{"id":332362,"date":"2025-08-10T05:32:12","date_gmt":"2025-08-10T05:32:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/332362\/"},"modified":"2025-08-10T05:32:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-10T05:32:12","slug":"liverpool-line-ups-vs-crystal-palace-as-alexis-mac-allister-and-hugo-ekitike-decisions-made","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/332362\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool line-ups vs Crystal Palace as Alexis Mac Allister and Hugo Ekitike decisions made"},"content":{"rendered":"

Liverpool predicted line-ups and teams for the Community Shield clash at Wembley against Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon\"HugoHugo Ekitike of Liverpool(Image: Carl Recine\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Almost there. The end of a long wait without competitive action is fast approaching with Liverpool preparing to begin the defence of the record-equalling 20th championship secured in emphatic fashion last season.<\/p>\n

The Reds final warm-up game comes in the form of the traditional curtain-raiser to the campaign on Sunday afternoon when they take on Crystal Palace at Wembley having ended last season with a 1-1 draw against the Londoners at Anfield<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And here the ECHO writers consider how Liverpool<\/a> could line up for the clash against the FA Cup<\/a> winners…<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Liverpool transfer stock check after Alexander Isak claim as seven players could leave<\/a>READ MORE: ‘Don’t see that’ – Florian Wirtz sent Liverpool message after training ground revelation<\/a>Paul Gorst<\/p>\n

So the proper stuff is back for Liverpool then. Well, sort of. The Community Shield may not be the biggest piece of silver up for grabs for the Reds this coming campaign but lifting it at Wembley today will be no bad thing in an effort to further foster that winning feeling at Anfield, fresh off their Premier League<\/a> title.<\/p>\n

There are plenty of options for Arne Slot at left-back and in midfield but there is a worrying lack of depth at centre-back at present and with Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez both now out the door, the need for another attacker is clear also. Let\u2019s see what happens with a certain Sweden international at Newcastle United.<\/p>\n

Ryan Gravenberch is suspended for next week\u2019s big kick-off at home to Bournemouth so it might be futile to start him in this one. Florian Wirtz gets the nod though. The Germany international looks a hugely exciting talent.<\/p>\n

Alisson Becker can start to build up some fitness and momentum having missed a chunk of pre-season for private reasons, while Ibrahima Konate will partner Virgil van Dijk in the hope that both come through unscathed.<\/p>\n

My team (4-2-3-1):<\/strong> Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.<\/p>\n

Ian Doyle<\/p>\n

Okay, it may not be a competitive match. But it’s as good as one, and the Community Shield offers a chance for Liverpool to snaffle some more silverware.<\/p>\n

What, then, is Reds boss Arne Slot to do? With only five days until the real stuff begins at home Bournemouth, it’s time to go as strong as possible – albeit with one eye on the base of the midfield that probably won’t start against the Cherries.<\/p>\n

Alexis Mac Allister is still getting up to speed and can have the final half-hour of the game against Palace, while Ryan Gravenberch is suspended for the Premier League opener. So it’s a good chance to see what Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones can do as a parnership.<\/p>\n

The rest of the team picks itself, with Conor Bradley unlikely to be risked at right-back meaning a start for Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez ahead of Andy Robertson at left-back. Alisson Becker is back and needs time in goal, with Ibrahima Konate joining Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence.<\/p>\n

Record signing Florian Wirtz plays behind the front three of Cody Gakpo on the left, Mohamed Salah on the right and new boy Hugo Ekitike up front. Expect strong minutes from Rio Ngumoha in the second half, however.<\/p>\n

My team (4-2-3-1):<\/strong> Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Jones; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.<\/p>\n

Theo Squires<\/p>\n

The Community Shield offers Liverpool not only the first chance of silverware of the season, but also acts as their final dress rehearsal before the start of their Premier League campaign. Arne Slot needs to go strong.<\/p>\n

Alisson Becker is available again, and after limited action throughout pre-season so far, he needs to start in goal to get some much-needed minutes.<\/p>\n

Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez are both handed debuts at full-back, with Virgil van Dijk returning from illness to partner Ibrahima Konate and captain the side.<\/p>\n

Dominik Szoboszlai joins Ryan Gravenberch in midfield, with Alexis Mac Allister still feeling his way back from injury.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Hugo Ekitike starts in attack with Florian Wirtz at number 10 as the pair are also handed debuts, with Mohamed Salah<\/a> and Cody Gakpo completing the XI on the flanks.<\/p>\n

My team (4-2-3-1): <\/strong>Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Liverpool predicted line-ups and teams for the Community Shield clash at Wembley against Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoonHugo…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":332363,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8815],"tags":[748,393,4884,179,763,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-332362","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-liverpool","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-england","10":"tag-great-britain","11":"tag-liverpool","12":"tag-liverpool-fc","13":"tag-uk","14":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115002837971344386","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/332362","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=332362"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/332362\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/332363"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=332362"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=332362"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=332362"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}