According to Daily Mail reports, Arsenal could be playing Liverpool in the Community Shield, even if they are beaten by Manchester City in next Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final.
City and Manchester United who take on Chelsea in the other tie, could be unavailable to face champions Liverpool next month due to the European matches they’ll be playing by then.
The FA want to make the Community Shield is being played, which is the traditional season curtain-raiser between the Premier League champions and FA Cup winners at the end of August.
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They are taking this step to avoid having to pay a rebate to broadcasters.
Reason being that If City were to reach the Champions League final on August 23 or United make it to the Europa League final two days earlier, they would be unavailable to play the Shield on the proposed August 30 date.
This might prompt the the FA to pick the most successful club in the Shield’s history, which is Arsenal who have lifted the trophy 15 times, if the FA Cup winners are not available.
