Arsenal Vs Liverpool 29/8/2020 FA Community Shield Southampton Vs Middlesbrough [4uKxmVgjJyL]

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Preview: Arsenal vs. Liverpool desert - prediction, team news, lineups

Less than a month afterArsenalbrought a unique 2019-20 English football season to a close with victory in the FA Cup final, they will kick off the 2020-21 campaign in the Community Shield against Premier League championsLiverpoolat Wembley.

The traditional curtain-raiser takes place two weeks before the start of the new Premier League season and gives both clubs the chance to earn an early piece of silverware.

Match preview

As ever, there will be optimism abound ahead of a fresh start, and particularly so for these two clubs as Arsenal look to build on some promising signs underMikel ArtetaandJurgen Klopp's Liverpool aim to somehow improve on their record-breaking title-winning campaign.

The Community Shield only ever offers a slight glimpse into what is to come - Liverpool lost last season's final to Manchester City but then beat them to the Premier League title by 18 points, for example - but it will be the closest we come to seeing the two sets of players in competitive action before the new Premier League season begins on September 12.

Arsenal will no doubt take confidence from the fact that they beat Liverpool towards the end of the season - albeit after the Merseysiders had already clinched the title - and victories over Manchester City and Chelsea in the FA Cup point at the possibility that the Gunners could fare better against their fellow 'big six' sides under Arteta.

For Liverpool, the challenge for the upcoming season is clear; having ended a 30-year wait to finally clinch their 19th English crown, they must now back that up with another success this term, one which would draw them level with Manchester United on 20 titles.

It may not be so emphatic this time around - a team dropping just two points from their opening 27 games may never happen again - but they can also point to the fact that last season was by no means a freak one, having amassed 97 points and 99 points respectively over the past two campaigns.

Liverpool are now the team to beat, which is a position they have not found themselves in for three decades, and staying on top often proves harder than reaching the top.

This is a trophy both clubs have lifted 15 times in the past - only Manchester United have won it more often - while it will be their 24th appearance in the traditional season curtain-raiser too.

Liverpool arrive back to England having taken part in a pre-season training camp in Austria, during which they beat Stuttgart 3-0 but needed to come from two goals down to draw with Red Bull Salzburg.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have played just one pre-season game ahead of this match, beating MK Dons 4-1 on Tuesday.

Arsenal pre-season form:W

Liverpool pre-season form:WD

Team News

Liverpool have a few injury doubts ahead of the new season, including Premier League-winning captainJordan Henderson, who is sidelined by a knee problem.

The FWA Footballer of the Year could return for the opening game of the league season, along withJoel Matip, but both are expected to sit out at Wembley.

Trent Alexander-Arnoldis more likely to be fit in time for Saturday's match despite not taking part in the pre-season training camp, although Klopp will not take any unnecessary risks over his fitness and so could hold him gasperini back from the start.

Virgil van Dijkis ready to play after being taken off against Salzburg with a cut above his eye, butHarry WilsonandKi-Jana Hoeverare doubts andAlex Oxlade-Chamberlainis a longer-term absentee.

New signingKostas Tsimikasis available to start, althoughAndrew Robertsoncould be given the nod at left-back, whileRhian Brewsterwill texas be pushing for a role having scored three times in Liverpool's two pre-season games.

Arsenal have a number of notable players sidelined too, including defensive trioShkodran Mustafi,Pablo MariandCalum Chambers- all of whom will miss the start of the new Premier League season.

Mustafi and Mari are expected to return in the opening months of the campaign, but Chambers - along withGabriel Martinelli- will not return to training until the end of the calendar year.

FA Cup final heroPierre-Emerick Aubameyangcould start following comments from Arteta which raised hope that a new contract is close to being agreed, while summer signingWillianis also in contention for a debut.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:

Leno; Saliba, Luiz, Tierney; Cedric, Willock, Xhaka, Saka; Willian, Nketiah, Aubameyang

Liverpool possible starting lineup:

Alisson; Williams, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Brewster, Mane

We say: Arsenal 1-2 Liverpool

Community Shield matches are always difficult to call, and more so than ever this year given the quick turnaround and impending international break.