Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at King Power Stadium

The Premier League season starts right here in Leicester as last season's Premier League champions Manchester City face off against FA Cup winners Liverpool.

This year's Community Shield is being staged at the King Power Stadium because of Sunday's Women's Euros final taking place at Wembley.

There seemed to be a larger police presence than usual outside the ground and speaking to one officer they said it's "a big day for us".

"We needed to be prepared for any eventuality," they said.

More officers have been deployed today than last season's Europa League games between Napoli, Legia Warsaw and Spartak Moscow.

So much so, that the Leicstershire Constabulary have called in back-up from neighbouring forces.

Image source, Getty Images

With Wembley gearing up to host the Euro 2022 final tomorrow, this Community Shield is being played at Leicester's King Power Stadium. Which will be a bit weird.

The usual attendance for the event will certainly take a hit, with the King Power seating around 32,000, as opposed to Wembley's whopping 90,000.

Man City director of football Txiki Begiristain said of the club's new striker signing - which ends their hunt for a replacement for Sergio Aguero: "Haaland is a huge talent and has been one of the best strikers in Europe over the last few seasons.

"His goalscoring record is exceptional and his performances at Borussia Dortmund and in the Champions League in particular have proved he can succeed at the highest level.

"Erling has everything we want in a striker, and we are certain he will excel in this squad and this system."

Image source, Getty Images

Let's be honest, currently a striker signing does not come much bigger than Erling Haaland.

The 21-year-old is an absolute phenomenon; a goal-scoring machine that has terrorised defenders wherever he has played. And now he is a Manchester City player.

The 21-year-old scored 86 goals in 89 games for Dortmund prior to moving to the Etihad for £51.2m this summer. He has scored 92 league goals in 121 appearances in total in spells at Molde, Red Bull Salzburg and Dortmund. Last year he became the youngest player to reach 20 Champions League goals.

The Leeds-born son of ex City player Alfie Haaland also has 20 goals in 21 international caps for Norway.

Pray for the rest of the Premier League.

Image source, Getty Images

When Darwin Nunez signed for Liverpool, manager Jurgen Klopp said he is a "wonderful" footballer with "so much potential to get even better".

"That's why it's so exciting. His age, his desire, his hunger to be even better than he currently is and his belief in our project and what we are looking to do as a club," added the German.

"He thinks we suit him and we believe he is the right fit for us - so let's do it."

Klopp also believes Nunez has all the attributes Liverpool needed.

"He can set a tempo, he brings energy, he can threaten space from central and wide areas. He is aggressive and dynamic with his movement," said the Reds boss.

"He plays without fear, he's powerful, I know he will excite our supporters."

But Klopp also warned: "It's important we all recognise we are getting a 'work in progress' with Darwin - he recognises that himself. I love how much focus and humility he has.

"We have wonderful attacking options already and he becomes part of that now. So there is no pressure on him at all. He signs for a very long time and we intend to nurture his talent and see it grow."

Image source, Getty Images

Both Liverpool and City have gone big on new a new forward this summer. Let's start with the former...

The Reds saw one of their long-serving and stellar front three, Sadio Mane, depart to Bayern Munich but eased the pain by picking up the highly-rated Darwin Nunez from Benfica for an initial £64m. The 22-year-old could become the club's record signing, with the fee rising to a potential £85m with add-ons.

Nunez scored 34 times in 41 appearances for Benfica last season. He has 11 caps for Uruguay, scored 26 goals in 28 league games in 2021-22 - with 25 of those goals coming in the 24 league matches in which he started.

As well as being the Primeira Liga's top scorer for 2021-22, Nunez also scored six times in 10 Champions League games last season, including against Liverpool in both legs of their quarter-final in April.

Hopefully, you all took that previous entry as the tongue-in-cheek bit of fun in which it was intended. I guess all the up or down thumbs will tell me if you did (oh no, please not the down thumbs!).

We do all have to be realistic, though. Manchester City and Liverpool start this season as the frontrunners in the title race, having dominated the very top of English football for four seasons now.

Just a point separated them last campaign, with the two losing fewer games combined than the next best team (Chelsea with six), who finished 18 points behind the second-placed Reds in third.

There has been a bit of change at both Anfield and the Etihad, though.

Here we are again, just two quick months after the end of the 2021-22 season, ready to go again for 2022-23.

We've had ongoing political chaos, a Platinum Jubilee, a heatwave like no other, an emotional Neighbours finale and Euro 2022 to keep us occupied, but it still feels like absolutely no time since Manchester City pipped Liverpool to the Premier League title before the Reds were beaten by Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

Every new season offers a clean slate, though. A chance to start afresh, with renewed optimism... so long as you support Liverpool or Man City that is. For everyone other fan of a Premier League team, this evening's game is a chance to watch the two sides that will most likely be leaving yours in the dust next season.

So much changes, yet so much stays the same.

Right then, where were we?