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As Jurgen Klopp's Kings of the Kop took on Pep Guardiola's historic treble winners in the annual curtain-raiser of the Premier League season, Manchester City edged Liverpool as they laid their hands on the FA Community Shield for the second season running.
The one-off encounter is contested between the winners of the Premier League and FA Cup. While Manchester City completed a clean sweep of domestic honors in the English top-flight last season, Liverpool entered the competition by virtue of the second-placed finish in the Premier League.
Raheem Sterling opened the scoring as a momentary lapse in concentration from the Liverpool back-line allowed the Englishman a shot at goal from inside the area. The Premier League champions went on to dominate proceedings as they went into half-time with a deserved lead.
Liverpool hit back strongly in the second half as they looked to get a grip on the game and scored a deserved equalizer late in the game, through Joel Matip's header.
City triumphed on penalties 5-4, as Georginio Wijnaldum's tame effort was saved by Claudio Bravo, who deputized for Ederson on the day.
As two of the best teams in the division went head-to-head in the annual curtain-raiser, let's look at some of the talking points from the game.
#1 Rodri has slotted seamlessly into Manchester City's midfield
After sealing a historic domestic treble, Manchester City shattered their transfer record for a pedigreed defensive midfield as Rodri joined from Atletico Madrid for a fee believed to be in the region of £65 million.
The Spaniard has been viewed as Fernandinho's long-term heir and he produced a near-flawless performance in his first competitive outing for his new side.
Starting as the deepest midfielder on the pitch, the 23-year-old partnered Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva and the trio dominated the game as Liverpool had no answers to their brilliance in the opening exchanges.
The Spaniard has drawn comparisons with fellow countryman Sergio Busquets and under Guardiola's tutelage, he's all set to become one of the best players in the world in his position.
#2 Mane's absence and the gulf of class in bench strength haunt Liverpool
Sadio Mane was a notable absentee for Liverpool as they failed to threaten City's left-flank. The Senegalese international is expected to return tomorrow after an extended holiday as he was involved in the Africa Cup of Nations with his country and Liverpool missed his explosiveness up-front.
Divock Origi, last season's Champions League winning hero, failed to make an impression in his absence as he was kept at bay by Manchester City's full-backs.
Aside from Mane's absence, the gulf of class between the two squads was apparent as the likes of Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus and Ilkay Gundogan were all on the bench for Manchester City.
Liverpool's bench wasn't short of numbers and although the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are useful players in their own right, the Cityzens are well stacked in every department and possess quality deputies to all their key players, something Liverpool have lacked in recent seasons.
#3 A game of two halves
Manchester City came out all guns blazing and Liverpool were pegged back in the opening exchanges. The Cityzens dominated the first half and had a goal to show for it, as Raheem Sterling's shot crept in despite Alisson Becker's best efforts.
City's midfield ran Liverpool ragged and although the Reds got better as the game progressed, the Premier League champions finished the first half as the better side.
In second half, Liverpool were a completely different side as they gave Manchester City a run for their money. The Reds showed more intent and dominated proceedings since the break, much like their opponents did in the first-half and scored a well deserved equalizer.
Joel Matip latched on to Virgil van Dijk's lofted cross to head the ball in as the Reds drew level late on. The encounter between the last season's treble winners and the European Champions was further proof that football is indeed a game of two-halves.
