Four of Liverpool’s summer signings made their first competitive starts for the club in the Community Shield, which they lost on penalties to Crystal Palace.

Record £116m acquisition Florian Wirtz started in attacking midfield, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez formed a new-look full-back pairing, while Hugo Ekitike led the line as the central striker.

The only new face not in the starting XI was goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who was on the bench as Alisson kept his place.

And there were some clear signs the revamp may lead to spectacular results. The game finished 2-2, with the goals coming through Ekitike and Frimpong. It is the first time Liverpool have had two players score on their competitive debuts since August 2006, when Craig Bellamy and Mark Gonzalez netted against Maccabi Haifa.

But Liverpool 2.0 have bugs. They twice had leads pegged back, were often sloppy in defence, and were on the ropes towards the end.

“We have four new players – we need time to adapt,” Slot said at his post-match media conference at Wembley.

In this regard, the Community Shield was not an isolated incident. In Monday’s 3-2 friendly win against Athletic Bilbao, Liverpool conceded twice from set-pieces.

Palace arguably had only two big chances in this game – Jean-Philippe Mateta’s 13th-minute penalty and Ismaila Sarr bursting through with 12 minutes to go. They scored both.

As Slot pithily said: “We don’t concede chances, but we concede goals.”

New full-backs, new style of play?

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Jeremie Frimpong scored Liverpool’s second goal after 21 minutes at Wembley

Let’s start at the back. For years, especially under Jurgen Klopp, one of Liverpool’s defining traits was the attacking impetus brought by full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson.

Frimpong and Kerkez are, in many ways, in a similar mould – much more attacking than traditional full-backs.

But, while Kerkez is near identical to Robertson in how he plays, Frimpong stays far wider than his predecessor. Don’t expect many Alexander-Arnold-like adventures into central midfield – but do expect some good, old-fashioned overlapping runs.

This attacking sense led directly to Liverpool’s second goal when Frimpong jinked into the area and chipped Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson. Whether he meant to score or not, the dash into the box was a spectacular and impudent piece of skill.

However, in defence, issues remain. Liverpool will have hoped that Frimpong would bring the defensive solidity they sometimes lacked with Alexander-Arnold, but the Dutchman played Sarr onside for the second equaliser.

And it was not only at full-back where Liverpool looked defensively suspect. They were opened too easily before the first-half penalty – Mateta was set free by a through ball, leading to the attack which ended in Virgil van Dijk fouling Sarr.

There was not a recognised centre-back on Liverpool’s bench. Jarell Quansah has departed for Bayer Leverkusen and Joe Gomez “has a minor injury”.

Slot expects him to be back soon, but Liverpool need to sign at least one more central defender before the transfer deadline on 1 September.

The one they would like to sign captained the opposition at Wembley. Marc Guehi – subject of transfer speculation as he enters the last year of his contract – once again laid everything on the line for Palace before being subbed in the dying seconds because of cramp.

Is ‘dominant’ Wirtz missing piece?

Moving into midfield, Wirtz was the outstanding Liverpool player at Wembley. Slot has clearly tweaked the system to suit their record signing – and the early signs are positive.

Wirtz has been given a role freer and further forward than Liverpool had previously from an attacking midfielder – they had nobody to do that role last season.

He almost formed a strike partnership with Ekitike at times, so close together were they. Indeed by the time he was substituted, Wirtz was playing as a false nine with Ekitike already taken off.

This freedom allowed the German to float wide left after four minutes, to pick up the ball and play in Ekitike for the opener.

There were 22 passes in the build-up to Liverpool’s first goal, a move that lasted 66 seconds and involved nine players.

Until being taken off in the 84th minute, Wirtz looked perfectly balanced, always in control, never flustered. His influence all over the pitch for Liverpool is already clear.

At the point of his substitution, Wirtz led Liverpool for passes and entries in the final third, crosses and touches in the Palace box. He had the third most touches in total. Everything went through him.

“It has been a really impressive performance for Wirtz,” former Palace striker Glenn Murray told BBC Radio 5 Live. “Very dominant.

“He was tiring by the end of it and that is something he will need to get used to. But he is looking like a very good signing.”

