Community Shield: Some of the best ever matches
More than a pre-season friendly?
As we look forward to Saturday's Community Shield, this article will look back on some of the most memorable clashes between some of the country's top sides in what is the English football season's traditional curtain raiser.
Leeds United vs Liverpool - 1992
In a thrilling match, champions Leeds defeated Liverpool 4-3 with a hat-trick from French forward and Premier League icon, Eric Cantona. However, by the end of the season, Cantona had joined Manchester United and helped them win the league title. The game was filled with compelling goals and high drama, setting the stage for the twists and turns of the following season.
Manchester United v Newcastle United 1996
Fresh off a Premier League season that saw United narrowly edge past the Magpies to clinch the title, this match was full of tension from the very first whistle. Manchester United were too powerful on the day. The match was a sign of United's ability to mix skill with ruthlessness in front of the goal and was a fantastic way to start the 1996/97 season. It was a sign of things to come as United from Manchester ultimately triumphed as Premier League champions.
The video below from Classic Man Utd Videos and Clips shows some of the best moments from this match.
Arsenal v Manchester United - 1999
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, there was a fierce rivalry between Manchester United and Arsenal. In this 1999 Charity Shield, the Gunners defeated the Red Devils 2-1. Nwankwo Kanu and Ray Parlour scored the goals for Arsenal, with Parlour's goal coming from a penalty kick. Dwight Yorke initially gave United the lead in the first half, but they couldn't maintain their advantage in the second half.
The match was tightly contested and added yet another thrilling chapter to the storied rivalry between the two clubs. Come the end of the season, it was all about Manchester United again. They won the league by an amazing 18 points and left Arsenal with the Charity Shield as a brief consolation.
Manchester United v Arsenal - 2003
These two again. The tough tackling in this match was another sign that these two sides didn't like each other. This match ended 1-1 after normal time, with goals from Arsenal's Thierry Henry and United's Mikael Silvestre.
Glory for Arsenal would follow though as they were about to go the whole 2003/2004 campaign unbeaten.
Manchester City vs Manchester United - 2011
This thrilling Manchester derby was decided by an incredible individual performance from Nani. Despite City taking a two-goal lead through Joleon Lescott and Edin Dzeko, United stormed back.
Chris Smalling started the fightback. This was followed by two goals from Nani, the second coming in the final minutes. A dramatic season would follow for the two clubs. We all know what happened at the end of the 2011/2012 campaign.
Manchester City vs Liverpool - 2019
The 2019/20 season began with an exciting match between Liverpool and Manchester City. Liverpool, fresh from their Champions League victory, faced a Manchester City side that had just completed a domestic treble.
The game ended 1-1 in regular time. It went to a penalty shootout, which City won. In the end, Liverpool had the last laugh as they ultimately won the Premier League title over City.
Last year's match
Arsenal 1 - 1 Manchester City (Arsenal won 4-1 on penalties)
Community Shield 2023: Arsenal win on penalties (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com)
