Manchester City and Liverpool will reignite their rivalry in the Community Shield, which will take place on July 30.

The new Premier League season is scheduled to start the following weekend, and champions City will take on FA Cup winners Liverpool in the campaign's traditional curtain-raiser.

Liverpool finished second in the top flight, one point off City, who came from behind on the final day against Aston Villa to secure their fourth league title in the space of five seasons in dramatic fashion.

Jurgen Klopp's team had harboured hopes of an unprecedented quadruple but ultimately had to settle for winning the two domestic cup competitions, having lost 1-0 to Real Madrid in last week's Champions League final.

While the Community Shield is typically held at Wembley Stadium, it is taking place at Leicester City's King Power Stadium on this occasion.

Wembley is hosting the final of the women's Euro 2022 tournament on the same weekend.

City lost last year's Community Shield 1-0 to 2020-21 FA Cup winners Leicester, going down to a late penalty from their former player Kelechi Iheanacho.

Liverpool featured in the 2020 Community Shield, albeit that was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They lost to Arsenal on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

Indeed, the last time the league champions won the trophy was in 2019 when City defeated Liverpool 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out, once again after the match had finished 1-1.

Manchester United and Chelsea are experiencing significant transformation this off-season, albeit for varying reasons.

While the Red Devils undertake yet another rebuild under a new manager, Chelsea are in the midst of ownership takeover.

It is reportedly creating the perfect storm for a shock transfer.

TOP STORY – MANCHESTER UNITED MAKE SHOCK MOVE FOR MOUNT

New Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is considering a move for Chelsea midfielder  Mason Mount according to the Sun.

The England international has seen talks for a renewed contract at Stamford Bridge stall, amid the prolonged takeover of the club by Todd Boehly.

In dire need to rebuild his midfield, and following Mount since his loan spell with Vitesse Arnhem, Ten Hag has reportedly already relayed United's interest with Mount's camp.

Liverpool and Manchester City have also made enquiries for Mount meanwhile, who according to reports, remains one of Chelsea's lowest-paid players. 

ROUND-UP

– Liverpool are tracking Rennes forward Martin Terrier as a replacement for Sadio Mane should he depart, according to the Mirror.

– Barcelona boss Xavi has held talks with Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves over a potential transfer, per Sport.

– Oleksandr Zinchenko is attracting interest from Everton and Newcastle United, the Athletic reports.

– The Guardian are reporting that Inter are exploring the possibility of a return for Romelu Lukaku.

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has explained why he grew frustrated by a reporter's questions following Saturday's Champions League final.

Kroos added a fourth Champions League trophy to his collection of silverware after helping Madrid to a 1-0 win over Liverpool in Paris.

The 32-year-old played the entire match for Carlo Ancelotti's side, making three tackles, winning three fouls and completing a team-high 77 passes out of 83 attempted (92.8).

No Madrid player had more touches (92) or completed more passes in Liverpool's half (34), while Kroos was also one of only five players to create a chance for the Spanish giants.

Madrid delivered a fine counter-attacking display, soaking up Liverpool's pressure, though Los Blancos did rely heavily on goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who made nine saves, including outstanding stops from Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

That tally of saves is the most in a Champions League final since Opta began collecting date in the 2003-04 season, with Liverpool having 24 shots in total.

In a post-match interview with a German reporter, Kroos was asked if he had been surprised by how much Madrid had suffered.

The former Bayern Munich midfielder quickly grew frustrated and, when the line of questioning continued, refused to carry on with the interview, walking away from the reporter, stating: "Ninety minutes and you only come up with s***** questions."

Speaking on the podcast he co-hosts with his brother Felix - 'Einfach mal Luppen' - Kroos explained his frustration.

"At the time I was just p***** off. I was p***** off at him," Kroos said, as reported by AS.

"Of course we had [suffered]. They have to go through two or three phases of pressure, I also told him that when he asked the question.

