The Football Association has announced a significant change to the domestic football calendar, revealing that the 2026 FA Community Shield will be moved away from Wembley Stadium. Due to scheduling conflicts with pre-planned summer concerts, the annual season opener between the Premier League champions and FA Cup winners will take place at Principality Stadium in Wales.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk addressed the club's defensive woes as Crystal Palace twice came from behind to beat the Reds and lift the Community Shield on Sunday. Van Dijk admitted there have been problems in the backline that need to be resolved and urged his colleagues to regain last season's defensive form, where the champions conceded 41 league goals.
Virgil van Dijk was furious as Wembley’s air of solemnity was broken on Sunday as a small group of Crystal Palace supporters disrupted a minute’s silence for Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, ahead of the Community Shield. The two brothers tragically lost their lives in a car accident in Spain last month, and both sets of players had gathered at the centre circle to honour their memory.
Hugo Ekitike has made a blistering start to his Liverpool career and excited the Reds faithful with a curling effort into the bottom corner on his debut.
Liverpool are set to hold fresh talks with Marc Guehi after the England man leads out Crystal Palace to face the Reds in the Community Shield at Wembley.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has praised his side’s defensive discipline following back-to-back friendly wins over Athletic Club at Anfield on Monday, but admitted there's still a major issue that needs fixing ahead of their Community Shield clash with Crystal Palace. The Reds secured a 4-1 win with a largely rotated squad in the first game against Athletic Club and followed that up with a 3-2 victory in the second, where a more senior line-up was deployed.
Premier League champs Liverpool will face FA Cup winners Crystal Palace in the 2025 Community Shield, with date, kick-off timings and other key details for the FA's showpiece curtain-raiser now out.
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