Crystal Palace Lift First Trophy of the Season After Nerve-Shredding Shootout Victory Over Liverpool
Crystal Palace kicked off the 2025/26 campaign in stunning fashion, edging out Premier League champions Liverpool in a dramatic FA Community Shield showdown at Wembley. After an entertaining 2-2 draw in regulation time, the FA Cup holders held their nerve in the penalty shootout, prevailing 3-2 to claim their first-ever Community Shield title and extend their unbeaten run to 10 matches across all competitions.
Liverpool’s New Signings Impress Early
All eyes were on Liverpool’s revamped frontline, and it didn’t take long for Arne Slot’s summer recruits to make an impact. Just four minutes in, Hugo Ekitike linked up neatly with fellow new signing Florian Wirtz before curling a precise shot into the bottom corner, giving the Reds an early lead and a glimpse of their attacking potential.
However, Palace responded swiftly. A chaotic moment in the Liverpool box saw Jean-Philippe Mateta fouled by goalkeeper Alisson Becker, with Ismaila Sarr also brought down by Virgil van Dijk. Mateta calmly converted the resulting penalty in the 17th minute, leveling the match.
Back-and-Forth First Half Sets the Tone
The action didn’t let up as Liverpool reclaimed the lead just three minutes later. Wing-back Jeremie Frimpong produced a moment of ingenuity, lofting a clever finish over Dean Henderson to restore the Reds’ advantage.
Despite the setback, Palace continued to press. Will Hughes replaced the injured Daichi Kamada, and the Eagles looked increasingly dangerous down the flanks through Daniel Muñoz. Tyrick Mitchell and Sarr both came close before halftime but couldn’t find the target.
Palace’s Persistence Pays Off in the Second Half
Liverpool remained dangerous after the break, with Ekitike twice going close to extending the lead. Yet Palace refused to back down. Eberechi Eze saw his shot deflected, while Chris Richards forced a save from a corner.
The breakthrough came in the 72nd minute. Midfielder Adam Wharton intercepted a pass and slipped Sarr through on goal. The Senegalese winger made no mistake, firing home off the post to make it 2-2 and ignite hopes of a dramatic late turnaround.
Chances flowed at both ends as the clock ticked down—Milos Kerkez produced a vital block to deny Sarr a second, Mohamed Salah tested Henderson, and Mateta fired a late effort over the bar. Substitute Justin Devenny came inches away from sealing it in regulation, but his curling effort missed by the narrowest of margins.
Penalty Shootout Glory for the Eagles
With the score locked at 2-2, the match headed to penalties. This time, Devenny seized the spotlight, burying his attempt in style to complete a memorable win for Palace. The Eagles held their nerve, converting three penalties to Liverpool’s two, and claimed the first major silverware of the new season.
A Tale of Contrasting Form
While Palace celebrated their historic Community Shield triumph and a 10-match unbeaten streak, Liverpool were left to reflect on a worrying trend. The Reds are now winless in five straight outings and have managed just one win in their last seven Community Shield appearances as league champions—a stat that will concern Arne Slot heading into the new campaign.
