In the opening game of the Community Shield, manager Arne Slot anticipates a challenging match against Crystal Palace for Liverpool.
Liverpool and Crystal Palace will face off in the Community Shield on Sunday, marking the Reds' first meeting with Premier League opposition since the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on the final day of last season.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot is optimistic about starting the season with a chance to win something, as the Community Shield offers an early opportunity to do so. The anticipated outcome of the match is a win for Liverpool, who are considered clear favorites given their strong head-to-head record, recent team reinforcements, and status as Premier League champions.
Crystal Palace's recent FA Cup success and historical ambition might make the match competitive, but Liverpool's edge is evident. The Reds have dominated recent meetings, winning 12 of the last 16 matches against Crystal Palace. Palace have only one win in 16 meetings, indicating Liverpool’s historical edge.
Liverpool have strengthened their squad with signings such as Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, and Giorgi Mamardashvili, aiming to consolidate their dominance. Crystal Palace, despite internal ownership and UEFA competition turmoil, have retained key players like Marc Ghi and exhibit tactical discipline.
The match context and psychology also favor Liverpool. The Community Shield serves as a benchmark for Liverpool to set season standards. Liverpool have a strong Wembley record, rarely losing twice there in one year, though they did lose the League Cup final earlier in the season.
Tributes will be paid to former Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva at Wembley before the match. Alexis Mac Allister, who missed the end of last season due to an injury, is a contender to start at Wembley after returning to training. However, starting for 90 minutes is unlikely according to Arne Slot.
Crystal Palace's performance was particularly strong at the end of the previous season, upsetting the odds by beating Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final in May. They also reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup. Despite these achievements, Arne Slot considers the match a "good challenge" for his side.
Crystal Palace's manager, Arne Slot, believes that Liverpool's opponents on Sunday are a very good team. He acknowledges the difficulty of winning against Liverpool in such matches, but also believes that Crystal Palace will be a difficult team to beat, as they held Liverpool to a draw in their last meeting and have shown tough competition in recent finals.
Despite the challenges, Liverpool will be aiming to start the season with a win, using the Community Shield as a platform to set high standards for the upcoming season.
In light of their strong head-to-head record, recent team reinforcements, and status as Premier League champions, Liverpool are aiming to use the Community Shield as a platform to start the season with a win against European-leagues contenders Crystal Palace. Despite Crystal Palace's recent FA Cup success and tough competition in recent finals, Liverpool's edge, evident in their dominance in the last 16 matches against the Eagles, is still evident.