"But that's normal. What do you expect? That we dominate Liverpool for 90 minutes? They are a world-class team. We had to beat them and that's what we did.

"I wouldn't have said we put them up against the wall from the first minute to the 90th minute.

"I'm the first to say that it was a close game and Liverpool probably had a few more chances. But we won the game, like in the last few months.

"But instead I hear that we won unfairly. I don't give a s*** in a final, you have to win it."

Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal expressed his concern that Los Blancos' Champions League final could be "tainted" by the "chaos" of the crowd problems at the Stade de France.

The showpiece on Saturday, which Madrid won 1-0 to claim their 14th European Cup, was twice delayed before kick-off due to crowd congestion, with UEFA initially citing "security reasons".

Liverpool fans complained of heavy-handed policing outside the stadium, suggesting tear gas or pepper spray had been used on supporters. A number of British-based journalists reported first-hand accounts of witnessing poor organisation and inappropriate behaviour outside the stadium by French authorities.

The Premier League club subsequently requested a formal investigation, while UEFA blamed the delays on fans trying to use "fake tickets" to gain entry.

UEFA has since commissioned an independent inquiry into the events in Paris, with Liverpool chairman Tom Werner demanding an apology and assurances the French authorities will cooperate with the investigation.

Carvajal's family were present at the final and the Spain international detailed the unsavoury scenes outside the ground as he called for change.

"There was quite a bit of chaos," Carvajal said on Tuesday at a pre-match press conference with Spain ahead of their Nations League game with Portugal.

"Our closest relatives – my parents, my wife and my son – had to be left practically at the door of the stadium because security getting in couldn't be guaranteed.

"It's a shame that because of something external the final could be a bit tainted.

"It must be noted and corrected for the next events that take place at that stadium. It needs to improve, because there were people that suffered a lot.

"It should have been a dream day, whether you win or lose, and there were people who couldn't enjoy it."

Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan theorised it was "destiny" for him to deliver a quickfire double to win his side the Premier League on the final day of the season.

The Germany international struck twice in a dramatic second-half comeback, as Pep Guardiola's side overturned a two-goal deficit to beat Aston Villa 3-2.

That result ensured a successful defence of their top-flight crown, edging rivals Liverpool by one point to make it four league titles in the past five seasons under Guardiola.

Having been benched for the start of the game, Gundogan's introduction helped cement a turnaround in form, and he suggests his crucial intervention may have been fate. 

"I don't know, maybe it was destiny, maybe it was a bit of luck," he told City's official website.

"But I was twice at the right spot and was able to score. I didn't really have a choice I feel.

"We just had 20 minutes to play, we were 2-0 down so all I wanted to try was to get into the box and smell where the danger might be.

"The first goal, the header, I knew that [Raheem Sterling] was going to go to the by-line and cross.

"I felt like the danger might be at the second post and the ball was perfect to be honest. I just had to put my head on it.

"The third goal, we all know Kevin [De Bruyne]'s quality, whipping the ball to the second post.

"So, for me, the timing was important to anticipate when he was going to play the ball, make the run and try to stay onside. The timing was perfect!"

Karim Benzema has been named the 2021-22 Champions League Player of the Season after helping Real Madrid to a 14th European crown.

Benzema also won the competition's Goal of the Season honour for a supreme header against Chelsea in the quarter-finals, while team-mate Vinicius Junior has been named Young Player of the Season.

The duo were instrumental in Madrid's defying run to Saturday's final in Paris, where Vinicius' finish was enough to earn a 1-0 victory over Liverpool.

With 15 goals across the season, Benzema topped the scoring charts in Europe, with a joint-record ten of those goals in the knockout stage.

The attacker, a heavy favourite for the Ballon d'Or this season, was at the centre of dramatic comeback wins against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City.

Vinicius meanwhile delivered four goals and six assists throughout, with the latter tally only bettered by Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes.

Both Madrid players were named to the Champions League Team of the Season, alongside club-mates Thibaut Courtois and Luka Modric.

