Arsenal vs Liverpool: Mikel Arteta’s Gunners take to the turf of Wembley less than a month after winning the FA Cup to face the Premier League winners in the Community Shield.
Arsenal vs Liverpool: Community shield preview
Arsenal and Liverpool are level in terms of Community Shield trophies having won the traditional season opener 15 times apiece. The Gunners and Reds are also both making their 24th appearance in the competition.
It has been three years since Arsenal took part in the Community Shield while Liverpool lost last year’s match to Manchester City on penalties.
Arsenal vs Liverpool head-to-head record
Arsenal and Liverpool fixture have met 195 times since their first clash in 1893. Liverpool currently edge the head-to-head with 72 victories against Arsenal’s 69, a further 54 matches have ended in draws.
The Community Shield has seen an Arsenal vs Liverpool fixture three times in the past. Liverpool won the first two, in 1979 and 1989, while Arsenal’s sole victory came in the 2002 contest.
Arsenal vs Liverpool: 29 August 2020 kick-off time, where to watch
Liverpool take on Arsenal at Wembley on Saturday 29 August with kick off at 17:30 SAST.
TV Broadcast: SuperSport 3 (DStv channel 203) and SABC 3.
Streaming: DStv Now, Showmax
Team News
In the Liverpool camp Jordan Henderson, Joel Matip, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Harry Wilson, Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi did not play in the final pre-season friendly and have been ruled out of the match.
Trent Alexander-Arnold did not play either but is understood to be progressing well and could feature, if not from the start then off the bench.
Virgil van Dijk suffered a nasty cut to his head during the friendly against RB Salzburg in Austria this past week but will be fit to take his place in the XI against Arsenal.
Arsenal will be without long-term absentees Gabriel Martinelli, Callum Chambers, Pablo Mari and Shkodran Mustafi.
Goalkeeper Bernd Leno is fit again and will have a new face in front of him in the form of debuting defender William Saliba who looks set to start as part of a central defensive trio along with Kieran Tierney and Rob Holding.
Hector Bellerin missed Arsenal’s 4-1 friendly win over MK Dons which suggests that Cedric Soares may start in the right wing-back role while Ainsley Maitland-Niles could operate on the other flank.
Alexandre Lacazette has been linked with a move to Juventus and did not face MK Dons on Tuesday and it has been reported he will miss the match.
Arsenal will have been delighted with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang signing a new deal and he will captain the side from the left side of a three-man attack. He is likely to be partnered by Bukayo Saka on the other wing and Eddie Nketiah is expected to lead the line.
Arsenal team
Predicted starting XI: Leno; Saliba, Holding, Tierney; Cedric, Elneny, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles; Saka, Nketiah, Aubameyang.
Liverpool team
Predicted starting XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Keita, Salah, Firmino, Mane
