Palace Upset Reds in Thrilling Community Shield Showdown at Wembley
In a sun-drenched Wembley Stadium, Crystal Palace defied the odds and secured their first-ever Community Shield title with a dramatic penalty shootout win over Liverpool. Despite a dominant start from the Reds and an early goal by debutant Hugo Ekitike, it was the Eagles who held their nerve in a pulsating encounter that ended 2-2 in regulation before being decided from the spot.
A New Era Begins for Liverpool Under Arne Slot
With new manager Arne Slot taking charge of his first competitive match, Liverpool unveiled a refreshed lineup featuring four debutants: Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike. It was the highest number of new faces in a single game for the Reds since 2020. Kerkez and Dominik Szoboszlai made history as the first pair of Hungarians to appear in a Liverpool starting XI.
Crystal Palace, under Oliver Glasner, fielded a full-strength side eager to capitalize on their FA Cup triumph earlier in the year. It marked the south London club’s maiden appearance in the Community Shield, while Liverpool were participating for the 26th time.
Ekitike’s Early Statement and Palace’s Swift Response
Liverpool came out flying, dominating possession with over 72% in the early minutes. Their pressure paid off in the fourth minute with a stunning team move culminating in Ekitike curling home from Wirtz’s assist—Liverpool’s fastest Community Shield goal since 2001.
Palace weathered the storm and struck back minutes later. Jean-Philippe Mateta, after being denied once by Alisson, converted from the penalty spot following a foul on Ismaila Sarr by Virgil van Dijk. The equalizer marked Mateta’s 31st goal under Glasner, keeping pace with Premier League elite scorers.
Just as the game seemed to settle, Liverpool regained the lead in bizarre fashion. Frimpong’s mishit cross floated over Dean Henderson and into the net, restoring the Reds’ advantage in the 20th minute.
End-to-End Action in a Game of Momentum Swings
While Liverpool maintained possession dominance, Palace found joy on the counter, particularly through Daniel Munoz’s energetic runs. Despite Liverpool’s passing precision—Curtis Jones completed all 53 of his passes—the Eagles slowly grew into the contest.
Florian Wirtz was central to Liverpool’s attacking flow, creating four chances and controlling the final third. But Palace’s resilience paid off once again. With 14 minutes remaining, Ismaila Sarr’s clinical finish leveled the score after a spell of sustained pressure. Moments later, Salah nearly put Liverpool back in front, but his effort went narrowly wide.
Shootout Drama: Palace Hold Their Nerve
With both sides locked at 2-2 after 90 minutes, the Community Shield was decided on penalties for the third time in four years involving Liverpool.
Salah set a surprising tone by skying his opening effort. While Mateta converted confidently for Palace, Dean Henderson emerged as the hero—saving from both Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott. Alisson responded with key saves of his own, keeping the Reds alive.
However, it was Justin Devenny—introduced in stoppage time—who etched his name into Palace folklore. The youngster blasted home the decisive penalty after Szoboszlai had given Liverpool hope. Palace celebrated their second trophy of 2025 in front of jubilant supporters, capping off a historic day for the club.
Key Takeaways
- Liverpool started strong but couldn’t maintain their early dominance.
- Crystal Palace showed composure, resilience, and tactical sharpness throughout.
- Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz impressed in their debuts, while Dean Henderson was pivotal in the shootout.
- The Eagles proved their FA Cup win was no fluke—this is a club on the rise.