This does put a question on Mohamed Salah’s role in the team. The Egyptian has now not scored in eight Wembley appearances, had only one shot on target and in the shootout blazed his penalty over. But that is a question for another article.

How much of a difference did Ekitike make?

In front of Wirtz, Ekitike has the makings of a genuine, out-and-out centre forward Liverpool simply did not have before because of Darwin Nunez’s shortcomings.

His goal was well taken, and his cross with the outside of his boot in the first half that found Cody Gakpo in an offside position was sumptuous.

But one should remember that Nunez’s debut also came in the Community Shield – the 2023 win over Manchester City. The Uruguayan scored, looked streets ahead of Erling Haaland – and never hit those heights again.

And there was a touch of Nunez about Ekitike spurning a header inside the six-yard box less than a minute into the second half, and another chance he blazed over from 12 yards. Take one of those, and Liverpool win.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Ekitike scored the quickest goal in a Community Shield since Gary McAllister for Liverpool versus Manchester United in 2001

“Always nice to score a goal, but it would have been even nicer to win a game,” Slot said of his new frontman.

“Ekitike had a good impact, but he came two weeks ago during the Asia tour. But he had a good game for sure.”

So who will Liverpool add in the final three weeks of the transfer window? One name is on everyone’s lips – Alexander Isak.

At times on Sunday, it looked as if the last thing Liverpool needed was another first-choice striker. But as Palace celebrated in the sun, the appeal of the wantaway Newcastle forward became clearer.

“Liverpool want another striker,” former Reds goalkeeper Chris Kirkland told BBC Sport after the game. “We’re all greedy. Every team wants as many strikers as they can.

“Liverpool want Isak, they have bid for him, and he wants to go. Normally, when that is the case, a deal gets done. I’d want a centre-back and a forward because we are all greedy in this world!”

A long way to go, Liverpool fans…

There were also weaknesses deeper in midfield for Liverpool, but they are a cheaper fix.

Ryan Gravenberch was absent because his partner was giving birth, while Alexis Mac Allister was only fit enough for a cameo off the bench.

Curtis Jones lined up alongside Dominik Szoboszlai in holding midfield, and completed all 53 of his passes.

“Gravenberch was a massive miss today – he was my player of the season last year,” said Kirkland.

There can be no question Liverpool will be disappointed to miss out on a trophy, especially against the side who finished 12th last season and have several injury issues, with Eddie Nketiah and Cheick Doucoure among those set to miss the start of the season.

But Reds fans should not take it too harshly. For starters, only one of the past 14 winners of the season opener have gone on to lift the Premier League trophy – Manchester City in 2018-19. In the Premier League era, only eight of the 33 winners of the Charity or Community Shield have gone on to win the title.

And in more relevant terms, Slot 2.0 is still at the troubleshooting stage – there are 38 product launches to come.

Palace clinched their first-ever major trophy with FA Cup glory here in May against Man City and twice came from behind to eventually defeat Liverpool, with sub Justin Devenny striking the winning spot-kick after his goalkeeper Dean Henderson had saved two and Mohamed Salah had skied another.

It was delight for the Palace supporters – and a welcome distraction from their appeal hearing at CAS, with the answer as to whether they will be playing in the Europa League or Conference League this season set to come on Monday. Their fans made their feelings known about UEFA, who demoted them due to multi-club ownership issues, with banners in the stands.

Liverpool’s £265m worth of summer signings looked to be the story of the day, with Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong on the scoresheet and Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz connecting during some slick attacks. Ekitike and Wirtz also had chances to put the game beyond Palace’s reach after the break.

But Arne Slot’s side looked vulnerable throughout and a clumsy Virgil van Dijk challenge on Ismaila Sarr allowed Jean-Philippe Mateta to score from the spot and the Dutchman was out of position when Adam Wharton fed Sarr to fire Palace’s second equaliser in off a post.

Palace, who had forced Alisson into a fine stop from Eberechi Eze, were then denied a penalty when the ball appeared to strike Alexis Mac Allister’s lifted arm. Devenny also drove inches wide with the last kick of the game – but he and Palace had their winning moment in the end in a dramatic shoot-out.

