FA Community Shield 2019: Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool (5-4 on pens) - 5 Talking Points

#2 Reds' positive second-half shows there's still work to be done

Klopp was often animated in a competitive, telling defeat by their fierce rivals on this occasion

Liverpool were second-best and rightly trailing going into the half-time interval, so whatever Klopp said at the break certainly did the trick. They responded well, buzzed around persistently in their attempts to disrupt City's rhythm and it ultimately paid off - so much so that Sterling squandered a match-defining chance, Virgil van Dijk was inches away from an equaliser and Kyle Walker's acrobatic goalline clearance prevented a stoppage-time winner.

You could see as much in the players' faces, City were tiring and Liverpool were increasingly energised. The fact they made five substitutions, to City's two (sorry Phil Foden!) would have naturally played its part, but nonetheless, the Reds were the better side in a second-half which could have swung either way.

City responded well to their pressure but given the number of chances they were conceding, it was only a matter of time before Liverpool found a breakthrough. Alexander-Arnold's set-piece deliveries were regularly hit deep into areas which proved harmless and the first time he hit one differently, they almost scored.

Van Dijk's neat assist for substitute Matip saw the momentum swing in their favour with just over 10 minutes to play, but City ultimately survived thanks to Liverpool's profligacy and an acrobatic Walker. Klopp knows their pre-season campaign has been difficult for different reasons but once the proper season starts, there will be no time for excuses. Time to knuckle down.