Image source, Getty Images

Jordan Chamberlain, Empire of the Kop, external

Mohamed Salah looks happier than ever this pre-season. He signed his mega new contract, is well rested and the fatigue of last term has gone.

The Egyptian still scored 31 goals in 2021-22, but his end product dropped off a cliff in the second half of the campaign, following his gruelling participation at the Africa Cup of Nations.

In 2022-23, though, Salah will effectively get another pre-season halfway through because Egypt didn't qualify for the World Cup in Qatar. While the best players on the planet are slogging it out for their countries, he'll be getting in prime physical shape for Liverpool.

Salah has scored two goals this summer and his performances have been exceptional. Aged 30, he's showing no signs of physical decline. In fact, his sprints in the friendlies have been more dynamic and purposeful than when his form understandably dropped at the end of last season.

But more exciting than his physical sharpness is how relaxed and happy Salah is. He's regularly been seen joking with team-mates, and he seems to have formed a good personal relationship with Darwin Nunez, something he perhaps never had with the man the Uruguayan replaced, Sadio Mane.

He even gave the Reds' new striker a penalty against RB Leipzig last time out.

The attention might be on Nunez, but it's a healthy and happy Salah who could fire Liverpool to the Premier League or Champions League glory they so desperately missed out on last time.

Image source, Getty Images

Despite recent spotlight being placed upon Mohamed Salah's new contract and Liverpool's summer signings, Jurgen Klopp says Roberto Firmino is still "the heart and soul" of the team.

Firmino has been linked with a move to Juventus this summer but Klopp said the Brazilian is still very much part of his plans.

He said: "Bobby is crucial for us. He is the heart and soul of this team.

"The way we played the last few years was only possible because of Bobby. That’s why I’m really happy that he could train the majority of pre-season so far.

"Everything looks really good so I am absolutely fine and for me there is no doubt about his quality. We will see how this year goes but yes, he is essential for us."

One of Liverpool's new recruits is forward Fabio Carvalho and Klopp has used the 19-year-old consistently during pre-season games following his move from Fulham.

He said: "He is a technical player, he is incredibly creative and we will have a lot of fun with him definitely. Last night (against Salzburg) he was OK, but he can be much better, that's just how it is.

"I’m really happy with him. He is in the middle of the team after a short period of time and that is a good sign for the team and him as well. He is a top addition for us."

Tom McCarron: It'll be good to get more game time and see Nunez and Carvalho live but with Adrian in goal, still finding our feet and another friendly tomorrow, I can't see anything but a City win.

Jurgen Klopp wants to win the Community Shield for the first time, but said he won't read too much into Saturday's game against Manchester City.

Liverpool haven't won the Community Shield since 2006, losing to City in 2019 and Arsenal in 2020.

Klopp said: "It’s very important because we played this final a couple of times and I think it would be nice if we could win it. It’s the last domestic cup competition we didn’t win yet so we will give it a try, of course.

"It’s a very important game, but we have to prepare a season, we cannot ignore that. We played last night against Salzburg and lost 1-0. We trained the day before twice. It’s really intense but that’s what we have to do.

"I can’t ignore the fact that after this important game is the season coming up. We have to extend our pre-season into the season. We play on Saturday against City and on Sunday against Strasbourg. Then we play Fulham and the next day another game just so we can extend our pre-season. We will try to do the right things but of course the schedule is always a challenge to deal with and that’s how it is.

"The game on Saturday, will it show a lot about the season? I expect two good teams. Even though we lost last night I saw us in really good shape and I hope we can bring that on the pitch on Saturday as well.

"We will see, but if you win it, it’s a very important competition. If you lose, it becomes less important."

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at King Power Stadium

Erling Haaland is going to be a very popular figure at Manchester City.

The loudest roar of the afternoon so far was when the Norwegian's name was read out.

His father Alfie was a former City captain, when the team was rather less successful than they are nowadays.

Dion Dublin
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

I'm looking for something a little bit different from Erling Haaland.

This is a different league. As well as he's done in his career so far, he's a young lad, he's still learning. He is absolutely outstanding, we know that, he's scored his goals. But the Premier League is very different.

When was the last time he faced a defence like Liverpool's? He will score goals, but he'll need to earn the right.

So how have these two being getting on in pre-season?

Well, Liverpool went on a tour of Asia and Europe, while Manchester City travelled to the US for a couple of fixtures.

Jurgen Klopp's side kicked off their pre-season with a 4-0 loss to Manchester United in Thailand - a game in which Nunez made his debut and had a moment to forget as he missed an open goal.

The Reds followed that with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in Singapore as Jordan Henderson and Mohamed Salah scored, before Nunez hit four goals against RB Leipzig.

However, Nunez was then taken off at half-time as Liverpool lost 1-0 to Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday.

City, meanwhile, played two games in the United States - against Club America and Bayern Munich.

They beat the former 2-1 with De Bruyne scoring twice, before Haaland struck his first goal for the club against Bayern, scoring after 12 minutes in a 1-0 win.

