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LEICESTER, United Kingdom: Liverpool struck first blood towards Manchester Metropolis forward of the brand new Premier League season as Darwin Nunez made an immediate affect for Jurgen Klopp’s males to win the Group Defend 3-1 on Saturday.
In a story of two large summer time signings, Nunez got here off the bench to win a penalty and rating his first objective since a 75-million euro ($77 million) transfer from Benfica, whereas Erling Haaland had a Metropolis debut to overlook.
“He is good,” mentioned Klopp on Nunez, who has been criticised for his pre-season performances. “At present we performed the good passes. We noticed Darwin in harmful conditions. He used the areas and completed nicely too.
“All of the subs made an actual distinction. It was an important factor I realized as we speak, that the boys are prepared.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s blistering strike gave Liverpool a deserved half-time lead in Leicester.
Nevertheless it was Metropolis’s different new ahead who hauled Pep Guardiola’s males again into the sport after the break as Julian Alvarez equalised.
Tying down Mohamed Salah to a brand new three-year deal was Liverpool’s different main piece of summer time enterprise and the Egyptian was lethal from the penalty spot after Nunez’s header was dealt with by Ruben Dias.
The Uruguayan then bought his personal glory second by stooping to go dwelling in stoppage time earlier than tearing off his shirt in celebration.
Victory noticed Liverpool win the normal season curtain-raiser for the primary time since 2006 and lay down an early marker in what is anticipated to be one other battle between the edges for the Premier League title.
Metropolis held off the Reds to win the Premier League for a fourth time in 5 years by some extent in an exhilarating finale to final season.
Guardiola’s males needed to come from 2-0 down on the ultimate day of the marketing campaign to beat Aston Villa and had been once more responsible of a gradual begin.
Salah was the supplier for the opening objective as he laid Thiago Alcantara’s crossfield move again to the sting of the field and Alexander-Arnold smashed in off the put up with the help of a slight deflection off Dias.
Metropolis had performed simply two pre-season friendlies to Liverpool’s 4 and took half an hour to search out their toes.
Haaland howler
Haaland was denied by Liverpool stand-in goalkeeper Adrian along with his first sight of objective.
Nonetheless, the Norwegian ought to have opened his Metropolis account moments later as he did not correctly join with Joao Cancelo’s inviting cross.
“It is good for him to see the fact of the brand new nation, new league,” mentioned Guardiola on Haaland’s first style of English soccer.
“He was there. At present he did not rating – one other day he’ll rating.”
Nunez was given his probability to shine on the hour mark, however fluffed his first large probability when Ederson prevailed in a one-on-one.
On the different finish, Metropolis’s new South American striker additionally bought his profession in England off to a flying begin.
Alvarez’s arrival on the Etihad has gone underneath the radar within the hype surrounding Haaland.
However the Argentine, who scored six objectives in a single Copa Libertadores match in Could, can also be thought to be one of many world’s most enjoyable younger forwards.
Alvarez was quickest to react to the rebound after Adrian saved Phil Foden’s preliminary effort and the objective stood after a VAR overview for offside.
It wanted one other the intervention of VAR for Liverpool to revive their lead seven minutes from time.
Referee Craig Pawson pointed to the spot after seeing a replay of Nunez’s header coming again off the arm of Dias.
Salah was lethal as ever from 12 yards as he drilled into the underside nook regardless of Ederson going the precise method.
Nunez then ended any doubt over the consequence when he pounced on Andy Robertson’s header throughout objective.
However Metropolis’s depressing day didn’t finish there as Haaland hit the bar with the objective gaping deep in stoppage time.AFP
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