Crystal Palace vs Liverpool – Community Shield Final Report & Match Summary
On 10 August 2025, Wembley Stadium hosted a heart-stopping Community Shield showdown as Crystal Palace vs Liverpool set the tone for the new season. The match delivered high drama, emotional weight, and a momentous first for Palace.WikipediaThe Guardian
MATCH SUMMARY
Final score: Crystal Palace 2–2 Liverpool (Palace win 4–2 on penalties)
Goals:
4’ – Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) – Low finish after link-up with Wirtz.
17’ – Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace) – Penalty after Van Dijk foul on Sarr.
21’ – Jeremie Frimpong (Liverpool) – Looping cross-shot into far corner.
77’ – Ismaïla Sarr (Crystal Palace) – Cool strike in off the post from Wharton’s through ball.
Penalty shootout:
Salah (LIV) – Miss (over)
Mateta (PAL) – Scored
Mac Allister (LIV) – Saved by Henderson
Eze (PAL) – Scored
Elliott (LIV) – Saved by Henderson
Hughes (PAL) – Scored
Nunez (LIV) – Scored
Devenny (PAL) – Scored (Palace win 4–2)
Key stat: Palace had 36% possession but registered 5 shots on target to Liverpool’s 6, showing their efficiency on the counter.
Emotional Opening
The fixture began under a cloud of grief. The football world was mourning the loss of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva. A minute’s silence was intended to pay tribute, but crowd disturbances meant it ended prematurely, leaving an uneasy tone before kick-off.
Liverpool’s players wore black armbands and entered the game with determination, but Crystal Palace’s supporters made their presence felt from the first whistle.
Liverpool’s Early Firepower
The match sprang into life after just four minutes. Hugo Ekitike, making his competitive debut, received a deft pass from Florian Wirtz, cut inside, and slotted past Dean Henderson. It was the perfect example of Arne Slot’s attacking blueprint: pace, precision, and penetration.
Palace, however, responded with resilience. In the 17th minute, Ismaïla Sarr was bundled over by Virgil van Dijk inside the area. Jean-Philippe Mateta stepped up and coolly converted from the spot to level the score.
Frimpong’s Fluke or Masterclass?
Just four minutes later, Liverpool regained the lead. Jeremie Frimpong surged down the right and swung in a high delivery that sailed over Henderson and dropped inside the far post. Whether intentional or not, it was a goal that reinforced Liverpool’s wing threat — but also their reliance on moments of individual brilliance.
Palace Dig In and Strike Back
The second half saw Liverpool dominate possession, but Palace remained compact and dangerous on the break. Their patience paid off in the 77th minute when Adam Wharton split the defence with a laser-guided pass to Sarr. The Senegalese winger finished clinically, his shot clipping the post before nestling into the net.
From there, the match became a chess game — Liverpool pushing for a winner, Palace defending in numbers but ready to counter.
Penalty Shootout Heroics
No extra time meant straight to penalties. From the start, Palace had the upper hand: Salah missed high, Henderson saved from Mac Allister, and Elliott’s effort was also stopped. Palace scored all four of their kicks, with Justin Devenny — a late substitute — sealing the win with the final strike.
It was a moment that sent the Palace fans into raptures and the players into a jubilant huddle in front of their supporters.
Tactical Breakdown
This Crystal Palace vs Liverpool Community Shield Final offered two contrasting footballing philosophies. Liverpool’s aggressive, attacking style was thrilling at times, but their defensive shape looked fragile, especially against counter-attacks. Palace, under Glasner, showed exceptional organisation, soaking up pressure and striking with precision when opportunities came.
Dean Henderson’s leadership, combined with Mateta’s tireless pressing and Sarr’s pace, made Palace’s plan work to perfection.
Manager Reactions
Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace):
“It’s another special day for this football club. We showed discipline, belief, and the courage to play our way against one of Europe’s top teams.”
Arne Slot (Liverpool):
“We created enough to win the match, but the balance was not right. That’s something we need to work on immediately.”
What It Means
For Palace, this marks another step in an extraordinary rise — FA Cup winners in May, Community Shield winners in August. For Liverpool, it’s a reminder that a new era under Arne Slot will take time to blend attacking fireworks with defensive solidity.