The 2025–26 English football season officially kicks off at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, as Premier League champions Liverpool take on FA Cup winners Crystal Palace in the annual Community Shield.
For Crystal Palace, this is a historic occasion. It marks their first-ever appearance in the fixture, a reward for securing their first major piece of silverware with their FA Cup triumph in May. For Liverpool, it’s a chance to lay down an early marker as they begin their title defence.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool side will feature a host of new faces. After a summer of spending close to £300 million, several new signings are poised to make their official debuts. Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, and striker Hugo Ekitike are all expected to be in the starting XI.
In contrast, Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace have had a quiet transfer window but have successfully managed to keep the core of their FA Cup-winning squad together, including key stars Eberechi Eze and Marc Guéhi.
Predicted Lineups
- Crystal Palace Predicted Lineup (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Muñoz, Lerma, Wharton, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze; Mateta.
- Liverpool Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.
Score Prediction
Liverpool’s pre-season has highlighted some defensive vulnerabilities, particularly from set-pieces, which is a known strength of this Crystal Palace side. The Eagles are also excellent at soaking up pressure and springing on the counter-attack, a tactic which could cause problems for the Reds’ high line. However, the sheer attacking firepower of Liverpool’s new-look side, featuring the likes of Wirtz, Ekitike and Mohamed Salah, should be enough to see them through in what promises to be a competitive curtain-raiser.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1–2 Liverpool