Who said pre-season means nothing?
Liverpool conceded first in their last five pre-season games against Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla, Sporting Lisbon, Napoli and Lyon.
And it took Manchester City just 11 minutes to open their account against the Reds through Raheem Sterling at Wembley Stadium.
A long ball towards the back post from Kyle Walker, after a quickly-taken free-kick, found Kevin de Bruyne who nudged it to David Silva who in turn flicked it into the middle for Sterling to mishit underneath Alisson Becker from inside the six-yard box.
Relive all the action from Liverpool's Community Shield clash with Manchester City in our match blog HERE
The set-piece routine totally undid Liverpool and perhaps what is most telling about that goal is the three players trying to stop City were Mohamed Salah, Divock Origi and Jordan Henderson.
To be fair to Alisson, the goalkeeper almost thwarted Sterling’s shot by getting a big hand on the ball but it comfortably rolled across the line.
It is the first goal the Brazilian has conceded in open play since the Newcastle match in May but it appeared to compound some of the problems Jurgen Klopp’s side have experienced throughout their time preparing for the new season.
Liverpool can't keep giving themselves a mountain to climb but just as they have proved so many times in the past - never count them out.
With little more than 15 minutes of normal time remaining Joel Matip headed home a Virgil van Dijk volley across the box to send the game to penalties and the travelling Kop into delirium.
The equaliser was nothing less than the Reds deserved after a dominating second-half performance and in reality the wonderful Salah could have taken the game away from Pep Guardiola's side in normal time, but it was not to be and the Community Shield was eventually won by City 5-4 on penalties.
However, and just to allay any real Liverpool fears, if they can come back against what is a much-fabled Manchester City side in the manner which they did on Sunday - they can come back against anyone.