City edged past rivals Manchester United on penalties in the Community Shield last August but have since endured a miserable campaign, relinquishing their four-year hold on the Premier League trophy and being knocked out early in the Champions League.

On Saturday, their season suffered another low as they were stunned by Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final at Wembley.

It means for the first time in eight years, City will end a campaign without a major trophy but the Catalan referenced the Community Shield when discussing the only remaining target for them – Champions League qualification.​​​​​​​

“Of course, it’s important to qualify, but except for Newcastle who won the Carabao Cup, Liverpool won the Premier League and Manchester City that won the Community Shield – the other teams didn’t win trophies,” Guardiola said.

“So the other teams like Chelsea, who can win one title [Europa Conference League] against Real Betis, and [Manchester] United and Tottenham can win the Europa League.

“All the other teams are expecting, of course, to qualify for the Champions League but this is important for every club that play this in competition next year.

“We played a really good [FA Cup] final, not enough to win it, and we have the last two games, we need four points to be in the Champions League next year and this is enough and everyone has to be aware of that.”

With Liverpool Premier League champions and Arsenal sealing second spot, City have a fight to qualify for Europe’s elite club competition and a fascinating race has developed for the top five, with third-placed Newcastle and Nottingham Forest in seventh separated by a solitary point.

Results over the weekend means City have dropped to sixth in the table, but they hold a game in hand over the challengers which comes against Bournemouth on Tuesday (kick-off 20:00 BST), with the final round of games taking place on Sunday.

It is the first time since City have won the top-flight curtain raiser since beating Liverpool 5-4 on penalties in 2019 and puts an end to their three-year run of losing in this fixture (2021, 2022 and 2023).

Substitute Alejandro Garnacho looked to have won the Community Shield for Manchester United when he cut inside and fired home a fantastic effort with just eight minutes of normal time left on the clock.

However, that was before fellow substitute Bernardo Silva popped up in the 89th minute to head home Oscar Bobb’s cross some eight minutes after entering the fray.

The Community Shield then went to a penalty shootout for the fourth time in six seasons, with Manuel Akanji capitalising on Jonny Evans’ miss by converting his decisive spot-kick to win the shootout 7-6 and earn Pep Guardiola’s side their first trophy of the 2024/25 season.

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Amad Diallo – Manchester United

• Born: 11 July 2020 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast

• Position: Winger, attacking midfielder
• Jersey number: 19
• Senior club career: Atalanta (Italy, 2019-2021); Manchester United (England, 2021-present); Rangers (Scotland, 2022, loan); Sunderland (England, 2022-2023, loan).
• National team stats: 4 appearances, 1 goal.
• Man United stats: 21 appearances, 3 goals.
• Club career stats: 81 appearances, 21 goals.

The Ivorian winger is being hyped for a big season with United, having overcome a knee injury which kept him sidelined for much of the 2023-24 campaign. The 22-year-old is hoping his speed, skill and determined attitude put him ahead of Antony and Jadon Sancho for a starting berth on the right flank.

Andre Onana – Manchester United

• Born: 2 April 1996 in Nkol Ngog, Cameroon
• Position: Goalkeeper
• Jersey number: 24
• Senior club career: Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands, Reserve Team 2015-2016, First Team 2016-2022); Inter Milan (Italy, 2022-2023); Manchester United (England, 2023-present)
• National team stats: 40 appearances.
• Man United stats: 51 appearances.
• Club career stats: 345 appearances.

Onana’s first season at United did not go exactly to plan, though the Cameroonian goalkeeper showed enough glimpses of his shot-stopping genius to suggest that he could thrive at Old Trafford. The 28-year-old will want to keep Man City’s attack at bay in this season’s curtain-raiser at Wembley.

Hannibal Mejbri

• Born: 21 January 2003 in Paris, France (represents Tunisia internationally)
• Position: Midfielder
• Jersey number: 46
• Senior club career: Manchester United (England, 2021-present); Birmingham City (England, 2022-2023, loan); Sevilla (Spain, 2024, loan)
• National team stats: 27 appearances, 0 goals
• Man United stats: 13 appearances, 1 goal.
• Club career stats: 65 appearances, 21 goals.

