Crystal Palace glitches their first-ever Community Shield trophy beating Liverpool. Image: Crystal Palace on X
(The Post News)- Crystal Palace won their first-ever Community Shield trophy on Sunday at Wembley Stadium after defeating Premier League winners Liverpool in a thrilling penalty shootout. Goalie Dean Henderson played a crucial part in the Eagles’ 3-2 victory on penalties following an exciting 2-2 draw in regular time. Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong’s first goals were cancelled out by Palace’s two comebacks, which sealed the victory in front of an astonished audience.
Following the tragic deaths of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva in a vehicle accident during the summer, Liverpool’s participation in this year’s Community Shield carried additional emotional weight. Club veteran Ian Rush and Palace chairman Steve Parish laid wreaths at the touchline as part of a heartfelt pregame homage.
Liverpool players honoured Jota’s retiring jersey number by donning shirts with the “Forever 20” emblem. Unfortunately, the minute of quiet was broken by crowd disturbances, ruining what ought to have been a cohesive moment of respect.
All four of Liverpool’s major acquisitions Ekitike, Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, and Milos Kerkez were part of the team’s makeover after a £260 million summer spending binge. After turning in a precise through pass from Wirtz, Ekitike scored in the fourth minute, demonstrating his impact right away. Palace, however, demonstrated their tenacity. Ismaila Sarr was hauled down in the area by Virgil van Dijk, and Jean-Philippe Mateta levelled from the penalty spot.
In the 20th minute, Frimpong’s lofted cross into the far corner took Henderson by surprise and gave Liverpool the lead again. At the 20-minute mark, fans stood up and chanted Jota’s name in a stirring remembrance. Liverpool’s defensive weaknesses were once again evident, despite moments of exceptional play. Sarr scored his fourth goal in seven games against Liverpool in the 77th minute after Adam Wharton’s brilliantly weighted pass split the Reds’ defence.
The game proceeded straight to penalties with no extra time. Henderson denied Harvey Elliott and Alexis Mac Allister, but Mohamed Salah easily completed his shot. Then, Justin Devenny, a midfielder for Palace, came up and struck the game-winning penalty high beyond Alisson Becker to give the South London team a historic win.
Following their unexpected FA Cup victory over Manchester City only months prior, this victory further cements Crystal Palace’s progress under their current management. Even if Liverpool’s costly new additions showed promise, manager Arne Slot still has work to do, particularly in strengthening the team’s defence before the Premier League season begins.
About the Author
