English Community Shield: Crystal Palace vs Liverpool - Betting Tips, Odds & Prediction

Crystal Palace and Liverpool are set to kickstart the new top-flight football season in England on Monday, when they meet under the iconic Wembley arch for the 2025/26 FA Community Shield. 

Palace return to Wembley three months after their historic FA Cup final win against Manchester City, which baffled betting sites in New Zealand. Liverpool, meanwhile, return to competitive action as the reigning Premier League champions. 

Who will take the Shield home this year? Stay with us till the end for our 2025 Community Shield preview and betting tips. 

Crystal Palace 

Crystal Palace enter the new season riding high after a historic 2024/25 campaign, which saw them lift the FA Cup — their first major honour in the modern era. Under Oliver Glasner, they’ve developed a reputation for disciplined pressing, rapid transitions, and a steely mentality in the big moments.

Despite ongoing transfer speculation around several players, the Eagles have held on to their key assets heading into this match. With their core group still intact, that stability could give them an edge against a Liverpool side still searching for rhythm amid a wave of summer arrivals.

Team News: Glasner could hand debuts to new signings Borna Sosa and Walter Benitez. Marc Guehi has been linked with a move away from the club but we expect him to start.

Predicted Lineup: Benitez; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Sosa; Lerma, Hughes; Olise, Eze, Sarr; Mateta.

Liverpool

Liverpool have arguably been the busiest club in Europe this summer. The signings of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike suggest Arne Slot feels far from complacent after delivering the Premier League trophy in his debut season at Anfield. Football betting sites, therefore, are putting them down as the favourites to win the league once again.  

The Reds didn’t sign off the season with fireworks, which might have been somewhat expected after they secured the title with four matches to spare. Their final outing of the campaign saw them share the spoils with Crystal Palace in a 1-1 draw — a result that did little to alter the bigger picture.

Team News: Slot is expected to introduce his new fullback duo Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong in the match. With Darwin Nunez leaving, Cody Gakpo is expected to lead the line, with new signing Hugo Ekitike playing a wider role.

Predicted Lineup: Alisson; Kerkez, Van Dijk, Konate, Frimpong; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.

• Crystal Palace and Liverpool will meet in a non-Premier League match for the first time since 2015.
• Liverpool have beaten Crystal Palace twice in their last five matches against them.
• Crystal Palace have beaten Liverpool only once in their last 16 attempts.
   

This Community Shield showdown pits Liverpool’s ambitious overhaul against a Palace side thriving on familiarity and momentum. Depth and talent favour the Reds - as the odds on betting apps suggest - but the Eagles’ collective identity could narrow that gap.

Glasner’s Palace is a well-drilled unit full of confidence. Their disciplined shape and rapid counter-attacks often catch elite teams by surprise. So, we don’t think this is going to be a walk in the park by any means. 

Palace may find the net, but Liverpool’s depth, star power, and winning pedigree should ultimately draw a line between the two sides.

Liverpool 2-1 Crystal Palace @ $8.50

With so many new faces in the squad, Liverpool may take a little time to settle into the game. That could open the door for Crystal Palace to strike early. But once the Reds find their rhythm, they have the firepower to stretch Palace’s defence and turn things around. This one has the makings of a cracking contest, and we're backing Liverpool to come out on top with a 2-1 win. PlayUp is offering strong odds of 8.50 for that scoreline, a bet we recommend for those hunting some value.