Community Shield: Crystal Palace edge new-look Liverpool on penalties after 2-2 draw
Crystal Palace shocked Liverpool to lift their first-ever Community Shield, winning 3-2 on penalties after a thrilling 2-2 draw at Wembley on Sunday.
Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong scored on debut for the Premier League champions, but Palace fought back through Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr before holding their nerve in a tense shootout.
Liverpool’s penalty takers struggled — Mohamed Salah missed the target, while Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott were denied by an inspired Dean Henderson. Palace keeper’s heroics sealed another historic moment, just months after their FA Cup win over Manchester City.
Emotional start for Liverpool
The match began with heavy emotions for Liverpool after the tragic death of forward Diogo Jota in a car accident alongside his brother. Before kick-off, Reds legend Ian Rush and Palace chairman Steve Parish laid wreaths, and fans in the Liverpool end displayed banners in tribute to Jota. A planned minute’s silence was unfortunately cut short due to disturbances in the crowd.
Early fireworks at Wembley
Liverpool’s £260 million summer rebuild was on full display, with all four new signings — Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez — starting. It took just four minutes for Wirtz to make an impact, sliding a pass for Ekitike to turn and finish clinically.
Palace, playing their first Community Shield, nearly hit back when Mateta went one-on-one with Alisson but failed to score. Moments later, Virgil van Dijk fouled Sarr in the box, and Mateta buried the penalty to make it 1-1.
Back-and-forth battle
In the 20th minute, Liverpool fans rose to chant Jota’s name — and almost on cue, Frimpong’s chipped cross surprised Henderson and dropped into the far corner for 2-1. Ekitike missed a golden chance to extend the lead before Palace struck again.
With 13 minutes left, Adam Wharton’s through ball released Sarr, who calmly slotted past Alisson for his fourth goal in seven games against Liverpool.
VAR checked for a possible Mac Allister handball late on, but nothing was given, sending the match straight to penalties.
Palace hold their nerve
Henderson saved from Mac Allister and Elliott, while Salah fired over. That left 19-year-old Justin Devenny to smash the decisive kick past Alisson, sealing a famous Palace victory and leaving Liverpool’s new-look side with plenty to work on before the league season begins.