Liverpool return to Wembley Stadium with Crystal Palace for the curtain raiser. Image: The Standard
The curtain-raiser to the English football season is upon us, and all eyes turn to Wembley Stadium this Sunday, August 10, where Crystal Palace and Liverpool clash for the 2025 FA Community Shield. Kick-off is set for 4 p.m. CEST, with silverware on the line before the Premier League roars back into action.
This traditional showdown pits the Premier League champions against the FA Cup winners—and while Liverpool return to Wembley as seasoned contenders, it’s a historic moment for a spirited Palace side determined to keep defying the odds.
Crystal Palace enter the fixture on the back of a fairy-tale FA Cup run that culminated in a shock victory over Manchester City in the final a triumph sealed by an Eberechi Eze goal and a heroic display from goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who notably denied Omar Marmoush from the spot in a tense finale.
That win handed Palace their first major trophy in the club’s 120-year history, sparking celebrations across South London. Manager Oliver Glasner, who masterminded the victory, was quick to look ahead.
“It’s very exciting, and we all will enjoy this journey, four competitions, four titles to win let’s go for every single one,” Glasner told fans during the team’s victory parade.
Palace will need to carry that belief into Wembley. Only one team outside the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ has lifted the Community Shield in the past 26 years, and a new name hasn’t been etched on the trophy since 1981, when Aston Villa and Spurs shared the honour after a draw. Should the Eagles spring another surprise, they would become the 26th different club to claim the Shield since the competition began.
Standing in their way is a Liverpool side brimming with intent under head coach Arne Slot. The Dutchman enjoyed a sensational debut campaign at Anfield, guiding the Reds to the Premier League title and reigniting hopes of a dominant new era.
Slot’s men were on course for a historic treble before setbacks in the Carabao Cup final (a loss to Newcastle) and a Champions League Round of 16 exit at the hands of eventual champions Saint-Germain Paris (PSG) via penalties derailed those dreams.
Now, the Reds are looking to start fresh by securing their second trophy under Slot, and with it, draw level with Arsenal as the second-most successful club in Community Shield history. Liverpool have a formidable record in recent finals winning six of their last ten, including three Shield triumphs. Five of those ten went to penalties, with the Merseysiders victorious in three.
The match will be officiated by Chris Kavanagh, with James Mainwaring and Wade Smith as assistants. Tony Harrington takes the role of fourth official, while Paul Tierney will operate VAR, supported by Nick Hopton as AVAR.
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