AGENCIES

Liverpool manager Arne Slot begins his reign with the chance to lift silverware at the first attempt when his side face Crystal Palace in Sunday’s Community Shield at Wembley.

The fixture pits last season’s Premier League champions against the FA Cup winners, and for Slot, it’s an opportunity to make an instant statement.

Despite storming to a record-equalling 20th English league crown with four matches to spare, Liverpool have undergone significant changes over the summer.

A nearly £300 million recruitment drive brought in German playmaker Florian Wirtz, French forward Hugo Ekitike, and dynamic full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong. All four could debut at Wembley, giving fans a glimpse of a refreshed squad designed to defend the title and compete on all fronts.

Slot emphasised the rarity of winning a trophy in the opening match of the campaign, but warned of the threat posed by Palace, who stunned Manchester City to claim their first major honour in May. The build-up has been tinged with emotion following the tragic death of Diogo Jota in a car accident last month.

Liverpool will wear a “Forever 20” emblem on their shirts all season in tribute to the Portuguese forward, whose number has been retired. “The tributes have been emotional and impressive,” Slot said.

Wirtz arrives from Bayer Leverkusen for a club-record £100 million, having produced 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 games. Ekitike, signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for £69 million, brings pace and directness to complement Liverpool’s attacking options. At the back, Kerkez will challenge Andy Robertson, while Frimpong replaces the departed Trent Alexander-Arnold, now at Real Madrid.

Liverpool have also seen Luis Diaz join Bayern Munich and Jarell Quansah depart for Leverkusen, leaving gaps for the new signings to fill.

Sunday will be a test of how quickly Liverpool’s new faces can gel under Slot’s philosophy. Win, and the champions begin their title defence on Friday against Bournemouth with early momentum; lose, and questions over cohesion may come sooner than expected.