Crystal Palace defeat Liverpool to win Community Shield

Crystal Palace twice came from behind to stun Premier League champions Liverpool and lift the Community Shield after a dramatic 2-2 draw at Wembley, winning 3-2 on penalties.

Liverpool’s new signings made an early impact, with Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong scoring on debut, but Palace hit back through Jean-Philippe Mateta’s penalty and Ismaïla Sarr’s cool finish before sealing the win in a tense shootout.

It was Palace’s first-ever appearance in the competition, earned through their historic FA Cup triumph over Manchester City just 85 days earlier. Oliver Glasner kept faith with the same starting XI that beat City and Aston Villa at Wembley last season, backed by a roaring red-and-blue wall of supporters.

Liverpool struck first after just four minutes, Ekitike combining with Florian Wirtz before cutting inside Chris Richards and bending a low shot past Dean Henderson. It was the first goal Palace had conceded at Wembley this year.

Palace responded with attacking intent, pressing high and creating chances through Adam Wharton and Ebere Eze. Their reward came on 15 minutes when Daichi Kamada’s pass sent Mateta through. Sarr was brought down in the box, and Mateta made no mistake from the spot to level the score.

Liverpool regained the lead moments later in bizarre fashion. Frimpong’s attempted cross looped over Henderson and into the far corner, giving the Reds a 2-1 advantage at the break despite Palace’s strong spells.

The second half began with Ekitike missing two clear chances to extend Liverpool’s lead. Palace grew into the game again, with Eze and Sarr threatening as they pushed towards their noisy end of the stadium.

On 75 minutes, Palace’s persistence paid off. Wharton’s clever pass released Sarr, who finished in off the post to make it 2-2. The Senegal international almost scored again seconds later, but Milos Kerkez’s last-ditch block denied him.

Both sides traded late half-chances, with Borna Sosa and Dominik Szoboszlai going close, but the deadlock held, sending the game to penalties.

Salah missed Liverpool’s first kick, blazing over, while Mateta converted to give Palace the advantage. Henderson saved from Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott, while Sarr and Gakpo exchanged goals in between.

Sosa hit the bar for Palace, and Szoboszlai scored to keep Liverpool alive, but young substitute Justin Devenny stepped up and rifled his effort into the top corner to seal a famous win for the Eagles.

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