Manchester City lock horns with Liverpool in the Community Shield final on Saturday evening, but how many of Pep Guardiola new signings (Stefan Ortega, Kalvin Phillips, Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez) will get the nod at the King Power Stadium?
Who will win the Community Shield final?
Man City
Liverpool
Ortega played in one of City’s two friendlies against Club America and Bayern Munich but is unlikely to dethrone first-choice Ederson between the sticks. He was signed to play in a supporting role as Zack Steffen was moving on.
Kyle Walker played in both exhibition games in City’s pre-season tour of the United States, so he should start at right-back. Joao Cancelo will be needed on the left after Oleksandr Zinchenko was sold. Aymeric Laporte is injured while John Stones isn’t match fit after missing both friendlies, so Nathan Ake should partner Ruben Dias at centre-back.
Rodri started in both friendlies, so he should get the nod or Kalvin Phillips in the holding role. Phillips was used as a makeshift defender in one game and had a substitute appearance in the other, so he’s not had the chance to prove himself in his preferred role yet.
Kevin De Bruyne was Man of the Match in the 2-1 win over Club America, so he’ll start in midfield. Bernardo Silva started both friendlies, so he will partner that Belgian. Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden may not be match fit after missing both games, so they could make the bench.
Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish started both friendlies while on tour, so they should start on opposing flanks. Grealish put in a man of the Match performance against Bayern too. And finally, Erling Haaland was given a clean bill of health by Guardiola in his pre-match press conference, so he should lead the line.
Predicted XI v Liverpool: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake, Cancelo; Rodri; De Bruyne, Silva; Mahrez, Haaland, Grealish
In other news, Pep Guardiola names three left-back alternatives if Marc Cucurella isn’t signed