Courtois made nine saves in the final to keep Liverpool at bay. He finished the Champions League campaign having faced 72 shots on target, conceding 14 goals. According to expected goals data, the Belgium international prevented 4.7 goals.

Beaten finalists Liverpool also contributed four players, with Fabinho, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson featuring.

Kylian Mbappe, who scored six goals in eight Champions League matches, was named alongside Benzema and Vinicius in attack – an attacking trio that might have been lining up for Los Blancos next season had the France forward not decided to stay at PSG.

City playmaker De Bruyne also made the XI, as did Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger, who is set to join Madrid on a free transfer.

2021-22 UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid); Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Andy Robertson (Liverpool); Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Fabinho (Liverpool), Luka Modric (Real Madrid); Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid).

The Football Association (FA) has fined Frank Lampard £30,000 after the Everton manager was charged with improper conduct.

Everton, who secured Premier League survival with a dramatic 3-2 win over Crystal Palace on May 19, lost 2-0 to their Merseyside rivals Liverpool at Anfield on April 24.

However, Lampard was left infuriated when referee Stuart Attwell failed to give a penalty after Joel Matip bundled into Anthony Gordon early in the second half when the game was goalless. 

He said during a post-match news conference: "If that was [Mohamed] Salah at the other end, he gets a penalty. You don't get them here. That's the reality of football sometimes." 

The FA asked Lampard for an explanation of his comments and subsequently issued a charge of improper conduct by attacking the integrity of the referees.

Lampard responded to that claim but denied the charge, and for that he has now been fined.

A tweet from the FA Spokesperson account read: "An independent regulatory commission has fined Frank Lampard £30,000 after finding a charge against him for breaching FA Rule E3 in relation to media comments proven during a personal hearing.

"The Everton FC manager made the comments after their Premier League game against Liverpool FC on Sunday 24 April 2022, and he denied that they constitute improper conduct as they imply bias and/or attack the integrity of the match referee – or referees generally – and/or bringing the game into disrepute contrary to FA Rule E3.1."

Striker Darwin Nunez has reportedly chosen the Premier League as his preferred destination in the upcoming transfer window as he prepares to leave Benfica after a breakout season.

Nunez, who turns 23 in June, burst onto the European stage with an incredible Champions League campaign, netting six goals in 10 matches – a Benfica record – including scoring in both legs against Liverpool in the knockout stages.

He was just as impressive domestically, scoring 26 goals in 28 Primeira Liga games, and now looks to be on the move.

TOP STORY – DARWIN'S THEORIES LEAD HIM TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE

Football Transfers reports that both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid had weighed up offers for Nunez, but he has his heart set on the Premier League.

Liverpool and Manchester United are reportedly in the strongest position, while Newcastle United and Tottenham are also interested and are said to have met with his representatives.

Nunez is being represented by Eugenio Lopez, who had previously represented fellow Benfica team-mate Nicolas Otamendi in his move from Valencia to Manchester City.

ROUND-UP

– United have engaged in talks with Ajax over 20-year-old Netherlands centre-back Jurrien Timber, with the price tag said to be in the range of £43million, according to the Guardian.

– According to Sky Sports, Sadio Mane has not told Liverpool he wants to leave the club as rumours swirl about a potential move to Bayern Munich.

– The Telegraph is reporting City will look to sign Brighton and Hove Albion full-back Marc Cucurella and Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips, while according to the Daily Mail, they also have strong interest in Leicester City youngster Ben Nelson.

– Paris Saint-Germain have exercised their buy option on loanee Nuno Mendes, securing his services going forward for a €40m fee, per Fabrizio Romano.

– The Daily Mail is reporting Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal are all interested in making a move for Everton striker Richarlison if he decides to leave Goodison Park.

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has demanded French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera apologises for "irresponsible, unprofessional, and wholly disrespectful" comments about the conduct of the club's fans at the Champions League final.

