
Slot's new-look Liverpool under the spotlight in Community Shield
New forwards Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, plus full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong could get their first chance to impress the Liverpool fans at Wembley.
The traditional curtain-raiser to the English football season sees the winners of the previous season's Premier League and FA Cup face off.
"Normally you have to play numerous games before you can win something," Slot said at his pre-match press conference.
"Now we have a chance to win something in the beginning of the season. Unfortunately, we face a very good Crystal Palace that have been very difficult to win against for us.
"They showed in the last (FA Cup) final – and even in the semi-final, by the way, as well – how difficult it is to win a one-off game against them."
Palace are appearing in the fixture for the first time after lifting their maiden major trophy by shocking Manchester City 1-0 in May to win the FA Cup.
The Eagles' joy has been slightly soured since as they were thrown out of the Europa League and demoted into the Conference League -- the third tier of European competition -- over a breach of multi-club ownership rules.
US businessman John Textor owned a stake in Palace and is the majority owner of French club Lyon, who have also qualified for the Europa League.
Despite Textor since selling his shares to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, UEFA deemed Palace failed to meet the deadline to avoid a breach.
Under UEFA multi-club ownership rules, Lyon have been allowed to keep their place in the second-tier competition of European football as they finished higher in Ligue 1 (6th) than Palace (12th) in the Premier League last season.
Palace, however, have appealed to the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Guehi, Eze to start
By contrast to Liverpool's transfer bonanza, Palace have spent just £2 million on Croatian left-back Borna Sosa and a new reserve goalkeeper in Walter Benitez.
But the south London club have so far managed to keep hold of all of their prized assets despite interest from English and European giants.
Liverpool themselves are keen on Palace captain Marc Guehi, while Eberechi Eze has been linked with a move to Arsenal.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner confirmed both players will start at Wembley and believes his side can aim much higher up the table this season after a slow start last year cost them a top-half finish.
"We've started on a completely different level, with a different mindset and different standard we set last year, and this is why we can look forward to the season in a very positive way," said Glasner.
Tributes will be paid before the match to Diogo Jota, the Liverpool forward who died in a car crash last month at the age of 28.
A "Forever 20" emblem, referencing Jota's now-retired shirt number, will be printed on Liverpool's shirts this season.
"Tragedy impacted us but it impacted far more his wife, children and parents," added Slot.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


France 24
4 hours ago
- France 24
Slot seeks Liverpool balance for Premier League defence
The new-look Reds, after a £260 million ($350 million) spending spree in the transfer market, looked slick in attack at Wembley with new signings Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong on target. However, the Reds twice failed to hold onto the lead as Palace levelled through Jean-Philippe Mateta's penalty and Ismaila Sarr's strike 13 minutes from time as the match ended 2-2 before the shootout. Last season Liverpool beat Palace 1-0 at Selhurst Park and drew 1-1 on the final day of the season at Anfield as they romped to the title with four games to spare. Slot saw flashes of what his star-studded forward line are capable of as the most expensive of his new recruits, Florian Wirtz, teed up Ekitike for the opening goal after just four minutes. However, in keeping with the pattern of Liverpool's pre-season friendlies, they were cut open with ease on the counter-attack. AC Milan beat Slot's men 4-2 in Hong Kong, while Liverpool edged out Athletic Bilbao 3-2 in one of two friendlies against the Basques on their return to Anfield on Monday. "If you look at our attacking play against a team that is so compact, that might be a bit better than last season," said Slot. "We only could score one goal against Palace (last season). Now we scored two and created more against them. "But, on the other hand, we conceded two goals, which we did against Bilbao, and we conceded a couple more against Milan, so that is something we need to do better." Only Arsenal had a better defensive record than Liverpool in the Premier League last season and Slot is keen to rectify his side's issues before they begin their title defence at home to Bournemouth on Friday. "We are able to create more but we are conceding at the moment more as well. If you want to compete to win the league, you cannot concede these chances. "We conceded too much today to win the game." Liverpool's spending in the transfer market may not be over as they continue to be linked with a move for Newcastle striker Alexander Isak. However, Slot dismissed the claim that the transfer spending will put his players under more pressure this season.