French-born Tunisian Hannibal Mejbri has a well-rounded game which could yet make him a Man United regular, though he is being strongly linked with a move away from the club – with Scottish giants Rangers and Celtic said to be competing for his services.

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FA Community Shield broadcast details

Saturday 10 August

16:00 (CAT): Manchester United v Manchester City – LIVE on Football Plus

The traditional curtain-raiser to the top-flight English football season is the FA Community Shield, which will see Premier League champions Manchester City take on FA Cup winners Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London on the afternoon of Saturday 10 August 2024.

Match background.

This meeting of City and United comes just two and a half months after they clashed in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium in late May – a match in which the Red Devils claimed a surprise 2-1 win. As a result, Pep Guardiola and his charges will have their sights set firmly on revenge – even if the Spanish tactician is reluctant to admit as much.

As for United, they are looking to build on that FA Cup win, with manager Erik ten Hag retained for the start of the first full season under the new co-ownership of the Ineos group. The Red Devils will need to show far more consistency and ambition compared to last season’s roller-coaster campaign, but kicking off with another win over City would be the perfect way to set the tone.

What the teams are saying

Man City manager Pep Guardiola on the rising influence of the club’s academy players such as Oscar Bobb and Rico Lewis:

“We’re blessed to have these players. It’s nice because the other young players look up to senior players. If you aren’t ready another will be ready because look at them, they want to become footballers and show they want to be there. As a manager it’s really good and that’s why having this period before the season is good. It’s nice to see them, I didn’t know them quite well but in training we can find them.”

Man United midfielder Mason Mount on the work the team has been doing in preparation for the season:

“This is such an important time for us as a group, to put the work in, to work at a few different things we’re going into the season trying to do. We don’t normally get loads of time to prepare for games during the season. You have maybe a few days if you’re having two games a week […]. So, ramping it up, really feeling good in the group and there’s a really good vibe. So yeah, we’ll be ready.”

Players to watch.

Joshua Zirkzee – Manchester United

The Dutch forward will be looking to make a major statement of intent when he gets his first taste of a Manchester derby. Zirkzee’s energy and physicality could be key in United’s hopes of securing a second straight Wembley win over their arch-rivals.

Phil Foden – Manchester City

The attacking midfielder enjoyed a brilliant season in 2023-24 and was particularly good in the Premier League matches against Man United. Foden’s mercurial movement and hammer-like left foot make for a dangerous combination.

Head-to-head

In head-to-head stats, Man City and Man United have met in 193 matches across all competitions. The Red Devils have claimed 79 wins compared to 61 for the Citizens, while 53 games have been drawn.

The teams’ most recent meeting, as mentioned above, was the FA Cup final back in May which United won 2-1 thanks to goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.

You are entitled to the best football… After all, you’re a DStv subscriber and DStv is your home of choice and value. Get connected and upgrade to DStv Compact to catch all the exhilarating thrills and spills from England’s elite division 24/7, 365 days of the year. DStv Stream customers are also able to enjoy all the action – all you need is a fast, stable, and reliable internet connection. Download the MyDStv app on your mobile app store or visit www.dstv.com and manage your account.

FA Community Shield broadcast details

Saturday 10 August

16:00(CAT): Manchester United v Manchester City – LIVE on Football Plus.

The win came at Leicester’s King Power Stadium ahead of Sunday’s Euro 2022 final between England and Germany.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was on hand to finish off a smart move midway through the first half for Liverpool, who left new signing Nunez on the bench.

For City, Erling Haaland started up top but he was frustrated early on, with his City colleagues off the pace, missing a couple of decent chances.

In the second half, Nunez was introduced and almost scored from a one-on-one only for Ederson to make a brave save with his face.

Another debutant, Julian Alvarez also came on in the second half and grabbed a 73rd minute equaliser as he followed up a rebound that was allowed on VAR review.

A little over 10 minutes later, Salah converted from the spot after Ruben Dias handled in the box from Nunez’s header.

