Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace: FA Community Shield 2025 Preview
Liverpool and Crystal Palace will face off at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, August 10, 2025, in the FA Community Shield, marking the exciting start of the 2025–26 English football season.
Background and Significance
Liverpool: Premier League Champions
Liverpool enters this clash as the reigning Premier League champions, having secured their 20th domestic crown last season under manager Arne Slot. They finished with a ten-point lead over Arsenal, showcasing their dominance.
Crystal Palace: Historic FA Cup Victory
Crystal Palace earned their place in this match by defeating Manchester City in a historic FA Cup triumph, lifting the trophy for the first time in the club's history. This achievement not only highlights their growth but also sets the stage for an exciting showdown at Wembley.
The Community Shield: A Traditional Curtain-Raiser
The FA Community Shield serves as the ceremonial opener for the new football season, pitting last season's league and cup winners against each other. Notably, there is no extra time; if the match ends in a draw after 90 minutes, it goes straight to penalties.
Team News and Lineups
Liverpool's Key Changes
Liverpool has undergone significant changes this summer, bringing in high-profile signings such as Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and Hugo Ekitike. However, veteran players Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are doubtful due to illness and injury. Star goalkeeper Alisson returns, while outgoing Darwin Nunez could miss the game as he nears a transfer to Saudi Arabia.
Crystal Palace's Stability
Crystal Palace has focused on maintaining squad stability, with key player Eberechi Eze attracting transfer interest but remaining a crucial playmaker. They will be without Eddie Nketiah (hamstring) and Cheick Doucoure (knee). Jean-Philippe Mateta is expected to lead the attack, supported by Ismaila Sarr and Eze, lining up in their familiar back three under manager Oliver Glasner.
Form and Recent History
Liverpool's Pre-Season Vulnerability
Liverpool has shown vulnerabilities defensively during pre-season, managing only one clean sheet. This makes the match a crucial early test for their revamped defense.
Palace's FA Cup Momentum
Crystal Palace, aside from injury setbacks, has maintained squad continuity and aims to carry their FA Cup momentum into the new season. Historically, Liverpool has dominated Palace, winning twelve of their last sixteen meetings, although Palace secured a notable win at Anfield in the 2023–24 season.
Key Stats and Records
- This is Liverpool’s first Community Shield meeting with Crystal Palace, who are making their debut in this competition.
- Liverpool is chasing their 17th Community Shield win, which would tie them with Arsenal for joint second on the all-time list.
- Statistically, FA Cup winners have defeated the Premier League champions in seven of the last nine Community Shields, suggesting Palace may have an edge despite being underdogs.
Broadcast and How to Watch
The match kicks off at 3:00 PM BST at Wembley Stadium, London, and will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK, with streaming available via the discovery+ app. Coverage begins at 2:00 PM BST for build-up, team news, and analysis.
Predictions
Pundits view Liverpool as favorites due to their transfer business and overall squad quality. However, Palace’s counter-attacking style and squad stability could pose a significant threat. The consensus score prediction from analysts leans toward a narrow Liverpool win—2-1—though the possibility of penalties remains high given recent trends in the Community Shield.
Manager Quotes
Arne Slot (Liverpool): “It's nice if you can start the season by winning something. We have a chance at the beginning of the season…”
Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace): “Now is not the time to lie back and say, great, we are the (FA) Cup winners. It’s about defining new goals for us…”
This match not only offers the season's opening trophy but also provides an early glimpse of the ambitions, tactics, and new faces for both clubs as they embark on their Premier League campaigns.