France 24
5 hours ago
- France 24
Local hero Forrest wins Scottish Championship golf
It was the second time the 32-year-old Scot had enjoyed a professional title success in front of his own fans, with this victory coming almost four years to the day since he won his maiden DP World (European) Tour title at St Andrews. Forrest held a three-shot lead heading into Sunday's final round and maintained control in windy conditions on the Trump International Golf Links. His advantage was briefly cut to two strokes following Todd Clements' birdie on the opening hole. When Forrest birdied the fourth and Clements carded a triple-bogey eight at the same hole, the Scot led by five shots. Forrest, the world number 294, double-bogeyed the last, but by then he had added two more birdies and a dropped shot in a closing 72 to finish with an eight-under-par total. "It's amazing, just speechless," Forrest said. "I think it is the same week as I won four years ago on the calendar so just amazing, that must say something about this week and being at home. "I just can't believe it. It's been such a tough year on the golf course. It's just a crazy game that you can go and come out and do this, with what feels out of nowhere. "It's just that old chestnut that one week can turn things around and it has." England's Joe Dean parred the last to finish in outright second at four under, with compatriot John Parry one shot further behind alongside Norway's Kristoffer Reitan and Denmark's Jacob Skov Olesen.


France 24
5 hours ago
- France 24
New-look Liverpool humbled by Crystal Palace in Community Shield
New signings Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong scored for the Premier League champions, but Palace responded through Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr before winning an error-strewn shootout 3-2. Mohamed Salah blazed over from the spot, while Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott were denied by an inspired Dean Henderson as Palace built on winning their first ever major trophy by beating Manchester City in May's FA Cup final. The traditional curtain-raiser to the English football season was given extra significance after a summer marked by tragedy for Liverpool. Forward Diogo Jota was killed in a car accident alongside his brother Andre Silva. #photo1 Reds legend Ian Rush and Palace chairman Steve Parish laid wreaths on the side of the pitch before kick-off, while the Liverpool end was awash with banners and flags paying tribute to the Portuguese international. A minute's silence, however, had to be cut short due to disturbances in the crowd. Jota's death has dampened the excitement over Liverpool's transfer spending spree to build on a squad that romped to a record-equalling 20th league title last season. All four of their new signings at a cost of £260 million ($350 million) -- Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Frimpong and Milos Kerkez -- started. Ekitike's role this season could depend on whether Liverpool are successful in their pursuit of Newcastle striker Alexander Isak. But the Frenchman -- signed from Eintracht Frankfurt last month for an initial £69 million -- did his case to be Slot's preferred number nine no harm at all. Wirtz also bagged his first assist for the Reds when Ekitike spun onto the German's pass and fired into the far corner just four minutes. Palace were making their first ever appearance in the fixture but the Eagles again showed their ability to match one of the Premier League's giants over 90 minutes. Mateta missed a glorious chance to level when he failed to beat Alisson Becker when one-on-one. Liverpool unbalanced #photo2 But from the rebound Sarr charged into the box and was tripped by an out-of-sorts Virgil van Dijk. Mateta coolly sent Alisson the wrong way from the penalty spot to equalise. Liverpool's players were sporting a "Forever 20" emblem, referencing Jota's now-retired shirt number, that they will wear all season. The Liverpool fans had risen to chant Jota's name as the game entered the 20th minute when their side retook the lead Frimpong's chipped cross caught out Henderson and flew into the far corner. Ekitike wasted a great chance for his second early in the second half from another Wirtz pass as this time he fired over. However, Slot's new-look side are still to find the right balance between attack and defence as has been evidenced during pre-season. Palace were a constant threat with balls in behind the Reds defence and levelled again 13 minutes from time. Sarr sped onto Adam Wharton's through ball and calmly slotted past Alisson for his fourth goal in seven games against Liverpool. Liverpool also survived a VAR review for a penalty against Mac Allister for handball before the match went to a shootout without extra-time. Youngster Justin Devenny was the unlikely hero as he blasted the winning spot-kick high past Alisson, showing Salah, Mac Allister and Elliott how it is done.