In injury-time, Nunez sealed the win for Liverpool with a diving header from point-blank range to the delight of the Liverpool supporters.

Haaland squandered a glorious chance to pull a goal back in the final seconds, crashing a rebound from two yards out off the crossbar.

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This clash is being held in Leicester due to the ongoing UEFA Women’s European Championships (for which Wembley Stadium is a key venue) and sees the Reds and the Citizens renew their rivalry. The clubs have dominated English football in recent years and will be expected to do so again in the 2022-23 season.

Liverpool have lost Senegalese marksman Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich, but have boosted their squad with the additions of Fabio Carvalho and Darwin Nunez, while the big arrival on Man City’s side is of course striker Erling Haaland, but they have also cannily snapped up Calvin Phillips from Leeds United.

“It’s important we all recognise we are getting a work in progress with Darwin,” said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. “He recognises that himself, for sure. I love how much focus and humility he has. We have wonderful attacking options already and he becomes part of that now. So there is no pressure on him at all.”

Man City’s Phillips said, “City have again proved to be the best team in the country with an amazing squad and a manager in Pep Guardiola who is rightly considered to be the finest in the world. To be able to play under Pep and learn from him and his coaching staff as well as be part of such a fantastic squad is a prospect that I am incredibly excited about.”

• Key players

Mohamed Salah – The Egyptian recently signed a new contract extension at Liverpool and has committed himself to taking the Reds back to the top of the English game. This match presents him and the team with the chance to lay down a marker for the upcoming season.

Kevin De Bruyne – The Belgian playmaker enjoyed another brilliant campaign last term and will be looking to lead Man City to yet more glory in the new season. This clash against Liverpool is one in which De Bruyne will look to use his unrivalled range of passing and shooting to full effect.

• Head-to-head stats

In head-to-head stats, Liverpool and Man City have met in 220 matches across all competitions since their first clash back in 1893. The Reds have claimed 106 wins compared to 58 for the Citizens, while 56 games have been drawn.

The teams met three times last season: both Premier League matches ended in 2-2 draws, while Liverpool claimed a 3-2 win in the FA Cup semifinal played at Wembley Stadium in mid-April, with goals from Ibrahima Konate and Sadio Mane (two).

• Battles to watch

Jurgen Klopp v Pep Guardiola – These two managers have enormous respect for each other, but the rivalry burns bright. Klopp will hope his team’s intensity dominates, while Guardiola’s nous and perceptive approach could give City a tactical edge.

Virgil van Dijk v Erling Haaland – A heavyweight clash of arguably the best defender in the world against the most exciting striker to arrive in the Premier League for many a year. VVD will hope to assert his authority from early on, but Haaland won’t give an inch as he looks to impress on debut.

Andy Robertson v Riyad Mahrez – A key battle out on the flank will see Mahrez looking to cut inside from the right to use his left foot, but Robertson is a determined competitor who will offer his own hard-running threat when Liverpool have possession.

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FA Community Shield broadcast details, 30 July 2022

• All times CAT

Saturday 30 July

• 18:00: Liverpool v Manchester City – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League

The meeting of last season’s Premier League champions and FA Cup winners was absorbing in parts and looked to be heading for penalties, but Iheanacho struck from the spot into the top corner with a minute remaining after being tripped by Nathan Ake.

City’s record £100m signing Jack Grealish was given his debut on 65 minutes, but he could not muster a clear-cut opportunity for a much-changed team.

Ilkay Gundogan saw an arrowed free-kick superbly tipped over the crossbar by Kasper Schmeichel and the German midfielder also blazed over a first-time effort from 10 yards out.

Striker Jamie Vardy was bright for Leicester but could not find a way past City goalkeeper Zack Steffen, who made a stunning reaction save to deny the Englishman.

His curling strike gave FA Cup winners Arsenal the lead in the first half before Liverpool substitute Takumi Minamino equalised after the break.

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Minamino’s flicked pass to Mohamed Salah bounced back kindly for him to slot home from close range.

There was a quick VAR check for handball by Salah but the replay showed no clear contact.

It is the second year in a row Liverpool have lost on penalties after Manchester City’s victory in 2019.