Aug 10, 2025, Posted by: Ra'eesa Moosa
Community Shield Moves Behind Paywall for the First Time
The FA Community Shield has always signaled the start of a fresh football season, with millions tuning in on free TV each August. But not this year. For the 2025 showdown between Liverpool and Crystal Palace, viewers in the UK found themselves scrambling—not for snacks, but for a TNT Sports login. For the first time, the event was entirely shut off from BBC and ITV, pushing the tradition onto a paid streaming service.
This marks a clear break from what's always felt like a free-for-all tradition for fans across England. To even watch the match, UK fans needed a TNT Sports subscription, either through the discovery+ Premium Plan at £30.99 per month, or by adding it through Prime Video. In the US, ESPN+ had the coverage, starting at a bright and early 10 am Eastern.
The shift caused a lot of chatter among supporters, most of whom grew up with the game on public channels. Suddenly, the classic Sunday kick-off at Wembley needed a monthly payment, leaving fans debating if this is what the future of football viewing looks like. The Football Association, meanwhile, insists it's a business move, but the outcry online says it feels more like a loss for tradition than a win for the wallet.
Liverpool Edges Crystal Palace in a Historic Matchup
The match itself wasn’t light on drama. Liverpool, fresh off another title-winning league run, faced a Crystal Palace side making their Community Shield debut. This wasn’t just an ordinary day at Wembley for Palace fans—it was their first time ever seeing their team contest the curtain-raiser. On the other hand, Liverpool hit the pitch for the 25th time in this exact fixture, aiming for their 17th overall Shield win.
All eyes landed on Liverpool’s headline signings. They splashed on German wonderkid Florian Wirtz, picked up Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and, notably, French striker Hugo Ekitike. There was even a cheeky attempt to snap up Alexander Isak from Newcastle; the attempt fizzled out after a monster £100 million bid was rejected.
Crystal Palace, on the other hand, played a slightly different transfer game—holding firm against bids for their own stars instead of letting them go. Eberechi Eze and captain Marc Guehi, both tempted by the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, stayed put, giving Palace the kind of backbone they needed heading into their historic Wembley appearance.
The action was immediate. Barely four minutes in, new Liverpool man Hugo Ekitike made the perfect debut, knocking in the game’s only goal. It might not have been a high-scoring affair, but Ekitike’s early strike made his first Wembley appearance memorable for both himself and the Liverpool faithful. The match finished 1-0, handing the Reds their 17th Community Shield after a straightforward, if tense, 90 minutes.
The Community Shield still brings together the winners of the previous season’s Premier League and FA Cup, set right before the new league season ignites. But things feel different now. The pay-per-view model may be the way forward for big football fixtures, but plenty of fans are still asking if this is where tradition should turn into paid content. For now, the football goes on—even if the way we watch it is changing right before our eyes.
Author
Ra'eesa Moosa
I am a journalist with a keen interest in covering the intricate details of daily events across Africa. My work focuses on delivering accurate and insightful news reports. Each day, I strive to bring light to the stories that shape our continent's narrative. My passion for digging deeper into issues helps in crafting stories that not only inform but also provoke thought.