Crystal Palace vs Liverpool Stats-Based Bet Builder Tips: Ekitike on target in 4/1 shot

We may have to wait another week for the Premier League to return to our screens but don't fret, Sunday (15:00 BST, TNT Sports 1) provides a welcome appetiser as Crystal Palace face Liverpool at Wembley in the Community Shield. The FA Cup winner versus the league winners.

It looks to be an interesting battle in the capital and you can find my Crystal Palace vs Liverpool Bet Builder Tips.

Crystal Palace vs Liverpool Odds

Liverpool to win

After a somewhat surprising Premier League title win in 2024/25, Liverpool are now in a position where they can potentially dominate the top flight under Arne Slot. The Reds have bolstered their ranks this summer with some very talented players in Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz (both Bayer Leverkusen), Milos Kerkez (AFC Bournemouth) and Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt), and they have all cost a pretty penny, too.

Wirtz is a record purchase in the Premier League at around £115m, and so there will be a lot of expectation from him this term, but there is no doubting the ability the German international possesses.

It will be interesting to see him and the other new signings in action at Wembley as it will give us an indication of how the Reds are shaping up ahead of their title defence. They were good last season but they will need to be better this term given their rivals have also been strengthening.

Liverpool have the chance to fire a warning to them at Wembley against the Eagles, and given their abundance of quality, I think they will prove too much for the Eagles - but I wouldn't say it will be easy.

Oliver Glasner's side have shown they can tussle with the best, and it was Manchester City they defeated here in the FA Cup final back in May. The Eagles can certainly play their part in this match but I think Liverpool's key players will deliver in the key moments to settle this fixture in regulation time.

Both teams to score

I think entertainment will be provided in this game, so I'm backing both teams to find the net. Three of the last six meetings between the two teams in all competitions have produced goals at both ends, including the latest, a 1-1 draw at Anfield in the Premier League in May.

Additionally, BTTS has been a frequent trend in the Community Shield in recent times, with five of the previous six editions seeing both teams get on the scoresheet.

There is a lot of quality in attacking areas on both teams and I believe this will be showcased on Sunday. As well as this, Liverpool are yet to record a clean sheet in the five pre-season fixtures they have played this summer.

Hugo Ekitike anytime goalscorer

At the time of writing, I feel a bit sorry for Ekitike. He was signed by Liverpool hoping to be their main man up front this season, so seeing the Reds then try and move for Newcastle United's Alexander Isak would have been a little wounding.

Isak would be a very complex deal for Liverpool to pull off and right now it does not look like it will happen, but you can never say never in the transfer window. For the next few weeks, Ekitike is going to be the main man, and he should see this as an opportunity to show Slot and the club's board that they don't necessarily need Isak.

His goal record last season in Germany was impressive and I have no doubts that he can be a better success story at Anfield compared to the outgoing Darwin Nunez. The Community Shield gives him the chance to get off to a flying start in a Liverpool shirt and he will be hungry to get on the scoresheet.

Offers

We will be Top Price on Liverpool to beat Crystal Palace in 90 minutes with selected bookmakers using Oddschecker for the comparison. (Available from 09:30 Sunday)

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