Community Shield: Who has won the last five curtain raisers?

Premier League champions Manchester City face rivals Manchester United in the Community Shield on Saturday. 

City won a record fourth consecutive Premier League title last term, while the Red Devils defeated Pep Guardiola’s side in the FA Cup in May to set up a huge derby in Saturday’s curtain raiser.

The trophy is often somewhat overlooked as a major honour, but there is no doubt that both Guardiola and United boss Erik ten Hag will be desperate to start the new campaign with a triumph on Saturday.

Here, we take a look back at the last five winners of the competition.

2023: Arsenal (p)1-1 Manchester City

Last year’s Community Shield was goalless for the most part and looked to be heading for a penalty shoot-out, until Cole Palmer’s stunning strike put the Citizens ahead late on. City couldn’t hold on to their lead, though, as substitute Leandro Trossard equalised for the Gunners in the 11th minute of added time. With no extra-time in the competition, the game went to penalties, and Mikel Arteta’s side emerged victorious after both Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne missed their spot-kicks.

Arsenal beat City in last year’s Community Shield

2022: Liverpool 3-1 Manchester City

Erling Haaland endured a debut to forget for City when they faced Liverpool in the 2022 final. The Citizens had won both the FA Cup and Premier League title the previous season, so the Reds were their opponents after finishing as league runners-up. Haaland missed a number of chances as the Merseyside outfit cruised to victory, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez all on target for Jurgen Klopp’s side. City had equalised after the opener through fellow debutant Julian Alvarez, but it was the Reds that lifted the trophy.

2021: Leicester City 1-0 Manchester City

The first of three consecutive Community Shield defeats for City came when FA Cup holders Leicester – who had beaten Chelsea in the final – ran out shock 1-0 winners in 2021. A penalty from Kelechi Iheanacho in the closing stages of the match earned Brendan Rodgers’ side a historic win over the Citizens, adding to their Premier League title in 2016 and their FA Cup triumph just months earlier.

Leicester City produced an historic victory against Man City in 2021

2020: Arsenal (p)1-1 Liverpool

After beating Chelsea in the FA Cup final, the Gunners set up a Community Shield meeting with Premier League champions Liverpool in 2020, and emerged victorious after a penalty shoot-out win. Forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put the North London outfit ahead early on, before Takumi Minamino levelled things up towards the end. Aubameyang then converted the winning spot-kick after youngster Rhian Brewster had missed his.

The 2020 final took place at an empty Wembley stadium due to Covid-19 restrictions

2019: Liverpool 1-1(p) Manchester City

Manchester City pipped Liverpool to the Premier League title by a single point during the 2018/19 campaign, and the Citizens came out as narrow winners once again when the sides met later that year in the Community Shield. Former Reds man Raheem Sterling opened the scoring for City, before defender Joel Matip grabbed a late equaliser for Jurgen Klopp’s side. That sent the match to penalties, and Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum missed his to allow Gabriel Jesus to slot his away and earn City the trophy – which is to date their most recent triumph in the competition.

City beat fierce rivals Liverpool to win the trophy in 2019