Liverpool and Manchester City contest the Community Shield in Leicester on Saturday and we take the opportunity to look at a variety of betting options for the game and the season ahead with @Sportingbet_sa
Liverpool
Liverpool's marathon 2021/22 domestic season saw them win both the EFL and FA Cup and on a thrilling last day of the Premier League season they were just pipped to the title by Manchester City who finished 1 point clear. They also lost the Uefa Champions League final to Real Madrid but it was terrific effort to take their challenge for all 4 major trophies to the death.
Transfer activity includes the arrival of Darwin Nunez from Benfica for a reported £65,000,000 and Fábio Carvalho from Fulham. Among those heading out of the door Sadio Mane joined Bayern Munich. Takumi Minamino and Neco Williams were also sold to Monaco and Nottingham Forest respectively.
In pre-season Liverpool lost 4-0 to Manchester United and beat Crystal Palace 2-0 and RB Leipzig 5-0 with Nunez scoring 4 goals against the Bundesliga side.
Liverpool begin their Premier League season away to Fulham on Saturday 6th August.
Latest Season Long Odds
To win the title 11/4
To win the title “without Man City” 9/20
Straight Forecast 1st Liverpool 2nd Liverpool at 3/1
Top EPL Goalscorer Salah 9/2, Nunez (17/2)
Manchester City
City defended the EPL title last season though they needed a dramatic second half comeback to see of Villa in Manchester on the final day. That was the only major trophy they won having lost their grip on the EFL Cup at west Ham in the Round of 16 and they lost an FA Cup semi final to Liverpool at Wembley. A late collapse in Madrid saw City go down to Real in the UCL semi finals.
Pre-season transfer news has been dominated by the arrival of Erling Haaland from Dortmund for £51,000,000 whilst Kalvin Phillips has also signed from Leeds for £42,000,000. Among numerous departures the highest profiles are Jesus and Zinchenko (both Arsenal) and Raheem Ssterling (Chelsea).
City's headline pre- season friendly saw Haaland net the only goal in a win over Bayern Munich.
City will start the defence of the Premier League title away to West Ham on Sunday 7th Aaugust.
Latest Season Long Odds
To win the title 0.62/1
Straight Forecast 1st Man City 2nd Liverpool at 16/10
Top EPL Goalscorer Haaland 9/4
The Betting - 90 minutes
Liverpool are trading at around 18/10 to win the game in regulation time with the draw at 5/2 and City can be backed at around 14/10
A game of 3 goals or more in regulation time is 0.78/1 and it's 13/20 for both teams to score.
Note, odds are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
The Verdict:
Last season's Community Shield saw City lose 1-0 to Leicester and in 2020 Liverpool lost 2-1 to Arsenal and whilst the arrival of the new season is most welcome, these curtain raisers don't get me too motivated to risk anything other than a few Rands.
I'll have a bit of de Bruyne to open the scoring whilst looking forward to the first round of fixtures next weekend.
Bets: 1st Goalscorer de Bruyne at 17/2
Note, odds are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
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