Crystal Palace claim their second trophy in club history, beating Liverpool in a dramatic penalty shootout to lift the FA Community Shield.
Crystal Palace edged Liverpool 3–2 on penalties to win the FA Community Shield at the Stadio Friuli in Udine — adding to their FA Cup triumph earlier this year under Oliver Glasner.
Liverpool, under boss Arne Slot, came flying out of the blocks. In just the third minute, Florian Wirtz teed up Hugo Ekitike for his first official goal for the Reds. Virgil van Dijk’s clumsy challenge on Ismaila Sarr gifted Palace a 14th-minute penalty, calmly converted by Jean-Philippe Mateta. Seven minutes later, Jeremie Frimpong restored Liverpool’s lead with his first goal for Liverpool against Palace in this competition.
At half-time, Liverpool were on top and their new signings looked comfortable, but Palace sensed opportunity. Eberechi Eze and his teammates were finding space on the counter — though their final-third rushes kept letting Liverpool off the hook.
Palace Fight Back in Second Half
After Liverpool pushed for a third goal straight after the break, Palace settled and began to dictate play. In the 62nd minute, Adam Wharton slid a perfect through ball to Sarr, who punished van Dijk stepping up by firing via the post to make it 2–2.
The game turned cagey. A VAR review in the 80th minute for a possible Mac Allister handball went in Liverpool’s favour, and Marc Guehi’s late injury in the 90th added concern for Palace — especially with the defender openly keen on a move to Anfield.
Penalty Shootout Drama
- Salah missed Liverpool’s opening penalty; Mateta scored.
- Mac Allister was denied by Dean Henderson; Eze’s spot-kick was saved by Alisson.
- Gakpo and Sarr both scored; Harvey Elliott’s effort was stopped by Henderson.
- Borna Sosa hit the bar before Szoboszlai netted.
- Youngster Justin Devenny kept his cool to win it for Palace.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool — Match Stats
| Stat | Crystal Palace | Liverpool |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 2 | 2 |
| Shots on Target | 5 | 7 |
| Possession | 43% | 57% |
| Penalties Scored | 3 | 2 |
Analyst Verdict
Glasner has created a Palace side with steel and belief. From reviewing the match, their compact shape frustrated Liverpool, while the speed of Sarr and Eze on the break caused constant problems. Slot’s Liverpool looked potent in spells but still vulnerable to direct transitions. Palace’s composure in the shootout reflects a growing mentality in the squad — and Henderson’s heroics in goal sealed the silverware.
Key Insights
- Palace win their second trophy in history — FA Cup and now Community Shield.
- Liverpool’s new signings Ekitike, Wirtz, and Frimpong all impressed despite defeat.
- Sarr punished van Dijk’s positioning for Palace’s second equaliser.
- Dean Henderson saved three penalties in the shootout.
What’s Next
Liverpool will regroup ahead of their Premier League opener next weekend, with Slot likely to address defensive lapses. Palace carry momentum into their league start, but will sweat on Guehi’s injury amid his ongoing transfer links to Anfield.
Was this a statement win for Palace — or just an early warning sign for Liverpool?
2 Comments (last comment by JamesLove)
First read message
By JamesLove 10 Aug 2025 17:25
Congrats palace! Deserved, it’s going to be a lovely season again! What a manager, only 6 months in 👌🏻
By Adem 10 Aug 2025 17:24
Glasner! Did not expect this, totally deserved! That should have been a pen tbh, dont know what the VAR was thinking...
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