The FA Community Shield

[geek_rohit]

Community Shield

Sun 13 August | 1500 BST

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Liverpool will not be tempted to risk striker Robbie Fowler (knee injury) or defender Fabio Aurelio (calf).

Peter Crouch will come into contention for a starting role after being rested to the bench for the Champions League qualifier against Maccabi Haifa.

For Chelsea, Joe Cole and Petr Cech are injured, Claude Makelele gets extra time to recover from the World Cup.

William Gallas is back after failing to link up for the pre-season tour of the USA, but will not feature on Sunday.

Chelsea (from): Cudicini, Hilario, Ferreira, Geremi, Carvalho, Terry, Bridge, Mikel, Ballack, Diarra, Essien, Lampard, Wright-Phillips, Shevchenko, Drogba, Robben, Kalou.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko, Pennant, Bellamy, Zenden, Crouch, Dudek, Paletta, Gonzalez, Kromkamp, Agger, Warnock, Sinama-Pongolle, Peltier.

BIG-MATCH FACTS

CHELSEA and Liverpool take centre stage at the Millennium Stadium for the 2006 Community Shield. Originally contested as a fixture between amateurs and professionals in 1908, the FA Charity Shield (as it was previously known) became the season's traditional pipe opener between the League champions and the FA Cup winners. But with several European matches already played this season and the domestic programme well underway, this 84th contest for the Shield can hardly be termed as a seasonal curtain-raiser.

Jose Mourinho's double Premiership champions face the Merseysiders for the first time since seeing their dreams of a domestic double shattered by Rafa Benitez' side in the FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford in April. These sides, under their current managers, have clashed no fewer than 10 times in the last two seasons and controversy was never far away. Chelsea won all four Premiership contests and the 2004/05 Carling Cup final, but Liverpool gained the most prized victory in knocking the Londoners out of the Champions League on their way to lifting the trophy, in the season before last.

Two Didier Drogba goals proved sufficient for the Blues to win last season's Community Shield, 2-1 against Arsenal. They then went on to successfully defend the Premiership title. It was only the third time in 16 years that a club had won the Shield and the League title in the same season.

LIVERPOOL have an early opportunity to assess their title credentials against the reigning champions of England. Benitez believes he has a stronger squad this term, and as such it will be a fascinating contest, as the FA Cup winners return to the scene of their triumph over West Ham in May. A six-goal thriller was decided on penalties. Skipper Steven Gerrard fittingly lifted the silverware, for it was his stunning last-minute strike that forced extra-time and kept the Reds in the contest.

The Merseysiders are not short on experience as far as this early season feature is concerned. This will be their 21st appearance in the Charity/Community Shield. Only Manchester United have figured more often (23 times). Liverpool have won it in regular play on eight occasions. They also claimed it once after a penalty shoot-out, and shared the trophy five times when the contest was declared a draw. Chelsea are making only their sixth appearance and seeking a fourth victory.

Martin Atkinson has been selected to referee this match. The 35 year old from Yorkshire showed just one red card in 18 Premiership matches last season (Darren Moore, West Brom). He did not officiate any of Chelsea's League games, and controlled just two of Liverpool's - the 2-0 defeat at Fulham and the goalless home draw with Charlton.

MOURINHO v BENITEZ:

All competitions:

Played 10, Mourinho 5 wins, Benitez 2, Draws 3

Premiership:

Played 4, Mourinho 4 wins, Benitez 0, Draws 0

Source

[faraway.]

C'MON LIVERPOOL! WE CAN DO THIS! Let's start the season off strong with a win over the Chelsea SCUM!

You'll Never Walk Alone.

[levianthen]

What's the The FA Community Shield??? :huh: :blink: :|

[Plarkster]

It's when the winners of the Premier League and FA Cup play each other to start the new season off. It used to be called the Charity Shield.

[SMH]

I think Liverpool will be the ones lifting to community shield tomorrow. I can see Mourinho telling his players not to go all out and save the good stuff for the season ahead. As for the line-up's, i reckon...

Cudicini

Bridge - Terry - Carvalho - Ferreira

Robben - Lampard - Ballack - Essian

Shevchenko - Drogba

Reina

Riise - Hyypia - Carragher - Finnan

Gonzalez - Sissoko - Alonso - Gerrard

Crouch - Bellamy

I'll go for a 1-3 Liverpool win with Gonzalez getting two.

[geek_rohit]

The Football Association Community Shield (formerly the Charity Shield) is an English association football trophy contested in an annual match between the champions of the FA Premier League and the winners of the FA Cup. It is equivalent to the Super Cups found in many countries. If a team wins The Double (both the Premiership and the FA Cup), then the Double winner plays the Premier League runner-up. The match is contested at the beginning of the following season, and has traditionally been played at Wembley Stadium; although for the past few seasons, it has been played at the Millennium Stadium while Wembley is being rebuilt.

Personally I would want Liverpool to win, as I want Chelsea to start the season with a defeat. But it seems unlikely to happen. Chelsea will be a very strong team to beat tomorrow. And I think they will win.

[Martyn]

It will be a toughie, and quite a hard game to call, there are already a few mind games being played by Mourinho and he has his excuses book out already. Personally, I think Chelsea may still be a bit to strong for Liverpool, BUT if Liverpool play like I know they can then they will win on the day.

Prediction: 1-1 and Liverpool to win on pen's (Reina the God :p).

[leesmithg]

Chelsea lost... BOO HOO I am so bothered :D

[faraway.]

Yes! Liverpool beat Chelsea once again! The team didn't look that excited to win at the end.

The 2006 Community Shield Champions LIVERPOOL F.C.!!!

[Martyn]

Go Liverpool!!

We outclassed Chelsea, and we even started without the likes of Gerrard, Alonso, Bellamy and Hyypia. What a great goal it was by Riise as well!!

[faraway.]

^^ What a great run by Riise as well. Also, Bellamy's cross to Crouch was spot on! People can say that the Community Shield means nothing, but it can do wonders to a team's confidence just before the start of the season.

You'll Never Walk Alone.

[Powa]

Riise only scored because Cudicini made a howler of it. Great shot, but a keeper's error none the less. Well done. Liverpool I guess.

Shevchenko looked awesome. That goal he scored was the best of the match, pure class.

[Paul]

Best player all around was Momo Sissoko, again. He is gonna be a world class player in the years to come.

[geek_rohit]

It was a superb match. John Arne Riise's goal was a superb one. He ran 60 yards and scored! Nothing from Chelsea's defense came in his way. Crouch's goal was spot on, good pass from Bellamy. Bellamy will really shine at Liverpool. Sheva was really fantastic. Chelsea has really got a superb striker in him. Good for liverpool to win this one, as starting the season with a win is always a great way to start.

[Crazysah]

Shevchenko was good but overall Liverpopol was a mich better team, Chelsea are like a bunch of really good players playing for themselves and not for the team. I cans ee Shevchenko doing very well in the premiership.

[deuz]

yay liverpool .... exxxcceellent..chelsea r slowly becoming the english veriosn of real madrid :shiftyninja:

[Martyn]

Pics :D

[Crazysah]

I read.. that Jose Mourinho did not shake hands with Rafael Benitez but he did stay and watched the presentation trophy.

[Brodel]

was a good game. Shevchenko in the premiership though, **** yea!

[RaptorX]

Chelsea will get better as the season goes on but some analysts say they Liverpool will be a big thread to Chelsea.

Crouch is like Beckham, he's a specialist. He's the man to cross to & Beckham is the best for Free-Kicks.

[Crazysah]

Crouch is not like Beckahm. Crouch is just a tall and good striker and can drop a little into midfield.