Community Shield

Community Shield Overview

FBL-ENG-PR-COMMUNITY-CRYSTAL PALACE-LIVERPOOL

Community Shield moves away from Wembley

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.

Premier LeagueArsenal
Crystal Palace v Liverpool - 2025 FA Community Shield

Van Dijk opens up on Liverpool's defensive struggles

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.

V. van DijkLiverpool
Crystal Palace v Liverpool - 2025 FA Community Shield

Van Dijk sends scathing message to fans after Jota silence disrupted

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.

V. van DijkLiverpool
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Community Shield, fixtures & results

Saturday 9 August
Crystal Palace badge
Crystal Palace
CRY
2
Liverpool badge
Liverpool
LIV
2
FT
pen 3 - 2
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Standings

PosTeamPWDLFA+/-PTSForm
1Bayern München crestBayern München27224197257270
W
D
W
W
W
2Borussia Dortmund crestBorussia Dortmund27187258283061
W
W
W
L
D
3VfB Stuttgart crestVfB Stuttgart27165656362053
W
W
D
W
D
4RB Leipzig crestRB Leipzig27155753351850
W
L
W
W
D
5Hoffenheim crestHoffenheim27155754391550
L
D
W
L
D
More

Betting spotlight

4 value bets ahead of the Champions League quarter-finals
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Frequently asked questions

Since the Conference League's inception in 2021, three teams have lifted the trophy: Roma, West Ham United, and the current champions, Olympiacos.

The newest format, introduced ahead of the 2024-25 season, features 36 teams, four more than in the previous format.

Mainz 05 midfielder Hong Hyun-seok and Gent captain Sven Kums have made 39 appearances each in the Conference League, making them the players with the most appearances in the competition.

As for top goalscorers, Arthur Cabral leads the list with 21 goals to his name, including those scored in the qualifying phase. However, without taking into account goals scored in the qualifying phase, three players have scored the joint-most goals in Conference League with 12 each to their names: Arthur Cabral, Eran Zahavi, and Vangelis Pavlidis.

Darian Males, Gavriel Kanichowsky, and Cristiano Biraghi have the most assists in Conference League history, registering eight assists each.

Veteran Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina, while playing for Villarreal in 2023, became the oldest player to feature in the Conference League at 40 years and 175 days.

Lille wonderkid Ayyoub Bouaddi holds the record as the Conference League's youngest-ever player at the tender age of 16 years and 3 days.

Stars such as Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Tammy Abraham, Declan Rice, Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins,Co Mario Gotze, Kasper Schmeichel, Cody Gakpo, Stephan El Shaarawy, James Maddison, Jonathan David, and Edin Dzeko have played in the Conference League.

Manuel Pellegrini, Jose Mourinho, Unai Emery, David Moyes, and Ange Postecoglou are among the most famous managers to have managed in the Conference League.