the perennial powerhouse champions die Roten of Bayern Munich.
Without doubt Mane and his skill, drive and determination will be missed. Sadio was just named African player of the year pipping his former teammate and rival, Mo Salah to the trophy.
The Next Generation:
The Reds have brought in Carvalho and Darwin Nunes to give a new shape and look to the offensive thrust going forward. Calvin Ramsay comes in too to provide valuable back up to Trent and a few Academy players have once again shown they are throwing their hats in to the mix..
Formation:
Expect Klopp to shake up the favored 4-3-3 he has preferred since his arrival at LFC. Most likely to a 4-2-3-1 with Darwin or Bobby Dazzler up top in isolation as the #9. Also look for Jurgen to have a few wrinkles up his sleeve, changing things up as the situation in the moment necessitates.
With Diaz on the left wing in Sadio's slot and Mo in his space on the right' this should make for a dynamic threatening forward thrust.. With the likes of the young Harvey Elliot expected to continue his first team comeback after an 11 month lay-off due to injury the season before last.
The Squad Depth:
Klopo has plenty of premium options at his disposal with Jota also looking to solidify his place with valuable minutes to contribute. With Carvalho's addition to midfield and the rise of young Stefan Bajcetic and new signing Calvin Ramsay in defense there is a hint of promise from our youth going forward;
Expect good things from Stefan and Calvin, brought in to replace Neco Williams, who moved on to Forest in pursuit of playing minutes and first team football.
The Reds are steady and solid at the back with Ali between the posts and Kelleher a solid backup. Robbo and Trent in the fullback positions will continue to shine, where they have amazed with a steady flurry of assists these past five seasons. Expect Kostas Tsimikas to continue to impress in his backup role to Andy at fullback.
Van Dijk is the anchor at CB with Konate steadily getting better. Matip is strong and healthy and Gomez has inked a new deal so he will also be available as Jurgen shuffles players through the titanic fixture list before that unprecedented international break to come in November for the WC.
Fabinho, Hendo, Thiago, and Keita along with Curtis Jones will be rotating minutes in the new midfield formation which most likely has Fabs and Henderson playing side by side in the holding 6 role. We could also see Thiago and Keita or Millie in this slot with Fabs or a combination of these as Fabs will need to be given a rest now and again.
Millie is back for another term with his huge desire and physicality, also his on-field presence and dressing room leadership. Needless to say his influence on the new blood and the youngsters cannot be overstated here. Once again he wins the dreaded lactic acid test, which he has done since his arrival at LFC. He is a machine…
Keeping Keita in form and healthy will be a premium as he has plenty of competition for minutes with Jones; and Ox also waiting in the wings for his opportunity to make a last gasp effort to remain in the side.
The Opposition:
City have added the skills of Erling Haaland from Dortmund as a true 9. Something they have been missing with the exit of Sergio Aguero. Sterling has moved on to Chelsea; and Zenchenko and Gabriel Jesus have also moved on to new challenges.
Pep's side are still a strong group and are slated early on to be frontrunners once again to take the title…do not underestimate young Haaland, Timo Werner he is not!
In Summary:
So strap in get comfortable, this campaign is filled with promise and should be another barn burner. Keeping everyone healthy and fit will be necessary even more so with the craziness of having a WC in winter; Klopp and Lijnders; to be sure, will be mindful of this dilemma and the medical staff will be called upon once again, to work their magic as niggling issues arise as they often do.
It is difficult to predict a starting 11 here; as Klopp has so many options to chose from. Allison Virgil Konate Fabs Hendo Thiago Mo Robbo and Trent are penciled in already, look for Darwin to get his LFC debut here.. Diaz and will round out the starting 11, in my opinion.
Prediction:
My prediction here, is for LFC to come through with a victory picking up their first silverware of the season. In a hard fought battle as most Jurgen v Pep chess matches tend to be with the mentality monsters seizing the day 2-1.
I look for Jurgen to have these lads coming out on the front foot. Heavy pressing and driving forward much as they did in the FA Cup semi-final against City last April.
Mo and Darwin each score before halftime.. With Haaland getting one back in the second frame before the mentality monsters drop the hammer and shut down Pep and City.
Fire Us Up Pablo:
Our not so secret weapon…the twelfth man.. So here we are.. Scouse.. Liverpudlians and Reds fans everywhere…The long hot summer gives way to a fire hot campaign on the horizon… It is time.. We go again!
Bring your fire and resolve! Have faith, and let our lads know we are with them every rollercoaster, jawdropping, sweating it out-step of the way… We believe!!! Sing and shout proud in our undying support for this the most special of clubs!!! LFC.. We are with you.. We love you, and stand by you… Win, Lose or Draw!!!
Crank up the volume!!! Ya gotta believe!!!YNWA
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