The traditional curtain-raiser for the new English football season takes place at Wembley on Sunday, as the 2025 Community Shield pits Premier League champions Liverpool against FA Cup winners Crystal Palace.
The Reds have a new-look squad after a heavy summer of spending, which has seen Arne Slot bring in the likes of Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike.
Just as they did on the final day of last season in each team's most recent competitive outing, Slot's side take on a Palace team who have endured a tumultuous summer off-the-field — with complications regarding their ownership seeing them demoted from the UEFA Europa League to the UEFA Europa Conference League for 2025/26.
Whether you are new to betting or an expert punter already, this match-up offers plenty of opportunity to back your picks and spot some value on the opening game of the new top-flight season.
And The Sporting News has all the expert guidance you need to make your predictions on the game.
Below we'll take you through a how to bet on the match and the best markets to look out for — as well as the latest betting offers from our leading partner firms to take advantage of.
How to bet on the Community Shield 2025 — Step-by-step guide and best betting offers
Betting on the Community Shield between Liverpool and Crystal Palace is easy if you know how. Here's our step-by-step guide to get you up and running.
1. Identify the right online bookmaker
The first thing to do if you fancy having a bet on the big game is to select the right bookmaker ahead of the showdown at Wembley Stadium in London.
Here at The Sporting News, we work alongside a variety of trusted bookmakers, including some of the leading and most respected brands within the industry.
They are a good place to start if you are thinking of getting involved in the action. You can follow links to their sites below.
2. Find the best sign-up and welcome offers for new customers
Lots of firms have attractive bonuses and offers for new customers, which are definitely worth taking advantage of. Some might offer free bets, while others will give you extra boosts on your winnings.
Below you can find some of the best offers from across the industry.
Our list is not exhaustive — and it’s always worth scouring the market and doing your own additional research to see what value can be had before kick-off.
Just remember, all offers are subject to terms and conditions, so check those carefully before you sign up to make sure you can activate the offer and any potential bonuses.
3. Explore the markets you want to bet on
For any football game, there are hundreds of markets to bet on with most if not all of the sites, such as Sky Bet and Paddy Power, offering a Bet Builder, where you can create your own bet.
That can include the amount of goals in the game, whether both teams will score or not, specific goalscorers — anytime, first or last scorer — as well as a range of options on statistics such as cards, corners and individual player or team shots and shots on target.
4. Do your research
In order to bet effectively, and especially if you are looking to do something with specific individual players, it is essential that you do your own research into both sides.
This will involve looking at the form guide of the two sides as well as injury and team news — you don't want to back a player to score who isn’t even in the starting line-up or squad, for example!
The Sporting News is always worth checking out for expert tips and previews and predictions, as is the case with our preview of the final here.
How to sign up for an account with an online betting site
Once you are all ready to go, signing up with a bookmaker in the U.K. is a simple process:
- Choose your preferred bookmaker and click one of our links above to be taken direct to that firm's sign-up page
- Provide your personal details and information
- Complete the verification process for your account
- Select whichever payment method you prefer
- Make an initial deposit, usually via card or Apple Pay
- Claim any welcome or sign-up bonus
- Start betting!
Remember, though, to always gamble within your limits and bet responsibly. You should think about what you can afford to bet, and manage your 'bankroll' (the amount you have available to bet with) effectively.
Community Shield 2025 Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace: Tips, prediction and latest odds
Over 2.5 goals & Both Teams To Score (Betway, 23/20)
Liverpool are likely going to have to take some time to get used to the new style that Arne Slot is keen on implementing at Anfield, with the signings of Frimpong and Kerkez especially going to force a more attacking style.
That should mean there is a fair bit of space for arguably the most efficient counter-attacking sides in European football, Palace, to really attack, which could lead to a high-scoring and extremely entertaining encounter at Wembley.
Tyrick Mitchell to be fouled over 2.5 times (Sky Bet, 10/3)
That signing of Frimpong to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold could well expose Liverpool down their right-hand side defensively while he settles in, with the Netherlands international sometimes too keen to get forward.
It is most likely an area that Palace will target, with the fairly average defensive work rate of Mohamed Salah ahead on the right providing little cover.
Tyrick Mitchell, one of Palace’s two wing-backs alongside Daniel Munoz, will be tasked with getting in behind a fair bit as Palace try to play on the counter.
Whether it is him shielding the ball in a defensive area, or potentially being desperately fouled whilst getting forward, we think Mitchell will be heavily involved in the action and so Sky Bet's odds of him being on the wrong end of a couple of rash challenges are well worth backing.