Home SPORTS Crystal Palace Triumphs Over Liverpool in Community Shield

Crystal Palace Triumphs Over Liverpool in Community Shield

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Liverpool's Early Goal Not Enough as Palace Takes Home the Trophy


Crystal Palace wins the 2025 Community Shield with a penalty shootout victory over Liverpool. Read match analysis and see highlights.


Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike all made their competitive debuts for...



In a thrilling match at Wembley Stadium, Crystal Palace emerged victorious against Liverpool, claiming the 2025 Community Shield title. The sun-drenched stadium provided the perfect backdrop for the clash, with both teams showcasing their skills on the lush green pitch.


Arne Slot's starting lineup hinted at his potential first-choice XI for the upcoming Premier League season. However, despite their promising formation, Liverpool couldn't quite match Palace's determination and ultimately fell short. The final score was 2-1 in favor of Crystal Palace, with the team's strategy and teamwork proving to be the deciding factor. The win marks a strong start for Palace ahead of the new season.


Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike all made their competitive debuts for Liverpool in a remarkable display. This quartet of new faces marked the most debutants in a single game for the Reds since February 2020, when Liverpool fielded five new players against Shrewsbury.

 



Kerkez's appearance alongside Dominik Szoboszlai marked a historic moment, as it was the first time two Hungarian players had featured in a Liverpool side. This milestone added to the significance of the match.


Meanwhile, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner opted for a full-strength side, marking the team's first-ever appearance in the Community Shield. The fixture provided a great opportunity for both teams to showcase their talents in a competitive setting.


Ekitike's Lightning-Fast Debut Goal and Community Shield Thrill

Hugo Ekitike wasted no time in making his mark, scoring a stunning goal just four minutes into the match against Crystal Palace in the Community Shield 2025. This impressive debut strike showcased Ekitike's skill and precision, as he curled the ball past Dean Henderson with his fourth touch. The goal was set up by a 22-pass move, highlighting Liverpool's attacking prowess.


Despite being the pre-game favorites, Liverpool took the game to Crystal Palace from the opening whistle, with Milos Kerkez being particularly involved. However, the Eagles drew hope from their past performances at Wembley Stadium, having won four of their last six visits. Additionally, seven of the last nine Community Shield winners had also won the FA Cup the previous May, a trend that Crystal Palace could take heart from.


Crystal Palace's 4-4-2 formation held strong until the fourth minute, when a beautifully crafted 22-pass move culminated in Florian Wirtz's assist, setting up Hugo Ekitike to score with a stunning shot that curled past Dean Henderson's outstretched dive, opening the scoring.


Liverpool's goal was their earliest in a final since Mohamed Salah's penalty against Tottenham in the 2019 Champions League final, and their quickest in the Community Shield since Gary McAllister's goal in 2001 against Manchester United.


The Reds' dominance was evident in the opening exchanges, with 72.5% possession reflecting their intense pressure on the Eagles. They swarmed all over Palace, creating scoring opportunities and showcasing their attacking prowess.


Just 13 minutes into the game, Liverpool orchestrated another breathtaking move that nearly resulted in a second goal, only to be thwarted by an offside flag and a spectacular save from Dean Henderson, who stretched to his full length to deny Cody Gakpo.


The momentum swiftly shifted as Crystal Palace launched a counterattack, and Jean-Philippe Mateta was initially foiled by Alisson Becker in a one-on-one situation. However, the striker made no mistake when presented with a second chance, calmly converting a penalty kick after Ismaila Sarr was brought down by Virgil van Dijk.




The goal marked the player's 31st under Oliver Glasner's management, a testament to his impressive form since the Austrian took charge of the Eagles on February 24, 2024. Only Alexander Isak (38), Mohamed Salah (40), and Erling Haaland (50) have scored more goals in the same period.


Palace's first on-target attempt came after fewer than 40 passes, and it seemed to energize their supporters. However, just 20 minutes into the game, Jeremie Frimpong's speculative cross found its way into the net, coinciding with Liverpool fans paying tribute to their former player Diogo Jota, who previously wore the number 20 jersey.


The match had already exceeded expectations, delivering more entertainment than many previous Community Shield encounters. Despite having only 35.5% possession by the 36-minute mark, Crystal Palace had started to make their presence felt. Will Hughes was snapping into tackles in midfield, while Jean-Philippe Mateta was causing problems for the Liverpool defense up front.




Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah had been remarkably quiet, managing just six touches of the ball, none of which came in the penalty box. This indicated how effectively Oliver Glasner's side had neutralized the Egyptian superstar's threat, disrupting Liverpool's attacking flow and limiting Salah's influence on the game.


Kerkez's Forward Runs and Munoz's Delivery Issues

Milos Kerkez's tendency to push forward left him vulnerable to counterattacks, particularly by Daniel Munoz, who exploited the space behind him. Despite having ample room to maneuver, Munoz struggled with his crossing accuracy, managing only 77.8%.


In the early stages of the second half, Hugo Ekitike had a golden opportunity to score his second goal, but his point-blank header was diverted wide. Despite this setback, Liverpool continued to maintain possession and create scoring chances, showcasing their attacking prowess.


Munoz's Stellar Performance and Palace's Threat

Daniel Munoz was a force to be reckoned with on the pitch, delivering an all-action performance that kept Liverpool's defense on their toes. By the hour mark, he had won seven duels, a staggering three more than any other player on either side. His energetic display even led to a comical moment when he collided with the referee while chasing a loose ball.


As the game progressed, Mohamed Salah began to assert his dominance, accumulating 10 touches in the second half alone, matching the total he had in the entire first half by the 60-minute mark. Meanwhile, Florian Wirtz showcased his creativity, creating four chances and completing 24 passes in the final third with 30 minutes left to play. These numbers highlighted their growing impact on the game.


Chris Richards' free header gave Crystal Palace a lifeline, with Alisson making an incredible save to deny the Eagles' defender. The Brazilian goalkeeper was also on point to block Eberechi Eze's effort shortly after, showcasing his exceptional reflexes.


The south Londoners responded with their best period of the game, applying pressure and gaining possession. Ismaila Sarr's clinical finish brought Palace level with 14 minutes to play, capitalizing on Liverpool's defensive lapse.


A potential handball by Alexis Mac Allister went unpunished, and Mohamed Salah's left-footed finish that followed should have given Liverpool a third goal. The Egyptian's contribution was crucial, but the outcome remained uncertain as the match hung in the balance.


Penalty Shootout Decides the Match

The game ultimately went to penalties, marking the third time in Liverpool's last four Community Shield appearances that the trophy had been decided from the spot. Mohamed Salah had the first chance for the Reds but ballooned his effort over the bar. In contrast, Jean-Philippe Mateta was clinical, scoring Palace's first penalty and giving his team an early advantage.


The shootout continued with Dean Henderson making a brilliant full-length save from Alexis Mac Allister, only for Alisson to mirror the stoppage with an equally impressive save from Eberechi Eze. Cody Gakpo and Ismaila Sarr then traded successful spot-kicks, keeping the scores level before the decisive penalties would determine the winner.


Harvey Elliott's penalty was saved by the Palace keeper, giving new signing Borna Sosa the opportunity to win the trophy for the Eagles. However, Sosa's powerful effort hit the woodwork, denying Palace the win.


Dominik Szoboszlai kept Liverpool's hopes alive with a fearsome drive from the spot. But it was 93rd-minute substitute Justin Devenny who sealed the win for Palace, scoring a wicked penalty that handed the Eagles their second honor of the year.




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