Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the FA Community Shield match.
The English football season begins with the FA Community Shield at Wembley Stadium, where Crystal Palace face off against the reigning champions Liverpool. Both sides are highly motivated: for Crystal Palace, it's a chance to open the season with a rare piece of silverware, while for Liverpool, it's the first meaningful test for the restructured Liverpool squad.
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace finished 12th in the English Premier League last season, despite a promising FA Cup campaign. Over the summer, the team added only Borna Sosa, who had lost his starting role at Torino, and Walter Benítez from PSV Eindhoven, likely as a long-term successor to Jordan Henderson. Their record against Liverpool is poor, with just one win in their last 16 encounters.
Liverpool
Liverpool were active during the transfer window, focusing on bolstering their attack. The squad welcomed Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, and added defensive reinforcements in Giorgi Mamardashvili and Milos Kerkez. Liverpool claimed the English Premier League title last season, though the squad showed signs of vulnerability in the spring, prompting a reshuffle. The side’s consistent showings in recent Community Shield fixtures underline their status as favourites. However, clashes with Crystal Palace have tended to be cagey affairs — none of the last six meetings have featured more than three goals.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool Prediction
The gap in squad depth, quality, and attacking firepower clearly favours Liverpool. In what is expected to be a controlled performance, they are tipped to start the season with a trophy.
