Liverpool vs Crystal Palace predictions as champions look to dodge Community Shield upset

Liverpool take on Crystal Palace in the season’s curtain raiser as the two sides face off in the Community Shield at Wembley which could see the likes Florian Wirtz debut

The season’s traditional curtain raiser presents Liverpool with the chance to underline their ambitions after a hugely successful summer of recruitment – but Crystal Palace have shown they more than have the appetite for an upset.

Arne Slot’s side could boast some of their new recruits when they head to Wembley to play in the Community Shield. The likes of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike are part of a new look attack at Anfield, which will get their first competitive run out at the weekend.

Liverpool last claimed the Community Shield back in 2022, but the winners of the one-off match haven’t always fared brilliantly afterwards. Manchester City in 2018 were the last team to win the curtain raiser and then go on to claim the title.

It was Pep Guardiola’s side who were Palace’s victims in the FA Cup last season. Oliver Glasner completed a historic triumph as the Eagles landed a first major trophy.

Eberechi Eze was instrumental in that win and, despite the transfer speculation, he remains at the club and could be crucial to their efforts, even if they are major underdogs.

Mirror Football’s writers have cast their eye over the match and offered up their prediction with the Premier League beginning the weekend after Sunday’s clash in the capital.

Scott Trotter

The volume of transfer business conducted by Liverpool could lead to a moment of pause when considering how quickly the Reds could hit the ground running. While Crystal Palace’s inaction in the market could lead to the same thing.

Arne Slot has brought some serious talent into the squad and is forming an irresistable-looking frontline, whereas the Eagles have, so far, managed to keep their best players and proved with FA Cup victory that they can handle a one-off occasion.

There were more than 40 points between the sides in the Premier League last term however and it’s difficult to envisage Oliver Glasner’s side overcoming that gap, even if they have been brought together by off-field issues. The champions should have too much quality even with some space behind their backline for Palace’s Ismaila Sarr and Eberechi Eze to take advantage of.

Liverpool 3-1 Crystal Palace

Mike Walters

It’s a walkover, right? The runaway champions against England’s representatives in the Thursday Night Herdy-Gerdy League (unless they are restored to the Thursday Night Smorgasbord League)?

The biggest spenders in Europe since Michelle Mone bought a yacht against the FA Cup winners fighting to keep all their best players safe from the vultures?

Piece of cake – comfortable Liverpool win… right?

Those of us who remember 1990, when the Reds walloped Palace 9-0 in the League but then lost an FA Cup semi-final 4-3 against the Eagles, still expect Alan Pardew to pop up with a dramatic winner every time this fixture is played.

The most important things to bear in mind about the Community Shield are, firstly, that it doesn’t matter – and secondly, nobody outside south London or Merseyside really cares.

Liverpool 1-1 Crystal Palace (Palace win on pens)

Matt Maltby

This game has all the ingredients for a right thrashing – and Crystal Palace could be on the wrong end of a disastrous result.

Liverpool have enjoyed a superb window, adding to their Premier League-winning squad with the finest talent out there. Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong have all arrived – and they could be joined by Alexander Isak.

Palace, on the other hand, have endured another underwhelming summer. They’ve only spent £2m on Ajax left-back Borna Sosa, while they’ve also brought in back-up keeper Walter Benitez on a free.

But then, the FA Cup winners didn’t really need to overhaul their squad. They’ve managed to keep Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze, for now, and Oliver Glasner will be hoping to carry last season’s momentum into the new campaign.

The Eagles now know how to win big games too, having deservedly triumphed in the FA Cup. They also now how to perform against Liverpool – and showed they can match them in last season’s 1-1 draw at Anfield.

You only have to look at the Community Shield four years ago, when Leicester City beat Manchester City – who had £100m new boy Jack Grealish in their ranks – to get inspiration about a surprise result. Don’t be surprised if there’s another one at Wembley this weekend.

Andy Dunn

Considering there was a 31-point gap between the clubs last season and considering Liverpool have spent a fortune in the summer and Crystal Palace have pretty much spent the square root of nothing, it is unsurprising the Premier League champions are strong favourites for this one.

In fact, the bookmakers’ odds of 4-7 strike me as being a touch generous.

Particularly striking were Oliver Glasner’s recent comments when he said Palace had “not made the most of the transfer window so far”, that he “only” had 17 outfield players and that, if he loses any players, “another false start is possible”.

To say the Palace manager does not sound overly bullish is an understatement. If Virgil van Dijk, who has apparently had a minor knock, is not risked, then Palace will get some joy going forward – in fact, they probably will anyway. But Liverpool will have far too much for the FA Cup winners and will win comfortably.

Liverpool 3-1 Crystal Palace

Nathan Ridley

As if they weren’t already good enough, Liverpool have added nearly £300million worth of talent over the summer. New signings can take time to adapt but compare that to a Crystal Palace squad who could’ve done with a few summer top-ups, it’s the position I’d much rather be in.

The Reds are simply too good going forward not to score, unlike a rusty Erling Haaland and streaky Manchester City attack in the FA Cup final. And I think they’ll score plenty.

Florian Wirtz will mark his competitive debut with a goal and Mo Salah will start the season like he always does – by scoring. Or I’ll be wrong and we’ll enjoy the season’s first upset.

Liverpool 3-0 Crystal Palace

Chris McKenna

The curtain-raiser that doesn’t matter to your club unless you win it then it really does matter. Welcome to the Community Shield. Crystal Palace have not had a busy window and they may have upset Manchester City to win the FA Cup last May but they’re up against a Liverpool squad full of new signings champing at the bit to get going.

Liverpool have looked OK in pre-season as their new signings start to settle in but now they’ll be ready to go ahead of their Premier League opener against Bournemouth on Friday. Arne Slot has already said he wants to win at Wembley after losing the Carabao Cup final to Newcastle in March.

Expect a strong Liverpool side to run out comfortable winners with the game won before they make a load of late changes to get more minutes in their legs.

Tom Victor

It’s probably not unfair to say Crystal Palace haven’t had the best preparations for the new season. Uncertainty over Europe has been combined with a quiet window, though Ebere Eze is still at Selhurst Park for now.

Liverpool, in contrast, have been extremely busy. They have signed Florian Wirtz in a record-breaking move, while the likes of Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong have also moved to Anfield.

The last meeting between the sides ended all-square, but neither had a great deal to play for on the final day of the season. It’s hard to read a great deal into that result, and the hefty points difference between the sides last term is probably a better guide.

Arne Slot’s side have impressed going forward during their pre-season exploits, while keeping only one clean sheet. That’s a pattern which may well continue on Sunday.

Liverpool 4-1 Crystal Palace

Sam Meade

If Liverpool are serious about going back-to-back for the first time in decades they need to take care of this contest with minimal fuss and I expect them to do just that. Winning and claiming trophies is a habit at the end of the day.

The Wembley showdown presents the Reds with the chance to show off some of their new toys, and potentially give a glimpse as to how their new faces will fit in with questions over Florian Wirtz’s deployment.

Palace have been dealing with CAS and UEFA this week, so not ideal preparation, but the Eagles showed in a one-off game they could spring a surprise last season. The likes of Dean Henderson and Eberechi Eze will need big games for differing reasons, but I expect Liverpool will have too much.

Liverpool 2-0 Crystal Palace

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