Liverpool and Everton could be affected by new changes to the Community Shield - with at least one Premier League club hoping to make the traditional curtain-raiser fixture an All-Star match.
The future of the game is discussed in the Premier League's New Deal for Football project and could ultimately undergo major changes from 2024 onwards.
Usually played in the week prior to the new season, the Community Shield is organised by the Football Association and contested between the reigning Premier League champions and FA Cup holders to raise money for various charities and grassroots projects.
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However, the Times are reporting that the traditional start-of-season fixture could be modified in an attempt to publicise the Premier League globally as clubs believe the current format "disrupts" their "lucrative" pre-season tours.
The report adds that alternative suggestions have been made about hosting the Community Shield in countries such as the United States or China. Meanwhile, at least one Premier League club has proposed the idea of the fixture becoming an All-Stars game, where Premier League teams would provide a maximum of two players each and compete against other sides from around Europe. If such a change was to be implemented in the coming years, it would evidently impact both Everton and Liverpool as their star players would be forced to once again increase their seasonal workload.
Liverpool most recently won the Community Shield in July as they defeated Manchester City 3-1 at the King Power Stadium, taking their total titles in the competition to 11. While Everton have eight titles, with their last coming in 1995 after winning the FA Cup.
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