Why Liverpool’s Community Shield defeat could be bad omen for Arsenal and Premier League title rivals

LIVERPOOL’S Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace could be a blessing in disguise for them… and a bad omen for title rivals.

The Reds are looking to defend their Premier League crown this season, but started the campaign with a penalty shootout defeat to Crystal Palace at Wembley.

However, title rivals Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea could be left wishing that Arne Slot’s side had won the Shield.

That’s because winning the curtain-raiser has been a bad omen for teams eyeing the title.

Only once since 2011/12 has a team that won the Community Shield gone on to win the Prem later that season.

Out of those 14 completed seasons up to now, the only team to buck the trend was Pep Guardiola’s Man City in 2018/19, which followed victory in the Shield via a penalty shootout against Liverpool.

Arsenal have won the Shield five times since 2011, with City winning it four times, Manchester United winning it three times, and Leicester and Liverpool winning it once each.

And while it is a nice trophy to add to the cabinet – even if arguments over whether it is a major trophy rumble on – it is typically not a good luck charm.

The last time the curse of the Shield was lifted was when Sir Alex Ferguson’s United beat Chelsea in 2010 before winning the 2010/11 season.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Blues had done the league and Shield double at the expense of the Red Devils in the 2009/10 season.

And before that, United won two Shields at the start of the 2007/08 and 2008/09 campaigns before going on to win the top flight as part of their then-unmatched second three-peat.

Arsenal, tipped as the closest challengers to the title once again, have been hunting their first elusive title since their treble-winning side of 2003/04.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was still working as Guardiola’s understudy when they did the Shield and Prem double, but he has not yet been able to translate what he learned into a title.

They have finished second in each of the last three league seasons under Arteta, twice finishing behind Man City before seeing Liverpool take the crown last year.

The Gunners have splashed £208million on new signings this summer, including a new talisman in Viktor Gyokeres and midfield general Martin Zubimendi, as well as some pricey squad improvements.

Liverpool, City and Chelsea have all spent big as well this summer, but the Emirates faithful will be hoping their settled squad – and hopefully a lack of Community Shield omens – will finally guide them to a 14th English title.

That is, unless Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace do the unthinkable following their first-ever Community Shield victory.