The match at the Stade de France was delayed by over half an hour as thousands of Liverpool fans struggled to enter the stadium, with widely circulated social media footage showing supporters being targeted with tear gas by police and placed at risk of a crush.

While UEFA announced an independent investigation into the events after calls from Liverpool, a British member of parliament, and UK culture secretary Nadine Dorries, the French government has continued to blame English supporters for the events.

Having repeated UEFA's initial claims that fans using "fake tickets" had caused congestion, Oudea-Castera told French radio station RTL the Premier League club was to blame for "letting its supporters out in the wild." 

Liverpool chairman Werner has hit out at those claims in a strongly worded letter to the minister, outlining his concern over her "disrespectful" comments and seeking assurances the French authorities will cooperate with the investigation.

"I am writing to you today out of utter disbelief that a minister of the French government, a position of enormous responsibility and influence, could make a series of unproven pronouncements on a matter of such significance before a proper, formal, independent investigation process has even taken place," began the widely published letter.

"The events that occurred in and around the Stade de France on Saturday night at the UEFA Champions League final were not only incredibly dangerous for all who attended, but raised serious questions about the organisation and operation of the event. 

"This should be the focus of all interested parties today, rather than pursuing a blame game strategy via press conference.

"I have received countless emails from Liverpool supporters who were frightened to death, and subject to police harassment, pepper spray and tear gas. Moreover, the situation was no better at the end of the evening than at the beginning, with many fans robbed, and attacked by gangs.

"These fans were treated like cattle.

"How can loose data and unverified assertions presented this morning be anywhere near factual without a truly independent and transparent investigation with the right stakeholders, including our supporters, our club and others taking place? 

"Worse still, these assertions undermine the pursuit of truth and transparency which should underpin the motivations of any organisation or individual with a desire to ensure such unacceptable scenes are never repeated.

"The fact that your public position went against this objective is a concern in itself. That you did so without any recourse to ourselves or our supporters is an even greater one. All voices should count in this process, and they should count equally and fairly.

"As a club, it was already our strong feeling that any investigation should be impartial, independent, and transparent. This view has only intensified as a direct result of your public comments and the impact they have had on a narrative which runs contrary to the experiences of many. 

"Your comments were irresponsible, unprofessional, and wholly disrespectful to the thousands of fans harmed physically and emotionally.

"The UEFA Champions League final should be one of the finest spectacles in world sport, and instead it devolved into one of the worst security collapses in recent memory. 

"On behalf of all the fans who experienced this nightmare I demand an apology from you, and assurance that the French authorities and UEFA allow an independent and transparent investigation to proceed."

UEFA has announced the commissioning of an independent report into the chaos which overshadowed Saturday's Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Paris.

The start of the showpiece event at the Stade de France, which Madrid went on to win 1-0, was twice delayed as thousands of Liverpool fans struggled to enter the stadium in Saint-Denis.

Although European football's governing body initially blamed supporters for causing congestion by arriving late and using counterfeit tickets, widely circulated social media footage showed local police targeting Liverpool fans with tear gas and supporters being placed at risk of a crush.

Liverpool demanded an investigation into the unsavoury scenes on Saturday, while the UK's culture secretary Nadine Dorries followed suit on Sunday after Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne said supporters had been "treated like animals" at the match.

With the organisation of the contest facing widespread criticism, UEFA have announced an independent investigation, to be led by Portugal's former minister of education and Olympic attache Tiago Brandao Rodrigues. 

"UEFA has today announced it has commissioned an independent report into the events surrounding the UEFA Champions League final in Paris on Saturday 28 May," read a statement from European football's governing body.

"The comprehensive review will examine decision making, responsibility and behaviours of all entities involved in the final.

"The report will be independently compiled, and Dr. Tiago Brandao Rodrigues from Portugal will lead the production of this review. 

"In order to guarantee his independent status in the process, Dr. Brandao Rodrigues agreed to execute this task on a pro bono basis.  

