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- City鈥檚 fourth title in five seasons was just reward for their incredible consistency, but Guardiola鈥檚 perfectionist personality ensured he would not rest on his laurels
- The departure of Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich was a blow, but Klopp filled the void left by the Senegal forward when he paid an initial 拢64 million, that could rise to a club record 拢85 million, to sign Nunez from Benfica
LONDON: Manchester City striker Erling Haaland will go head to head with Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez as the Premier League title rivals unveil their expensive new recruits in the Community Shield.
Heading into Saturday鈥檚 curtain raiser to the Premier League season, the pressure is on Haaland and Nunez to provide evidence they can justify their hefty price tags over the coming months.
The pair represent over 拢100 million ($121 million) of goalscoring firepower as the rivalry between City and Liverpool intensifies.
Much has changed at City and Liverpool since Pep Guardiola鈥檚 side pipped the Reds to the title by one point after a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Aston Villa on the last day of the season.
City鈥檚 fourth title in five seasons was just reward for their incredible consistency, but Guardiola鈥檚 perfectionist personality ensured he would not rest on his laurels.
Guardiola sanctioned the sales of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal, while Raheem Sterling joined Chelsea and Fernandinho returned to Athletico Paranaense.
Aware that City鈥檚 success last season was achieved despite their lack of a natural central striker, Guardiola made a blockbuster move for one of Europe鈥檚 brightest young stars as he landed Norway international Haaland from Borussia Dortmund for 拢51 million.
Having failed to prise Harry Kane from Tottenham鈥檚 clutches 12 months ago, Guardiola hopes Haaland can emulate his prolific form at Dortmund in the more demanding Premier League.
The 22-year-old鈥檚 ability to mesh with City鈥檚 array of creative talents is one of the key storylines that will define the title race.
The early signs are promising as Haaland took just 12 minutes to score on his City debut in a friendly against Bayern Munich.
鈥淎s you probably all know, I鈥檝e been watching a lot of City games for the last years,鈥� Haaland said.
鈥淭he last years (they) have been without a striker, so of course I鈥檝e been seeing myself in these kind of situations. I鈥檓 not surprised. The quality is good.鈥�
Signing England midfielder Kalvin Phillips from Leeds for 拢42 million further underlined City鈥檚 dynastic ambitions.
While City will start the season as title favorites whatever the result this weekend at Leicester鈥檚 King Power Stadium, Liverpool鈥檚 threat to their supremacy remains clear and present.
Jurgen Klopp鈥檚 team came within two games of football immortality after spending the second half of the season engaged in a thrilling chase to win an unprecedented quadruple.
With history in touching distance, Liverpool fell painfully short as City won the title before Real Madrid beat them 1-0 in the Champions League final.
Beating Chelsea on penalties in the FA and League Cup finals was scant consolation for a manager with Klopp鈥檚 ferocious drive.
The months since that agonizing finale have seen Liverpool finally end speculation over Mohamed Salah鈥檚 future by tying the Egypt star to a new contract.
The departure of Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich was a blow, but Klopp filled the void left by the Senegal forward when he paid an initial 拢64 million, that could rise to a club record 拢85 million, to sign Nunez from Benfica.
Leipzig's Hungarian defender Will Orban (L) and Liverpool's Uruguayan forward Darwin Nunez during their friendly football match. (AFP)
Nunez, 23, has endured a rollercoaster pre-season, with an embarrassing miss against Manchester United followed by a four-goal demolition of Leipzig, then a blank in a defeat against Salzburg.
Premature comparisons will inevitably be made between Haaland and Nunez this weekend.
But Klopp was quick to defend the Uruguay striker, saying: 鈥淗e needs much more support around him. You keep other players busy so they cannot focus on him. It is like it is, it doesn鈥檛 feel great, but we take it and go from here.鈥�
Victory in the Shield will be a footnote when the major prizes are handed out at the end of the season, but Klopp knows the psychological significance of any win over England鈥檚 preeminent force.
鈥淭he situation is that it鈥檚 a very important game, but the situation is that we still have to prepare a season, so we cannot ignore that,鈥� Klopp said.
鈥淲ill it show a lot about the season? I expect two good teams.鈥