Arne Slot already knows how Liverpool can shut down key Crystal Palace strength this weekend
Liverpool will be looking to shut down Crystal Palace to claim the Community Shield at Wembley this Sunday.
The Reds will be strong favourites to win the game and earn their first piece of silverware this season.
New signings such as Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz will be expected to start this game and fire Liverpool to victory.
And Arne Slot has outlined his plan to nullify Palace's attacking threat at the other end.
Slot wary of Crystal Palace set-piece threat
Liverpool have a strong recent record at Wembley, although they lost on their last visit there against Newcastle in the 2025 Carabao Cup final.
Speaking ahead of the clash against Crystal Palace, Slot suggested that Palace might approach the game the same way Newcastle did last March.
He said: "The way they played might be similar to how Palace play. They used every free-kick to get the ball in our box. Palace are a threat at set-pieces. There may be a few overlaps between the two sides."
Slot added that it may be a low-scoring affair at Wembley with Palace trying to keep things as tight as possible.
Slot will rely on Van Dijk and Konate to nullify Palace's threat
The Eagles stole a draw at Anfield on the final day of the Premier League season, so the Dutchman will be well aware of the threats they carry.
When asked about this by reporters, Slot suggested his opponents would rely on:
- Counter-attacks
- Set pieces
- Long-balls to Jean-Philippe Mateta
- The individual quality of their forwards
Liverpool were undone by a counter-attack for Palace's goal at Anfield in May. After Conor Bradley gave away the ball in his own half, the Eagles quickly worked the ball to Ismaila Sarr, who slotted them ahead.
And it was an attack from a long ball that caused Ryan Gravenberch's red card in the second half. Gravenberch had a long ball stolen from his toes by Daichi Kamada, and then brought him down as he was bearing in on goal. He was sent off for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
Mo Salah scored the equaliser that day, despite Liverpool being down to 10 men.
Virgil Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate kept Mateta reasonably quiet that day, and they'll be starting in the centre of Liverpool's defence again.
They'll be told to do a similar job on Mateta while the rest of the team is urged not to be sloppy in dangerous areas.
The match kicks off at 15:00 at Wembley on Sunday, 10 August.
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