Mike Minay
BBC Radio Manchester

Although the Premier League isn't under way until 5 August, Manchester City have this 'curtain raiser' against Liverpool in the Community Shield.

But are they a man short heading into the campaign at the moment? Yes, according to former Blues defender Joleon Lescott.

"Definitely. With the way the full-backs play now, I think you would have to get a recognised full-back rather than someone who plays there," he said.

At present, City only have two recognised full-backs: Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo. Both are right footed, although Cancelo did play the majority of his games last season in the left-back role.

"Nathan Ake and Aymeric Laporte have played there and could do a job," added Lescott. "But in terms of the style and the philosophy that Pep Guardiola plays with, it makes sense to get a recognised full-back in that area."

Oleks Zinchenko left for Arsenal last week to leave the Blues short.

"Before he left, they had a dinner to thank him because he's been a great servant - not only because he's a top player, but he's a great personality to have around.

"He understood what it meant to wear the shirt and play with pride."

Another left-back, more natural in the position but with the pride of Zinchenko, would complete a very good summer for Manchester City.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Dion Dublin
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

This game matters to the players. They are the ones crossing the white line; punters say there are more important trophies to be won but it matters to the players.

They want to win and there is so much quality on show. I've done this game so many times, but the quality keeps getting better. What a season we are going to be having.

Oh Sham, what have you done? Football is infuriating enough as it is without adding another reason to get annoyed at it.

OK, well, you've done it now. Anyone out there want to give their appraisal of Sham's team?

I'll start by simply asking: Dele Alli?!

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at King Power Stadium

Dawkesy, I've bitten the bullet and finally given in.

I now have a Fantasy Football team for the first time, but in the new 'draft' version of the game.

Darwin Nunez was my number one pick so hopefully he does the business for me.

Not that I'm trying to sway you one way or another, but big Erling did score 12 minutes into his City debut in pre-season...

In short, today's game is just one big audition for Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez to try and convince you they should be in your fantasy team.

Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are a given, right? It's surely just a straight up choice between what you know in Harry Kane and whether you risk missing out on a potential 40-goal season from Haaland?

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City's headline departure this summer was Raheem Sterling.

The England forward joined Chelsea in a £50m deal in July, leaving City with a record of 131 goals in 339 games, with 13 goals in the Premier League last season.

City will also come up against another of their former players in the forthcoming campaign, with Gabriel Jesus having joined Arsenal this summer for £45m and Oleksandr Zinchenko making the same move.

The Brazil forward had never been prolific at City - he scored 58 goals in 159 Premier League games - but he did provide eight league assists last season, the joint most of any player at the club along with Kevin de Bruyne.

Despite being offered him a new contract after scoring 23 goals in all competitions last season, Senegal striker Sadio Mane decided to move on from Liverpool and joined German giants Bayern Munich for £35m. Just how will that feared Reds forward line shape up without him?

Other notable attacking departures included Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at King Power Stadium

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp leaves big summer signing Darwin Nunez on the bench for today's Community Shield.

Now without the services of the departed Sadio Mane, it means Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Luis Diaz start up front.

A goalkeeping crisis with injuries to Alisson and Caoimhin Kelleher means third-choice Adrian gets a start.

Liverpool XI: Adrian, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Matip, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago, Diaz, Firmino, Salah.

Manchester City star signing Erling Haaland is straight into the action, getting a start up front for the Premier League champions.

But £45m acquisition Kalvin Phillips from Leeds is on the bench, as is Argentine new boy Julian Alvarez and England international Phil Foden.

Fernandinho has gone so Ruben Dias has taken the captain's armband today.

Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Ake, Cancelo, Rodri, De Bruyne, Silva, Mahrez, Grealish, Haaland.

Image source, Getty Images

City have gone a bit bigger with their other recruits.

England midfielder Kalvin Phillips was prized from Leeds for a reported £45m to be Fernandinho's replacement as the understudy to Rodri. Pep Guardiola will be looking for him to bring the kind of form he demonstrated under Marcelo Bielsa at the Whites at the base of midfield.

They've also signed a second striker in Julian Alvarez. The 22-year-old comes with a big reputation, having joined from River Plate in January but staying at the club on loan until this summer.

Barring Nunez, Liverpool have been pretty low key in their recruitment this summer, focusing instead on a couple of young players who they hope will blossom.

Exciting young Portuguese forward Fabio Carvalho has joined from Fulham, having impressed in the Championship during the Cottagers promotion season. Also through the door is 18-year-old Scottish right-back Calvin Ramsay, who has excelled north of the border for Aberdeen.

Erling Haaland starts for Manchester City! Their other big summer signing, Kalvin Phillips, is on the bench, along with Julian Alvarez.

Darwin Nunez will have to wait for the chance to strut his stuff today for Liverpool, with the summer signing named on the bench. Fabio Carvalho is alongside him as a substitute, with Luis Diaz, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino the starting forwards.