English Premier League

It was supposed to be the last preseason friendly before the games got real. A meaningless match where both teams got to get some of their players some time to stretch their legs and pick up a not so important trophy as an obligatory byproduct, but the 2022 version of the Community Shield was anything but an exhibition match or a friendly. The mutual respect between Liverpool and Manchester City coupled with their respective competitive spirits produced an atmosphere of a contentious cup final that both sides were desperate to win on Saturday at King Power Stadium, the usual home of the Leicester City Foxes that had to serve as the host venue for this event due to the Women’s Euro Final behind held the following day at Wembley Stadium. Both teams fielded strong opening rosters and right from the kickoff you could tell that this was not a match that either side wanted to concede to the other.

Ten years ago Manchester City gave us the best finish to a Premier League season we have ever seen and on this past Championship Sunday the Cityzens from Manchester have done it again. Aguero’s 93:20 goal against QPR a minute after Dzeko’s stoppage time equalizer was the most exhilarating experience that I have ever had watching football as a City fan and Sunday’s match against Aston Villa felt like a familiar sensation. Gundogan coming on as a super sub and delivering 2 goals in 5 minutes on Sunday felt as close to Kun’s heroics in 2012 as one could get.

We have been there before, but can we do it again? I believe so! Manchester City had the slimmest of one-point leads over Liverpool coming into the week atop the English Premier League table. According to Pep Guardiola, “they’re so annoying!” I tend to agree. During Pep’s tenure as the manager of Manchester City Football Club, Liverpool have been the annoying thorn in his side and the bothersome splinter in his finger that he just can’t seem to get rid of.

It should have been 3 points, but I will take the draw. Which is the same feeling that I had after the showdown in Anfield between these two teams earlier in the EPL season. For large stretches of both games, particularly in both first halves, the Sky Blue clad Cityzens from Manchester dominated the match with intense pressing, slick passing, and scoring opportunities created. Everything but the extra finish on the extra chance to get all 3 points instead of splitting a point with Liverpool. Pep Guardiola changed some of the style of his team by playing more direct longballs behind Liverpool’s high line, using the speed of Sterling and Jesus, instead of always trying to break them down with intricate passes through and around Liverpool. Manchester City had a chance to go 4 points clear and put their foot on the throats of the Merseyside Reds in the Premier League title race.

The first half fireworks were flying fast and furious early at the Etihad and the beginning of the match seemed to foreshadow a very competitive

With one swing of his right boot, Kevin De Bruyne put a majestic stranglehold on the Premier League trophy. This season was billed as the title race for the ages. A four-team affair with three world class English sides only separated by slivers of silkworm excrement. It seems laughable now that Manchester United were under consideration as a contender early in the season, but when you pull off a shocking signing like the return of one soccer legend or football freak named Cristiano Ronaldo, that’s the kind of attention that you garner for yourself.

There was no phony war or Sitzkrieg in this one! The shots were fired early and often and many of them found the back of

Manchester City are back atop the English Premier League once again and it feels so good! In an environment where everyone is waiting to interpret

It’s been a tough spell for Manchester United these past few weeks. After the win in Ronaldo’s amazing homecoming debut, a malaise seems to have