Crystal Palace claimed a maiden FA Community Shield title with a 3-2 penalty shootout over Liverpool, after a 2-2 draw at Wembley Stadium.
Justin Devenny converted the final spot kick of the shootout to clinch Palace’s maiden FA Community Shield after the Eagles were twice pegged back in the spot-kicks, having twice fought back in normal time for a 2-2 draw.
Hugo Ekitike fired Liverpool ahead with a third-minute strike which was cancelled out by Jean-Philippe Mateta’s 17th-minute penalty, following a foul on Eberechi Eze by Virgil van Dijk.
Jeremie Frimpong restored Liverpool’s lead with an unintentional 21st-minute cross which found the top-left corner, only for Ismaila Sarr to equalise for Palace with a 78th-minute effort.
Following a tumultuous summer with big-money signings tainted by the tragic loss of Diogo Jota, Liverpool began their first competitive fixture of the new season on the front foot with high-intensity pressing and fast-flowing passes.
Their electric start quickly paid off midway through the fourth minute as a neat piece of play up the left found new signings, Florian Wirtz and Ekitike as the ex Bundesliga rivals combined, courtesy of Wirtz’s pass which freed the Frenchman to curl a low shot into the bottom-right corner to put the league holders ahead.
Palace soon found their composure and began to utilise their counter-attacking pace to trouble Liverpool’s defence, which eventually forced an accidental trip from Van Dijk on Eze to concede a 15th-minute penalty.
Mateta stepped up two minutes later with a ruthless spot-kick into the bottom-right corner to restore parity.
Liverpool however could of been two goals up just moments before the foul after Ekitike flicked Mohamed Salah’s cross on for Cody Gakpo, but the Dutchman curled his close-range effort just wide of the right corner via Dean Henderson’s punch.
Fans around Wembley remembered Jota with a 20th-minute applause but barely a minute later, Frimpong restored Liverpool’s lead with an unintentional cross which dinked into the top left corner beyond Henderson’s reach.
Palace continued to pile on the pressure in response throughout the remainder of the first half but failed to trouble Alisson, as the Reds protected their lead into half time.
Liverpool however rediscovered their attacking spark seconds into the second half as Ekitike headed wide from Gakpo’s cross, before the Frenchman then fired wide from Wirtz’s cross.
Palace soon afterwards got back on top but a 55th-minute penalty appeal was denied after Eze was clipped by Ibrahima Konate and Curtis Jones, as he ran between the pair into the box.
Chris Richards then saw a header saved by Alisson from a corner-kick just past the hour mark as Liverpool struggled to get back on top.
Arne Slot’s Reds eventually were punished for their ineffective ability to wrestle control back as a mistake from Gakpo in the 78th minute allowed Adam Wharton to pounce, and the midfielder played Sarr through to fire in off the right post to once again restore parity.
Salah almost won Liverpool the game with a 83rd-minute strike from Milos Kerkez’s low cross, yet the Egyptian’s shot flew straight into Henderson’s arms.
Both teams ultimately settled for a 2-2 draw which became the first Community Shield by that scoreline to go to penalties since 2009, which saw Chelsea beat Manchester United on that occasion.
Salah and Alexis Mac Allister missed Liverpool’s first two spot kicks either side of Mateta’s strike for Palace, but Eze saw Palace’s second penalty saved by Alisson.
Gakpo equalised with Liverpool’s third penalty but Sarr restored Palace’s lead before Elliott missed the Reds’ fourth spot-kick, yet Borna Sosa smashed Palace’s fourth penalty onto the crossbar when they could of won the tie.
Harvey Elliott subsequently pulled Liverpool back level before Devenny secured Palace’s maiden Community Shield with a clinical penalty into the top-right corner, which condemned Slot to another managerial defeat at Wembley after his Reds lost to Newcastle in last season’s Carabao Cup Final.
Henderson post-match to TNT Sports described Palace’s second three trophies in three months – having won the FA Cup in May, as an “incredible” achievements, which saw the Eagles again stun the title favourites under the Wembley arch as he praised Liverpool’s talented squad.
“Coming here they were the favourites, they have unbelievable players and are a good team. But we’ve won two trophies in three months for this club and it’s a remarkable moment in our history.”
What’s Next?
Palace turn their focus to another trip over the River Thames next weekend as they head to FIFA Club World Cup champions, Chelsea on Sunday 17 August in a 2pm BST kick-off.
Liverpool kick off their Premier League title defence at home to Bournemouth on Friday 15 August at Anfield in a 8pm BST kick-off.
Teams
Crystal Palace: Dean Henderson, Chris Richards, Maxime Lacroix, Marc Guehi (Devenny 94′), Daniel Munoz, Daichi Kamada (Hughes 29′), Adam Wharton (Lerma 85′), Tyrick Mitchell (Sosa 79′), Ismaila Sarr, Eberechi Eze, Jean-Philippe Mateta
Substitutes; Walter Benitez, Rio Cardines, Nathaniel Clyne, Justin Devenny, Will Hughes, Romain Esse, Jefferson Lerma, Borna Sosa, Odsonne Edouard
Liverpool: Alisson, Jeremie Frimpong, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez (Robertson 84′), Curtis Jones (Endo 71′), Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz (Elliott 84′), Cody Gakpo, Hugo Ekitike (Mac Allister 71′)
Substitutes: Rio Ngumoha, Federico Chiesa, Ben Doak, Harvey Elliott, Wataru Endo, Alexis Mac Allister, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Trey Nyoni, Andrew Robertson
Referee – Chris Kavanagh
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