"Evidence will be gathered from all relevant parties and the findings of the independent report will be made public once completed and upon receipt of the findings, UEFA will evaluate the next steps."

Earlier on Monday, Liverpool published an online feedback form via social media to allow match-going supporters to share their experiences, in an attempt to aid a "transparent" investigation. 

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been named the PFA Premier League Fans' Player of the Year.

Salah shared the Golden Boot with Tottenham's Son Heung-min after they both scored 23 top-flight goals in the 2021-22 season.

The PFA on Monday revealed the Egypt international Salah has landed another gong.

Salah had already picked up the Football Writers' Assocation player of the year and Premier League's Goal of the Season award for his brilliant solo strike in a 2-2 draw with champions Manchester City.

The former Chelsea and Roma man also provided 14 assists for the Reds as they finished just a point behind City.

Salah has 13 months left on his contract but last week revealed he will stay with Jurgen Klopp's side next season.

Liverpool won the FA Cup and EFL Cup before missing out on Champions League glory when they were beaten 1-0 by Real Madrid at Stade de France on Saturday.

The level of disorganisation at the Champions League final was unprecedented, according to the president of the local authority of Seine-Saint-Denis.

Saturday's final between Real Madrid and Liverpool was delayed twice as thousands of fans found themselves unable to gain access to the Stade de France in Paris.

UEFA initially blamed the disruption on Liverpool fans using counterfeit tickets, with the French interior minister supporting such claims, but widespread reports of police using tear gas and pepper spray on orderly supporters have led to calls for an investigation.

Merseyside Police praised the "exemplary" behaviour of most Liverpool fans in a statement released on Sunday, while Reds supporters group Spirit of Shankly hit out at the "incompetence" of organisers.

Stephane Troussel has now reinforced the claims for a thorough investigation into the incident, which he does not want to be pinned on Seine-Saint-Denis or the people who live there.

"I do not want the Seine-Saint-Denis and its inhabitants to be the scapegoats of this disorganisation," the the president of the local authority of Seine-Saint-Denis told French Info on Monday, as reported by RMC Sport.

"I have never seen such disorganisation around the Stade de France. This is not the first time that there have been major events around the Stade de France.

"The Stade de France has existed in Saint-Denis for 24 years and this is the third Champions League final to be held there, and I have never seen such a level of disorganisation.

"I am very angry, I do not want Seine-Saint-Denis and its inhabitants to be the scapegoats for this disorganisation. I demand a rapid, transparent, in-depth investigation into these dysfunctions, this disorganisation.

"There has to be transparency. What happened? What happened to the absence of pre-filtering [the crowd]."

Troussel also questioned why printed tickets were issued for the final, enhancing the possibility of counterfeit tickets.

He added: "Nobody seems surprised to find out since UEFA itself was not in favour of issuing printed tickets. If this provision had been favoured, it was because there was a risk linked to these [printed tickets] - fakes.

"Never have I seen so many spectators around the Stade de France a few minutes before kick-off. When I managed to enter, we had the feeling that the stadium was already full."

Troussel also called for the French police to clarify how many officers were in attendance and where they were stationed.

"I also ask for transparency on the police personnel who were deployed around the Stade de France," he said.

"I would like to know how they were distributed around the Stade de France. We need precise figures."

Liverpool have reiterated their demand for an independent investigation into the unsavoury scenes that marred their Champions League final loss to Real Madrid, while UK culture secretary Nadine Dorries urged UEFA to probe the "concerning" events.

Liverpool called for an investigation after reports of supporters being targeted by heavy-handed policing ahead of the contest at the Stade de France on Saturday, with the showpiece event delayed over half an hour as Reds fans struggled to enter the stadium.  

UEFA initially blamed the disruption on fans using counterfeit tickets, with the French interior minister supporting such claims, but widespread reports of police using tear gas and pepper spray on orderly supporters have led to calls for an investigation.

Merseyside Police praised the "exemplary" behaviour of most Liverpool fans in a statement released on Sunday, while Reds supporters group Spirit of Shankly hit out at the "incompetence" of the final's organisers.

