It’s not your average season opener: Liverpool, fresh off their 20th Premier League trophy, are lining up against a Crystal Palace side still buzzing from their first-ever FA Cup win. The 2025 FA Community Shield at Wembley carries more weight than usual for both clubs, and the numbers behind the fixture are pretty revealing.
Crystal Palace have never set foot in a Community Shield match before. Their journey to Wembley was sealed after taking down Manchester City in an FA Cup final that no one saw coming. But here’s the twist—none of the last four teams debuting in this match have left with the trophy. In fact, when both Southampton and Wimbledon made their first appearance, Liverpool was the team to send them home empty handed. Palace fans are desperately hoping that history won’t repeat itself.
While it’s all new for Palace, Liverpool are no strangers here. This will be their fourth Community Shield appearance since 2019. Compare that to the previous 28 years, where they showed up the same number of times. That’s how much things have shifted under the current regime. Arne Slot, in his first season as Liverpool manager, now leads the team with a shot to grab their 17th Community Shield, matching Manchester United's all-time record.
The numbers tilt heavily in Liverpool’s favor, at least on paper. Out of 65 meetings with Palace, Liverpool have come out on top 36 times. Palace have managed only 15 wins, and draws make up the rest. Even more telling, Palace have beaten Liverpool just once in their last 16 encounters—the shock 1-0 win at Anfield during last season's league run. Before that, their most recent win at Anfield dates back to 2017.
This will be the first time these sides meet at Wembley. Up until now, their run-ins never had the setting or the stakes this high. It’s also one of those quirky stats—the last time a Community Shield featured teams who clashed on the final day of the previous Premier League season was in 1989. That season, Liverpool sneaked past Arsenal 1-0. Fast-forward to last year, and Liverpool’s narrow win at Selhurst Park not only sealed the league title but continued their long unbeaten stretch against Palace, now at 13 games and counting in all competitions.
Community Shield games are known for upsets: in seven of the last nine matches, the FA Cup holders actually beat the Premier League champions. Still, the memory of Manchester City outlasting Manchester United on penalties last year proves nothing’s guaranteed in this contest. Liverpool themselves have tasted both ends—they’ve only won one of their last six Shield games as league champions. Their last success was a 2-1 win over Wimbledon in 1988, and more recently, they beat City in 2022 but faltered in penalty shootouts against both City and Arsenal in 2019 and 2020.
If Liverpool win, they’ll not only reach a major milestone, but do it while reinforcing their Community Shield legacy. Palace, on the other hand, show up with nothing to lose, knowing they’ve already made club history just by being part of this match. As kickoff looms, the stats only add to the anticipation—but in football, numbers can flip fast when the ball starts rolling at Wembley.
Steve Dunkerley
The statistical asymmetry heavily favours Liverpool; their head‑to‑head win‑rate stands at 58% and the recent unbeaten run against Palace extends to thirteen fixtures across all competitions. Moreover, the historical precedent in Community Shield debuts underscores a 0% success rate for inaugural participants, which positions Palace at a statistical disadvantage. From a tactical standpoint, Arne Slot’s implementation of a high‑pressing lattice will likely exploit Palace’s comparatively lower possession metrics. Consequently, the probability matrix tilts significantly towards a Reds victory, albeit football remains a low‑variance domain.
Jasmine Hinds
Can’t wait for the showdown at Wembley 😃 Liverpool looking massive while Palace bring that fresh cup‑win energy 🙌 Let’s see who lifts that shiny shield 😊
Madison Neal
I hear the excitement buzzing among both fanbases and it’s clear the psychological edge may belong to Liverpool given their historic dominance in this fixture. Still, Palace’s morale boost from the FA Cup triumph could translate into a high‑intensity pressing game that unsettles the Reds. It’ll be fascinating to monitor the expected xG differential and see if the data aligns with the narrative.
John Crulz
From a neutral perspective the match offers a classic clash between experience and newfound confidence; Liverpool have the pedigree while Palace bring the thrill of a maiden appearance. Both sides have something to prove-Liverpool to add another shield to their trophy cabinet, Palace to cement their breakthrough season with a landmark victory. Either way, Wembley will host a spectacle that transcends simple statistics.
Anita Drake
Let’s celebrate the cultural significance of this fixture: a storied club meeting a first‑time contender on an iconic stage. It’s an opportunity for fans from diverse backgrounds to unite under the shared love of the game, regardless of historic odds. May the best team win, and may the experience inspire younger supporters worldwide.
Eduardo Lopez
The impending Community Shield is not merely a pre‑season exhibition but a symbolic battleground where the weight of tradition collides with the audacity of fresh triumph. Liverpool, draped in a legacy of seventeen shields, carry the solemn duty of preserving an almost mythic standard that the very fabric of English football reveres. Conversely, Crystal Palace, brandishing their inaugural FA Cup glory, stand as the embodiment of democratic upheaval that challenges the established order. One must acknowledge that the statistical ledger is unforgiving to debutants, a fact that has been meticulously recorded in the annals of the competition. Yet, statistics are but a cold chronicle; the human element-courage, resolve, and the indomitable spirit-cannot be quantified. Arne Slot’s tactical blueprint, predicated upon a high‑pressing framework and fluid positional interchange, seeks to drown the opposition in relentless intensity. Palace’s manager, on the other hand, appears poised to deploy a compact, counter‑attacking schema that leverages the speed of their wingers. The clash, therefore, is a study in contrasts: a seasoned leviathan versus an eager newcomer, each wielding a distinct philosophy of the beautiful game. Historical precedent suggests a bleak prognosis for newcomers, yet football history is replete with moments when the underdog shattered expectations, rewriting narratives in a single match. If the Reds succumb to complacency, the shield may pass to the hands of those who have recently tasted silverware, thereby reshaping the power dynamics within the Premier League hierarchy. Such an outcome would serve as a reminder that dominance is not a birthright but a privilege that must be reaffirmed on the pitch. In this context, the psychological burden on Liverpool is immense; every lapse could be interpreted as a moral failing beyond the immediate result. Meanwhile, Palace’s players, buoyed by the euphoria of their cup conquest, will likely approach the match with a freedom born of having nothing to lose. The net result is a contest that promises drama, tension, and perhaps an upset that will reverberate through future editions of the Community Shield. Regardless of the final whistle, the spectacle will stand as a testament to the enduring allure of football, where the convergence of history, ambition, and raw talent creates moments that transcend the ordinary.
Nancy Perez de Lezama
Palace may indeed surprise everyone.
Matt Heitz
The Reds represent the heart of English football, a bastion of tradition and superiority that cannot be eclipsed by any newcomer. Palace’s fleeting cup triumph is a mere footnote compared to the enduring legacy of Liverpool’s domestic dominance. Let the world recognize that true English greatness resides in the Merseyside colors.
Susan Mark
While it’s tempting to view the match through a purely nationalistic lens, the tactical nuances deserve equal attention. Liverpool’s pressing intensity will likely test Palace’s defensive resilience, especially in transitional phases. Conversely, Palace’s rapid wing play could exploit any high line maintained by the Reds. A balanced appraisal suggests that execution on the day will outweigh historical prestige. Fans should thus enjoy the strategic chess match rather than merely championing a single identity.
Jason Jennings
Honestly, these pre‑season trophies feel like a marketing stunt, not a real measure of quality.
Diego Vargas
Most peeps forget that the shield stats are skewed because the league champs usually face cup winners, which changes the dynamics alot.