Most seasons I say to my friend as we enter the Kop turnstiles for the first time in 3 months, “hasn’t pre-season gone quick.” Also, come May and the last game, it is often said, “hasn’t this season gone quick.” This pre-season as well as we all know has been different. You could say that again. From being in a position to coast winning the title in front of 50,000+ adoring fans, to cries of “Null and Void” to clinching the title behind closed doors some 2 or 3 months later than expected. So, this pre-season has been very short. And, it all starts again….today.
It All Starts Again
Yes, it all starts again today. The season’s curtain raiser, the Community Shield, previously known as the Charity Shield, kicks off today. Still behind closed doors though. As yet we don’t know when we will be allowed back into stadiums. It could be a while yet. But, as things change so rapidly with this Covid-19 pandemic, who knows exactly.
Still, it is the same for each and every fan and club officials and players. At least “it all starts again” means that, as football fans, it gives us something else of a positive nature to focus on. The return of football in August is always a major landmark date for all footie fans.
It All Starts Again – Liverpool v Arsenal
It all starts again today with Liverpool v Arsenal at Wembley. Is it a competitive game or is it just another pre-season warm up in preparation for the big kick-off on 12th September. That’s one other difference right there. The Community Shield is normally played a week before the league kick-off. But as it’s international week next week with the Nations League, the Community Shield has been brought forward.
As a trophy is at stake, then today should really be a properly contested competitive game. I may adopt the approach a Man Utd fan ex-work colleague used to have. If we win, it’s a trophy and a meaningful game. If we lose, it’s a friendly.
I’m sure Jurgen Klopp sees it both ways. A competitive game for sure (as Jurgen himself would put it) and a chance to get as many players in the squad some very valuable minutes as pre-season preparations progress.
With the latter in mind we may well see quite a few youngsters feature today. The only new signing we’ve made so far will more than likely feature. Early days yes, but it looks like Kostas Tsimikas, our £12m capture from Olympiakos could well be a shrewd signing. Only time will tell and let’s hope so.
It All Starts Again – Still Time For New Signings
In the absence of real footie to talk about the last few weeks, the forums have been alight with transfer gossip aplenty. Not only Liverpool transfer rumours of course. But all clubs. It seems that Chelsea are really going for it. Is spending £50m on Timo Werner; £45m on Ben Chilwell and more to follow probably be wise in the long run? Again, only time and how the pandemic pans out, will tell?
Our own main transfer saga has centred around Bayern Munich’s, Thiago Alcantara. I say ‘saga’ but the only saga really is on the forums themselves. On the club’s official website forum, the Thiago thread is up to an incredible 87 pages currently. Anything official on there? No, not at all. Plenty of self appointed ‘experts’ (as usual), but nothing really of any real substance.
I remember the days of old when virtually every new signing was announced almost out of the blue. With very little, or even no fanfare. We do still have a few of those. But nowadays with the fans all over Social Media the climate has changed significantly. So much so that in some instances, Social Media account holders often add an “Official” tag to their Social Media accounts.
With regard to Alcantara it would be an amazing signing if we got him. But, as ever with Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp, if Klopp thinks a signing is right or not, then that’s good enough for me. Under the Covid-19 nightmare however there is some school of thought that money is so very, very tight at Liverpool at the moment.
Trust In Jurgen
Again, there is no official announcement that we haven’t signed Thiago due to financial reasons. So, at the moment let’s still go with the likely scenario that Klopp will (or won’t as the case may be) sign him for all the right footballing reasons.
Where Can We Watch The Curtain Raiser?
The only place I know of is BT Sports. No doubt there will be a host of streaming options to consider. You will find these on Social Media accounts I imagine. Kick off is at 4:30, so enjoy your Bank Holiday weekend and crack open a tin and sit back and relax. The current Premier League champions are in action. It all starts again today.
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