Community Shield Betting Guide: Arsenal v Liverpool

Last season’s FA Cup winners Arsenal take on 19/20 Premier League champions Liverpool in the Community Shield on Saturday. Preparations for both sides have been far from ideal for this match which officially kicks off the English football season

The Lowdown

Both Arsenal and Liverpool have won the Community Shield 15 times, and been runners up on seven occasions, so a chance to close in on Manchester United’s all-time record of 21 wins beckons for both. With just one of the last 28 finals ending goalless – and 17 seeing both teams score – action seems guaranteed here.

Arsenal have never lost the Community Shield in regular time in the Premier League-era. They have won contested it nine times in that period, winning seven times and losing only on penalties on two occasions – both to Manchester United.

Spirits should be high in the Arsenal camp after manager Mikel Arteta guided them to victory in eight of their last 11 competitive matches, including a 2-1 FA Cup final win over Chelsea – the first time an incoming ‘Gunners’ manager has won a major trophy in their first season in charge of the club since 1986/87.

Another piece of silverware will likely rely on a good start considering Arsenal’s last eight victories saw them score before HT (seven were HT/FT doubles). However Liverpool have also scored before HT in their last five competitive matches, whilst the previous three saw both teams score before the break – something that’s also occurred in three of the last four meetings between the clubs.

Liverpool will challenge for the Community Shield in successive seasons for the first time since 2001/02. Liverpool lost to Arsenal 1-0 in the second of those two. Jurgen Klopp’s side also lost 2-1 in their last meeting with Arsenal last month.

However when the ‘Reds’ do win, it tends to be in emphatic fashion. Their last five competitive victories saw a 2+ goal winning margin, with four seeing the opener netted by the 25th minute. Any Liverpool goal frenzy could include a header too – only two teams in Europe’s top five leagues scored more headed goals in all competitions than Liverpool’s 23 last season

Team News

In such unprecedented times, it’s difficult to know exactly who is available and who isn’t, particularly as Arsenal have only had one pre-season game between their FA Cup final victory and Saturday’s Community shield. With players coming and going, it only adds to the confusion. It’s fair to say those that featured in their 4-1 win over MK Dons are most likely to play here.

That means William Saliba should start but Arsenal new boy Willian may only make the bench at best. Bernd Leno returned from injury in Arsenal’s 4-1 pre-season win over MK Dons in midweek and now Mikel Arteta has a big decision about his No.1 for next season following Emiliano Martinez’s immense performances at the end of last season. Lucas Torreira, Mateo Guendouzi and Mohamed Elneny have all been linked with summer moves away from Arsenal so it remains to be seen who partners Granit Xhaka in central midfield.

Trent Alexander-Arnold didn’t travel to Austria for Liverpool’s pre-season trip and is unlikely to start here, with Neco Williams ready to deputise at right-back. Jordan Henderson is back in full training ahead of Saturday’s Community Shield but may not be risked from the start. Rhian Brewster impressed in Austria and could be a surprise starter against Arsenal.

Virgil van Dijk suffered a head injury in Liverpool’s draw with Salzburg on Tuesday but should be fine to start here. Georginio Wijnaldum’s future is up in the air with suggestions he is directly linked to whether Liverpool sign Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago. Curtis Jones could be a surprise starter in midfield on Saturday.

Best Bets

The last four head to heads between the two clubs have been both teams score and over 2.5 goals. Expect history to repeat itself especially considering they both still involved in their preseason.

Arsenal did beat Liverpool the last time the two sides met.

Youngster Rhian Brewster could get some minutes or even start on Saturday and he’s been in fine finishing for since his loan spell to Swansea earlier this year and in the preseason.

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