Palace lifted the first Community Shield after a thrilling 2-2 draw and a dramatic penalty shootout
Liverpool’s £300 million summer overhaul failed its first big test as Crystal Palace battled back twice before clinching a dramatic Community Shield victory on penalties at Wembley.
Goals from Hugo Ekitiké and Jeremie Frimpong had put Arne Slot’s Premier League champions on course for victory, with new signing Florian Wirtz delivering a standout performance. Yet Oliver Glasner’s Palace refused to be overawed, twice levelling through Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaïla Sarr before prevailing in the shootout.
In a nerveless finale, substitute Justin Devenny struck the decisive spot-kick after Mohamed Salah, Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott all failed to convert. For Palace, contesting the Shield for the first time in their history, it was a moment of pure ecstasy—and another statement that they can compete with England’s elite.
Liverpool entered the match with heavy expectations following a lavish summer of recruitment and speculation over a potential move for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak. Slot’s starting XI featured four new arrivals, including £116 million signing Wirtz, but defensive lapses proved costly. Frimpong, despite scoring, and Milos Kerkez struggled to contain Sarr and the electric Eberechi Eze.
Palace, unchanged from their FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City, approached the game with discipline and purpose. After Ekitiké fired Liverpool into an early lead, Mateta levelled from the penalty spot following Virgil van Dijk’s mistimed challenge on Sarr.
Frimpong restored Liverpool’s lead before half-time with a looping cross that evaded everyone and nestled inside the far post. Palace suffered a blow when Daichi Kamada limped off, but replacement Will Hughes added steel to the midfield.
Ekitiké twice squandered gilt-edged chances to extend Liverpool’s advantage, heading wide from promising positions. As those opportunities slipped away, Palace began to believe. Richards forced a save from Alisson, and Eze went close after being slipped through by Adam Wharton.
The equaliser came 13 minutes from time. A lapse from Kerkez allowed Wharton to release Sarr, whose precise finish went in off the post. The winger almost settled it moments later, but Kerkez’s block denied him.
Salah, quiet for much of the game, had a late chance but shot straight at Dean Henderson. At the other end, Devenny nearly won it before penalties, but his real moment came from the spot.
The shootout saw Liverpool unravel. Salah’s opening miss set the tone, with Mac Allister and Elliott also denied. When Borna Sosa missed the chance to win it for Palace, the tension spiked—but Devenny calmly slotted home the next kick, sparking wild celebrations among the red-and-blue half of Wembley.
For Slot, defeat is a setback but not a crisis—only eight Community Shield winners in the Premier League era have gone on to claim the title. Still, Liverpool’s wastefulness and defensive vulnerability offer early warning signs ahead of Friday’s league opener against Bournemouth.
Palace, meanwhile, will relish this historic triumph as they await a ruling on their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over their Europa League demotion. With Eze dazzling, Sarr decisive, and Glasner’s tactical plan perfectly executed, they showed they are capable of spoiling the best-laid plans of even the most expensively assembled sides.