Manchester City vs Manchester United | Saturday 10 August | Wembley | 17:30
The FA Community Shield is effectively the curtain-raiser for the upcoming English domestic season, so you know what this means right!? The League returns in six days!
Whether you regard this as a genuine piece of silverware or still part of the preseason usually depends on whether your team is competing – but I’ll try and be a little less passive-aggressive this early on!
It’s a Manchester Derby to chorus in the new season – it doesn’t get much better than this.
To Win (90 mins)
Manchester City 11/20
Draw 36/10
Manchester United 4/1
Manchester City
City struggles in this fixture – at least based on recent performances – but their talent and ability are the most clichéd line in world football. Pep Guardiola’s men recorded a league double over their bitter rivals last season, battering United 3-0 at Old Trafford.
City have made just a solitary signing in the window at the time of writing, bringing in Savinho from Girona. Questions still swirl around Ederson, and so I expect Stefan Ortega to start here. I am interested to see whether City deploy their Euro 2024 contingent, given the number of players involved in the business end of the competition.
As mentioned, City have failed to win their last three Community Shields, and they come up against the most successful side within this context. Furthermore, they have struggled with penalties, losing to all of Real Madrid, Arsenal and West Ham!
The old adage reminds us that form goes out of the window when this fixture is tabled – I surely hope so!
Manchester United
United earned their spot in this competition by way of the FA Cup. Erik ten Hag might very well have had his job saved by the success (according to most) but the powers at play around Old Trafford have shown great faith in the Dutchman by extending his stay.
The Red Devils have both appeared in and won the most Community Shields, winning 21 in 30 appearances. They will know this is not a major trophy, but certainly a game where they are able to gain a host of confidence before their campaign gets underway next Friday against Fulham.
Speaking of confidence, Marcus Rashford will surely be among the players at United wanting to remind the world of his ability this year. The English international was left out of the Euro squad and will surely be rearing to go here. Rashford has scored six times in 21 appearances against City and enjoys playing England’s ‘big six’.
I am interested in seeing what Ruud van Nistelrooy brings to this united team. He has shown he has a propensity for developing young players and given the youth currently at United, it could be a match made in heaven.
Predicted Lineup:
Manchester City: Ortega, Gvardiol, Ake, Stones, Walker, Kovacic, Rodri, De Bruyne, Foden, Silva, Haaland.
Manchester United: Onana, Shaw, Martinez, Lindelof, Dalot, Mainoo, Casemiro, Rashford, Fernandes, Mount, Sancho.
Prediction: Manchester United (To Lift the Cup) (9/4)
Recent performances between these two have proved that it will be close and somewhat cagey at times. The physicality and intensity of the game will likely be unbecoming of a preseason fixture, and you would expect nothing less!
I think this game goes to penalties to be honest, and in that environment, I think United win.
Written by Ryan Liberty