Liverpool know they need to tighten up at the back if they are to have another golden May, but the watching media sense Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike could be just as key.
Arne Slot‘s pre-season preparations concluded with defeat in the Community Shield, a disappointing result but one that few will lament for long as the first meaningful game is to come on Friday.
It is not to say there were not areas that need addressing or promising signs to take away from the match, as the media noted.
Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike show ominous signs…
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 10, 2025: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz clapping the supporters after the FA Community Shield match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Wembley Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool disappointed in the second half, but there was enough to see from Wirtz, Ekitike and the team’s attacking patterns for *The Telegraph*‘s Thom Gibbs to highlight their “ominous” capabilities:
“Superb opening goal, some sublime touches, several ominous signs of attacking potency for Liverpool’s title rivals to note, and worry about.”
The Athletic‘s Anantaajith Raghuraman, meanwhile, underlined how central Liverpool’s new No. 7 will be to Slot’s side operating at its devastating best:
“Few stats will show it, but Wirtz is central to Liverpool’s four-pronged frontline functioning at maximum capacity.”
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 10, 2025: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike celebrates after scoring the first goal during the FA Community Shield match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Wembley Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Richard Jolly, of the Independent, was another who sought to highlight the early “signs of chemistry” between Wirtz and Ekitike:
“Liverpool could at least savour the way it started. The first half produced two goals and an assist for the newcomers from an outlay approaching £300m.
“Ekitike made a flying start and hinted at brilliance. He took Wirtz’s pass, angling a shot from 18 yards into the far corner of Henderson’s goal. A forward who was not always clinical for Eintracht Frankfurt last season could have had a hat-trick but headed wide from perhaps four yards and shot past the post from eight.
“Nevertheless, Liverpool could derive optimism from the way he combined with Wirtz; there were signs of chemistry. Slot’s new-look team have the potential to be potent.”
After the sale of Darwin Nunez, Ekitike announced himself as a player with tight control, and awareness of what and who is around him – and the *Athletic*‘s Gregg Evans senses the “future looks exciting”:
“It didn’t take long for Ekitike to announce himself.
“The way he converted the opening goal of the game after just four minutes was sublime, linking up wonderfully with fellow new signing Wirtz to raise expectation levels ahead of the Premier League season.
“He was a nightmare to contain and if this is the Frenchman early in his Liverpool career, still learning the patterns of play and the demands to play in a Slot side, then the future looks exciting.”
But there are still signs of vulnerability in defence…
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 10, 2025: Liverpool players look dejected after conceeding the second goal during the FA Community Shield match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Wembley Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Of Liverpool’s seven games this summer, they failed to keep a clean sheet in six, and the vulnerability was clear for the *Telegraph*‘s Jason Burt:
“How can a team win the Premier League at a canter, spend so much and look more vulnerable defensively?
“Liverpool will undoubtedly be the side to beat this season as they defend their title and are rightly the favourites but as thrilling as their shift in style will be it they are not as imperious as they were at the back.
[…]
“But, as Palace exploited and has been a feature throughout pre-season, it does leave them less sure in defence and especially to the counter-attack.”
Liverpool conceded 14 shots and four big chances against Palace, and the “propensity” to offer opportunities was duly noted by *Times*‘ Paul Joyce:
“Scoring goals is unlikely to be a problem for Liverpool over the coming months as they endeavour to keep the Premier League trophy at Anfield. Keeping them out? Well, that is another matter entirely.
“For all the attacking riches Slot already boasts, and may yet add to, his pre-match lament that his players were giving away too many chances proved an apt observation.
[…]
“However, Liverpool’s propensity to offer rivals a shot at parity reared throughout.”
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 10, 2025: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot during the FA Community Shield match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Wembley Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Jolly sought to put the defensive frailties into perspective as Liverpool adjust to their new signings:
“Liverpool are adjusting to new personnel and roles. Maybe they missed Ryan Gravenberch, absent as he is about to become a parent. Dominik Szoboszlai, deployed deeper, played a couple of lovely cross-field passes but, with Wirtz a less powerful No 10, they may not have protected the defence as well.”
Finally, the *Guardian*‘s Ed Aaron could see why Liverpool may now step up their attempts to sign Marc Guehi this summer:
“Having seen Frimpong and fellow new signing Milos Kerkez struggle to contain Sarr and the outstanding Eberechi Eze at times, Liverpool may decide to step up their attempts to sign the Palace captain, Marc Guehi, who left the field with cramp after another all-action display.”