Crystal Palace twice came from behind to beat a new-look Liverpool 3-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Wembley, claiming the Community Shield for the first time in the club’s history on 10 August 2025.
New signings Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong scored for the Premier League champions, but Palace responded through Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr before triumphing in an error-strewn shootout. Mohamed Salah fired over from the spot, while Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott were both denied by Dean Henderson, who proved the hero for Palace.
The victory comes just months after the Eagles lifted their first major trophy by beating Manchester City in May’s FA Cup final.
The traditional season curtain-raiser carried added poignancy following the death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota in a car accident, alongside his brother André Silva. Before kick-off, Reds legend Ian Rush and Palace chairman Steve Parish laid wreaths at the side of the pitch, while the Liverpool end was filled with banners and flags in tribute. A minute’s silence, however, was cut short due to disturbances in the crowd.
Liverpool players wore “Forever 20” emblems on their shirts – a tribute to Jota’s now-retired number – which they will keep throughout the season.
All four of Liverpool’s £260 million summer signings – Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Frimpong and Milos Kerkez – started. Ekitike, a £69 million arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt, made an instant impact, spinning onto Wirtz’s pass and finishing into the far corner after just four minutes.
Palace, making their first appearance in the fixture, quickly showed they could compete. Mateta squandered a one-on-one with Alisson, but from the rebound, Sarr was tripped by Virgil van Dijk. Mateta converted the penalty with ease.
Liverpool regained the lead in the 20th minute when Frimpong’s chipped cross deceived Henderson and dropped into the far corner. Ekitike had another golden chance early in the second half but blazed over from Wirtz’s pass.
Liverpool’s defensive vulnerabilities, exposed during pre-season, resurfaced as Palace repeatedly found joy with balls in behind. Sarr latched onto Adam Wharton’s through ball 13 minutes from time and finished calmly past Alisson – his fourth goal in seven games against the Reds.
VAR briefly intervened for a possible Mac Allister handball, but no penalty was awarded. With no extra time in the Community Shield, the match went straight to penalties.
In a chaotic shootout, Salah missed, Mac Allister and Elliott were denied by Henderson, and youngster Justin Devenny sealed the win with a thunderous strike past Alisson.