Liverpool vs Crystal Palace: Match Preview, Team News and Score Prediction | OneFootball

FA Community Shield: Liverpool’s Strong Start to the Season

The FA Community Shield, often seen as a pre-season friendly, takes on greater significance for teams involved, particularly for Liverpool. Their match against Crystal Palace on Sunday offers a chance to claim early silverware and mark the beginning of a fresh season under manager Arne Slot.

Liverpool’s New Faces

Liverpool’s new signings will be under the spotlight as they make their competitive debuts. Giorgi Mamardashvili is likely to start in goal, ahead of Alisson Becker, who only returned to training recently. Jeremie Frimpong is expected to feature at right-back with Conor Bradley unavailable due to injury, while Milos Kerkez has made the left-back spot his own. Florian Wirtz, the club’s record-breaking signing, will take the midfield alongside Hugo Ekitike, who joined in a £69m deal from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Key Players to Watch

For Liverpool, the focus will be on their attacking line-up. Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo will likely lead the charge, with Wirtz expected to link up the play. Ekitike’s physicality and movement will also be crucial in breaking down Crystal Palace’s defence. Liverpool’s high-paced, attacking style under Slot will aim to exploit Palace’s backline.

Photo: IMAGO

On the other hand, Crystal Palace will look to frustrate Liverpool with their solid defensive shape. Eberechi Eze remains their main threat, capable of punishing lapses in concentration with his creativity and clinical finishing. Mateta’s physicality will be a key challenge for Liverpool’s centre-backs, while Marc Guehi leads Palace’s defensive line.

Crystal Palace’s Approach

Crystal Palace are well-drilled under Oliver Glasner, known for their resolute defensive setup and counter-attacking play. They’ll look to capitalise on any mistakes from Liverpool, particularly with the pace of Eze and the aerial threat of Mateta. Palace’s midfield, led by Adam Wharton, will try to disrupt Liverpool’s rhythm and control possession.

Prediction for the Match

Liverpool are favourites for the match, and with their attacking firepower and new signings, they should edge past Crystal Palace. A 3-1 victory seems likely, with Salah and Gakpo among the goals. However, Palace’s resilience, led by Eze, could see them score, making it a competitive encounter.

This is an abridged version; the full article is available on our ‘It Was Always… Liverpool’ Substack page: