The 2025/26 top-flight season kicks off in style as FA Cup winners Crystal Palace face Premier League champions Liverpool in the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium on August 10.
The Reds ended Manchester City’s four-year domestic dominance last season, clinching their second Premier League title.
Palace stunned City in the FA Cup final at this very stadium – earning their first-ever major trophy thanks to Eberechi Eze’s heroics.
Where to watch the Community Shield on TV?
Fans in the United Kingdom can watch the curtain-raising fixture on TNT Sports, while supporters in the United States can follow the match on ESPN.
For fans outside the UK, take a look at our live football streams page for how to watch the game.
What do you need to know?
Crystal Palace
Eze etched his name into the Eagles folklore with a match-winning goal against Man City in the aforementioned FA Cup final, writing a new chapter in club history.
Despite their remarkable cup success, Palace did worse in Oliver Glasner’s second season in charge in terms of their Premier League finish, ending the campaign in 12th.
However, this is an opportunity for the Selhurst Park outfit to add to their trophy cabinet, even though the odds remain heavily stacked against them following an unimpressive summer.
Glasner must be desperate for reinforcements, yet the club’s transfer activity has been frustratingly underwhelming.
Fending off Arsenal’s long-term interest in Eze could be the best piece of business Palace have done this summer, though there’s still time for at least one quality addition.
Liverpool
Slot became only the seventh manager to win the Premier League title in his first season in English football, but Liverpool faltered on all other fronts.
They couldn’t get past the second knockout round in the Champions League, while Newcastle United denied them a second consecutive League Cup title in the final.
Keen to build a dynasty of their own after last season’s success, the Reds have been among the busiest clubs in the transfer market, pulling off numerous high-profile deals.
Liverpool broke the club’s transfer record with the signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. They’ve also signed Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Hugo Ekitike and Giorgi Mamardashvili.
It’s worth noting that Luis Diaz left Anfield to join Bayern Munich, but their frontline looks formidable nonetheless, especially with Mohamed Salah in red-hot form.
Possible starting line-ups
Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Richards, Guehi, Lacroix; Munoz, Hughes, Kamada, Mitchell; Eze, Sarr; Mateta.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Kerkez, Van Dijk, Konate, Frimpong; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.
Form guide
Crystal Palace
Palace ended last season on a high, going unbeaten in eight domestic fixtures, including a respectable 1-1 draw at Liverpool on the final weekend.
However, they’ve failed to impress during pre-season, picking up just three wins from six summer friendlies, with two of them coming against lower-league opposition.
Where they stood last season: 12th in the Premier League, FA Cup winners.
Liverpool
Complacency got the better of Liverpool towards the end of last season, with the team failing to win four consecutive league games after being crowned the champions.
Things have drastically improved during off-season preparations, considering they’ve racked up four wins from five exhibition matches, except for a 4-2 defeat to AC Milan.
With each victory seeing the Reds score at least three goals, it’s fair to assume they’re heading into the new campaign with the highest expectations.
Where they stood last season: Premier League champions, League Cup runners-up.
