A long summer without English football is coming to a close, with Manchester City and Liverpool set to raise the curtain for the new season in Sunday's Community Shield final at Wembley.
City , winners of the Premier League and FA Cup last season, lock horns with a Liverpool side they marginally edged to the league title last season in what should be an exciting clash.
The two sides are expected to be the leading candidates to lift trophies again in the 2019-20 campaign, with Sunday's clash being the first opportunity for the pair to get hold of some silverware.
However, there is also likely to be significant attention around particular on-field incidents as Video Assistant Referees are in effect ahead of their introduction into the Premier League for the opening weekend.
VAR has been trialled in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup during recent campaigns, as well as being introduced for the latter stages of the Champions League last season - taking centre stage for both clubs during their continental adventures.
However, it still remains unpopular for many and there are likely to be some teething problems in the opening weeks of the new season as players, managers, officials and supporters get used to the technology.
Martin Atkinson is the referee for Sunday's clash, taking charge of his second Community Shield final, and VAR is not the only new introduction for the match at Wembley.
New rules from the IFAB, which were in place during some international competitions during the summer, will also make their bow in English football this weekend across the EFL and in the Community Shield.
The new regulations include balls not having to leave the penalty area during goal-kicks, players leaving the field at the nearest point upon substitution, attacking players not allowed in a defensive wall and a non-contested drop ball procedure.
These rules will then be in place throughout the Premier League season, which begins on Friday August 9, with Liverpool hosting Norwich City at Anfield.
