Premier League 2019-2020
The Community Shield will inaugurate the beginning of the Premier League 2019-2020 campaign. League winners Manchester City will face Cup winners and second in the standings last year, Liverpool FC, for an already big anticipated match early August.
Similar to the run for the League title next season in between four or five teams, at most, the fight at the bottom of the table will be another reason to follow the EPL season. Premier League relegation odds count about 6 teams in this battle to avoid being sent one level down. They are teams of Sheffield United, Norwich City, Southampton, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Brighton. All are bound to fight off relegation all season-long.
The Premier League season is set to start in about 8 days with exciting fixtures including Man United – Chelsea on August 11. Yet, there is a trophy to be awarded with the Community Shield. Man City won last year’s FA Community Shield whereas Liverpool will be making its first appearance in 13 years [2006 also was last victory].
Liverpool will have to play their best against Man City per coach Klopp:
“Man City is different to all other games that you play – you have to play a pre-season game against Man City to prepare for Man City and we didn’t do that! We need to adapt to that but all good”.
After winning the Champions League last season, Liverpool aim at more titles and the Community Shield is the first one the players can put their hands on.
Henderson comments on how big the game will be:
“We’ve huge respect for City and what they achieved last season and we also respect they’ll be a big force again this season – but [this match] isn’t about anything other than doing our best to win for our supporters.”
Guardiola and City are ready for the challenge despite being limited physically:
“The physical condition (of the squad) is not the best. We will try to play with players who played minutes in pre-season because they have rhythm and they know the situation.The guys who came back later maybe will have a few minutes. There are more chances of substitutions. I think it will be hot in London.
Every week, our condition will be better. I think we will play at a high intensity on Sunday – a good level. I think soon, we will be at the level – from the way we are training. We know better what we have to do. That helps ion the pitch and with physicality.
We won almost every trophy; not all of them. It was quite remarkable. Not enough to have our players in the best players in Europe but we know each other better now than in the first season. That’s easier for our job.
We start from zero now – we start again – but we are ready to accept the challenge.”
