Bet Builder Tip For Crystal Palace vs Liverpool

The Community Shield returns to Wembley this afternoon with Crystal Palace facing Liverpool in what promises to be an open and competitive season curtain-raiser. Palace arrive off the back of their historic FA Cup win, while Liverpool return as reigning Premier League champions under Arne Slot.

Given both sides’ attacking qualities, aggressive pressing styles, and willingness to play on the front foot, this match shapes up perfectly for a Bet Builder packed with goalmouth action and plenty of drama. Below is the breakdown of each selection and the thinking behind it.

Here’s our Bet Builder pick for Crystal Palace vs Liverpool, which has been placed with Bet365:

Both Teams to Score

It’s difficult to look past both sides finding the net here. Palace have been scoring freely at Wembley in recent years, striking in four of their last six visits in neutral cup ties. Eberechi Eze’s creativity and Jean-Philippe Mateta’s physical presence mean they are well equipped to test Liverpool’s defence, especially with Virgil van Dijk not fully fit and Alisson likely absent.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are relentless going forward and have yet to fail to score in any of their pre-season fixtures. With Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz, and Cody Gakpo combining in the final third, the Reds should carve out plenty of opportunities. Given both clubs’ current defensive vulnerabilities — Palace without Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure, Liverpool conceding in every friendly this summer — clean sheets look unlikely. The stage is set for both sets of supporters to celebrate at least one goal apiece.

Over 24.5 Free Kicks

Matches at Wembley often produce a high number of stoppages, and this contest has all the hallmarks of a whistle-heavy affair. Palace’s high-energy pressing game under Oliver Glasner naturally leads to fouls higher up the pitch, particularly when trying to disrupt Liverpool’s build-up. Players like Wharton and Lerma are combative in midfield, never shy of halting play if needed.

Liverpool also contribute to the foul count when pressing high, with their full-backs pushing up and midfielders engaging quickly when possession is lost. Referees tend to clamp down early in showpiece games, and with both sides keen to impose themselves physically, the number of free kicks could rack up fast. Considering the competitive edge of a one-off final, and the likelihood of tactical fouls to break momentum, surpassing 24.5 free kicks seems entirely plausible.

Back Our Crystal Palace vs Liverpool Ultimate Bet Builder Tip Here

Over 9.5 Shots on Target

With two attack-minded teams on show, the expectation is for a lively contest in front of goal. Palace’s attacking trio, backed by wing-backs like Tyrick Mitchell and Daniel Munoz pushing forward, should ensure Dean Henderson’s distribution gets them into advanced areas regularly. Their confidence from the FA Cup final win over Manchester City suggests they will not sit back.

Liverpool’s forward line needs little introduction — Salah’s ability to hit the target from tight angles, Gakpo’s movement, and Wirtz’s sharp link play all point to frequent testing of Henderson. The Reds have also been creating plenty in pre-season, scoring multiple goals in most games. Combined, these factors make it reasonable to expect at least ten shots on target in total, especially with both teams capable of scoring and the game unlikely to fizzle into a slow tactical stalemate.

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Over 4.5 Offsides

The attacking patterns of both sides lend themselves to frequent offsides. Liverpool’s high defensive line under Slot is designed to squeeze the pitch, and it regularly catches opposition forwards off guard. Palace’s direct balls towards Mateta and Eze’s threaded passes will inevitably test the timing of runs — and mistakes are bound to happen.

On the other hand, Palace themselves will try to push up defensively to disrupt Liverpool’s rhythm, potentially catching Salah or Ekitike beyond the last man. The wide-open nature of this fixture, with both teams trying to stretch play and exploit spaces, means the offside flag could be raised often. With each side likely to contribute to the tally, crossing the five-mark threshold looks a strong possibility.

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Both Teams to Receive a Card

Finals at Wembley are rarely tame affairs, and with the Community Shield doubling as a statement game before the league kicks off, challenges are likely to fly in. Palace’s midfield enforcers are adept at disrupting the opposition’s rhythm, which can lead to bookings. Jefferson Lerma in particular is known for his tough tackling and willingness to take a caution for the team.

Liverpool’s pressing style also invites fouls, especially when trying to regain possession high up the pitch. With fast, tricky players on both sides, such as Eze and Salah, defenders will be stretched, increasing the risk of mistimed challenges. Both sides have plenty of players unafraid to make their presence felt physically, so it would be no surprise if each team’s discipline was tested to the point of at least one yellow card.

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