It might usually be seen as the curtain raiser to the Premier League season, bridging the gap between a pre-season friendly and the start of domestic action, but this season the Community Shield could well tell us something about the campaign ahead.
For the first time in nine years the top two from the previous season will meet at Wembley to fight over the first silverware of the season.
In 2010 Manchester United have finished second to Chelsea the previous year, but won at Wembley and went on to reverse those placings a year later.
That might seem like an omen Liverpool will be determined to cling on to this weekend, but for the Reds this season's opener is more about stopping the rot.
It can be a dangerous game to read too much into pre-season but Liverpool have not had a great time of it so far. Their 3-0 defeat to Napoli at Murrayfield at the weekend made it three losses and a draw from four friendlies, with a game against Lyon to come tonight. The manner of performances have been as much as a concern as the results, with Jurgen Klopp's side looking brittle at the back.
But last season's runners-up will feel confident they can turn those fortunes around with a positive result this weekend, which is makes this Wembley showdown intriuiging.
Having won 14 successive league games to hold off the challenge of Liverpool last season, City already hold the upper hand going into the new season. The Blues have shown they can back up a record-breaking season, now the challenge is on the Merseysiders to do that.
If confidence is brittle around Anfield after an uncertain pre-season this is City's chance to exploit it. Having included the Community Shield as part of their 'Fourmidables' campaign last season Pep Guardiola will be keen for City to retain it and perhaps inflict a significant psychological blow in the process.
Victory over Klopp's side this weekend could further damage confidence down the East Lancs Road. Given the fine margins that settled last season's title race that might just be crucial. If Liverpool's hangover extends into the start of the Premier League season then that could be fatal to their ambitions.
The Community Shield might be a test of the depth to both sides. Liverpool's vaunted front three of Sadio Made, Mohammed Salah and Roberto Firmino have only returned to pre-season training this week, as have the City quartet of Ederson, Fernandinho, Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero. Some fringe players may get the chance to shine at Wembley.
But that won't distract from the fact that this is a Community Shield with more importance than usual attached to it. The fixture always holds a little more gravitas when it's the top two meeting and that means there could be blows to be inflicted for the rest of the campaign this weekend, especially if City walk away with the prize.
