Liverpool vs Manchester City | Community Shield 2019 Betting Preview & Tip (4.8.2019)

    Liverpool will be looking to put an end to Manchester City dominance in English football when the two star-studded teams face each other at Wembley Stadium in the 2019 Community Shield. The Citizens did remarkably to win the double last season, but seeing that Pep Guardiola wants to win everything, we are positive that Raheem Sterling and Co. are going to leave their hearts on the field in Sunday’s showdown. Anyhow, a lively contest is on the cards in London as the two best Premier League sides are vying for the first trophy of the season.

    Big blow for Liverpool

    Despite impressing in the 2018/2019 Premier League season, Liverpool eventually failed to win the domestic trophy, with the team finishing the campaign in second position in the standings, only one point behind champions Manchester City. The Reds are eager to get their revenge on the Citizens, but they will have to do it without star player Sadio Mane, who will return to contention the day after the Community Shield clash.

    Mane represented Senegal at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations earlier this summer, helping the Lions of Teranga win the silver medal at the tournament in Egypt. Jurgen Klopp has decided to give the pacey attacker a well-deserved rest, but, no doubt, the former Southampton man is going to be sorely missed in Sunday’s encounter with the Premier League champions. Divock Origi, who impressed in the 2018/2019 Champions League quarter-finals game against Barcelona, is widely expected to replace Sadio Mane in the starting XI.

    Guardiola eyeing his seventh trophy with the Citizens

    Thanks to a come-from-behind win over Brighton on the last day of the season, Manchester City defended their Premier League trophy. Pep Guardiola’s trophy cabinet is not yet full to bursting point, but it has to be noted that the former Barcelona tactician has already won six titles with the Citizens (EPL x 2, EFL Cup x 2, FA Cup, and Community Shield).

    However, seeing that Man City fans are hungry for more trophies, we are positive that Guardiola is going to field the best possible side against Liverpool in the Wembley Stadium match. The Citizens did well to beat Chelsea 2-0 in the 2018 Community Shield, with Kun Aguero scoring a brace and, no doubt, all eyes will be on the Argentine striker when the two teams face each other in London this weekend. However, one footballer could play his last match for Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.

    Roberto Firmino and Bernardo Silva in action

    Bernardo Silva and Roberto Firmino during the 2017/2018 Champions League quarter final match. (Photo: Mitch Gunn / Shutterstock.com)

    Leroy Sane with one foot at Allianz Arena

    Over the years Leroy Sane has established himself as one of the best wingers in the world. However, the pacey German international was hungry for a regular starting berth in the 2018/2019 Premier League season and it is no wonder he is on the verge of leaving the Etihad Stadium outfit. The 23-year-old is heavily linked with a move to Bayern Munchen, with Pep Guardiola confirming that Sane’s future “is not in Man City hands”.

    The Bayern Munchen target scored a brace in a 6-1 win over Kitchee in a friendly, but he could say goodbye to Manchester City fans after the Liverpool game. You should bear in mind that Leroy Sane is 1/1 at Betfair to join the Bundesliga champions in the summer transfer window. Big-money signing Rodri, on the other hand, is widely expected to make his Man City debut in a competitive match against Liverpool.

    First ever meeting in the Community Shield

    Manchester City and Liverpool have never met before in the FA Community Shield. The Citizens have won five trophies to date (1937, 1968, 1972, 2012, 2018), whereas the Reds clinched their fifteenth trophy back in 2006 when they defeated Chelsea 2-1 in the title game at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

    Liverpool are leading the head-to-head record, winning 104, drawing 53 and losing 55 to Manchester City, but in their last meeting in a competitive match Pep Guardiola’s troops emerged triumphant. The Citizens outplayed the Reds 2-1 at Etihad Stadium in the Premier League derby on January 3, 2019 and many people believe that this match decided the 2018/2019 champions.

    Our Liverpool vs Manchester City Betting Tip

    As previously mentioned, Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp will not count on Sadio Mane in Sunday’s encounter at Wembley Stadium and it is no wonder Manchester City are seen as favourites to win the 2019 Community Shield. The Citizens won the double last term and, no doubt, they are determined to extend their winning run.

    Man City have been scoring goals for fun in pre-season and they are likely to repeat the success from the last season when they outplayed Chelsea 2-0 in the first game of the season. Pep Guardiola has a number of top-class players to choose from and despite the fact that he will be without Kun Aguero and Gabriel Jesus this time out, we believe that there is a big value in betting on the Premier League champions. The Citizens are brimming with confidence ahead of the Community Shield match and we are positive that they are going to prevent Mane-less Liverpool from scoring. Man City are 21/20 at 888Sport to defend the title.

    Check out other Match Winner odds at 888Sport.