The Premier League club have now repeated their demands for a "transparent" probe into the scenes, with CEO Billy Hogan telling the club's media channels it is "unacceptable" that fan safety was put at risk.

"What happened outside the stadium completely overshadowed [the match]," he said. "The stadium entry and the breakdown in security was absolutely unacceptable, and frankly, the treatment of our fans as well.

"As we discussed last night with UEFA, we are asking for a full and transparent investigation, an independent investigation that can help to establish the facts. 

"It's absolutely imperative that we understand what happened and how we got into that situation, where people's safety was put at risk. It's important that we understand what happened last night, but it's also important that we take whatever the lessons are and ensure it never happens again.

"As an example, the Merseyside Police was on the ground in an advisory capacity, and as you may have seen they put a statement out earlier today [Sunday], where they talked about the behaviour of the fans being exemplary, doing what they were asked to do and being orderly, and [discussing] the fact fans were there very early at the stadium as well.

"We're intent on ensuring there's an independent investigation, and obviously we as a club will absolutely be a part of that and will be cooperative, and we look forward to making sure that happens and it happens well."

Hogan also revealed the club will be setting up a means by which Liverpool fans can pass their experiences onto the club, adding: "The most important thing is that people are safe, it was an incredibly difficult night for a lot of people, and we understand there were a lot of different experiences. 

"It's imperative that we hear from supporters, that we get the facts, and we want to be able to provide those facts to the relevant authorities."

Meanwhile, the UK government, via culture secretary Dorries, has also demanded UEFA investigate the scenes after Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne said fans had been treated like "animals". 

"The footage and accounts from Liverpool fans and the media on their entry to the Stade de France last night are deeply concerning," a widely reported statement from Dorries said. 

"Thousands of ticket holders travelled to Paris in good time to support their team in the biggest match of their season.

"I urge UEFA to launch a formal investigation into what went wrong and why, in coordination with stadium staff, the French Police, French Football Federation, Merseyside Police and Liverpool Football Club.

"It is in the interests of everyone involved to understand what happened and to learn lessons from these events."

Liverpool great Kenny Dalglish believes media reporting of crowd problems at the delayed Champions League final has "totally exonerated" Reds fans.

The showpiece match, which Real Madrid won 1-0 at the Stade de France on Saturday, had its start twice as UEFA pushed back the kick-off time.

European football's governing body initially moved the start back by 15 minutes after citing "security reasons" for the hold-up.

The two teams returned for a second warm-up at 21:05 local time before the match finally started at 21:36 – 36 minutes later than planned – after a second delay.

Liverpool fans complained of heavy-handed policing outside the stadium, suggesting tear gas or pepper spray had been used on supporters. A number of British-based journalists reported first-hand accounts of witnessing poor organisation and inappropriate behaviour outside the stadium by French authorities.

The Premier League club subsequently requested a formal investigation, while UEFA blamed the delays on fans trying to use "fake tickets" to gain entry.

French interior minister Gerald Darmanin also claimed "thousands" of Reds fans had tried to use counterfeit tickets or attempted to force entry to the stadium.

Liverpool fan group Spirit of Shankly accused UEFA of "shambolic mismanagement", and Dalglish followed suit by defending the Reds supporters.

"I think the fans are totally exonerated if you read all the press reports, and I think the French authorities should be a bit embarrassed with the way they behaved," Dalglish told Sky Sports.

"If it's normal, then fine, but our fans never behaved anything other than supportive of the football club."

Some supporters suggested the problems in the French capital were reminiscent of Hillsborough, scene of the tragedy when 97 people died after a crush developed in the Leppings Lane end at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final.

Dalglish refused to compare the events in France to the disaster at the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday's home stadium, but he condemned the problems in Paris.

"If that's how bad it was, that tells you how sad it must be, but I think it's wrong to compare Hillsborough with anything else," he added.