Manchester City and Liverpool are set to renew their competitive rivalry at Wembley today, as the two sides lock horns in the Community Shield final.
City, domestic treble winners last term, would usually face off against the FA Cup winners in this fixture but, as Pep Guardiola's side beat Watford in the final of that competition, they'll instead clash with Liverpool - runners-up in last season's Premier League.
The Reds do enter the clash as European champions following their success in the Champions League in June though, so it is certainly an encounter that should prove to be exciting.
While some have downplayed the importance of the trophy in recent years, it does at least provide a benchmark for the forthcoming campaign - and City will be keen to defend the title they earned last year by beating Chelsea.
As well as bragging rights and a bit of silverware, the winners of the Community Shield would also earn a financial boost from the game - although the prize money is far less than in other competitions.
Both Liverpool and City will earn £1.25m to be shared between the two clubs, with the focus of the funding being to provide funds for other clubs and charity organisations.
Title sponsors McDonalds pay a reported £1m-a-year as part of that fund, with the other million or so coming from funds with the competition itself raises - from match tickets, merchandise and more.
That money is distributed across every club that competed in the FA Cup from the first round onwards last year, with each side being handed £5,000 to support social projects in the community.
Back in 2017, Arsenal and Chelsea both elected to donate their earnings from the match to the victims of the Grenfell Tower disaster, which is located just five miles away from Wembley Stadium.
At half-time, supporters will also see awards handed out to 13 unsung heroes nominated for McDonalds' Grassroot Football awards, which can be issued to anyone from those who wash the kit to those that play at grassroots level themselves.
