The 2025–26 English football season begins this Sunday with Crystal Palace making their Community Shield debut against Liverpool at Wembley.
Palace earned their place in the season’s traditional curtain-raiser after ending a 120-year wait for major silverware in May, defeating Manchester City in the FA Cup final. The South London club have developed a strong record at Wembley in recent years, winning four of their last six matches at the national stadium.
The fixture is also a chance for Palace to build momentum ahead of their European campaign, though uncertainty remains over which competition they will contest due to an ongoing appeal against their demotion to the Conference League.
Liverpool arrive as Premier League champions for the 2024–25 season, looking to secure their 17th Community Shield title — five of which have been shared. This will be the Reds’ 25th appearance in the competition.
Manager Jürgen Klopp has bolstered his squad with a series of high-profile summer signings, and pre-season results have been encouraging. However, questions remain over defensive depth. Captain Virgil van Dijk is yet to regain full fitness, and first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker faces a race against time to be available.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner will be buoyed by the attacking form of Jean-Philippe Mateta and the creativity of Eberechi Eze, both pivotal in last season’s FA Cup triumph. The team’s balance between defensive solidity and pace on the counter has been central to recent success.
Predicted Lineups
Crystal Palace: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Lerma, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Eze.
Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Van Dijk, Konaté, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.
The Community Shield, contested between the winners of the Premier League and the FA Cup, traditionally signals the start of the English football calendar. While often seen as a pre-season showcase, it offers clubs a chance to lift silverware before the competitive league campaign begins.
For Palace, Sunday’s match is an opportunity to test themselves against elite opposition and continue their recent upward trajectory. For Liverpool, it is both a chance to set the tone for the season and to further cement their historical standing in the competition.
Kick-off at Wembley is scheduled for 17:30 BST.
