Crystal Palace pulled off a historic upset on Sunday, defeating Premier League champions Liverpool 3-2 on penalties to lift their first-ever FA Community Shield at Wembley Stadium.
The Eagles, making their debut in the traditional season curtain-raiser, held Liverpool to a 2-2 draw in regulation time before prevailing in the shootout. It was also their first meeting with the Reds at Wembley — and one they will remember for a long time.
Liverpool twice took the lead, but the FA Cup winners pegged back Arne Slot’s side on both occasions before sealing the win from the spot.
The match got off to a flying start as two of Liverpool’s new signings combined for the opener inside four minutes — Florian Wirtz setting up £79m striker Hugo Ekitike to slot home a composed finish. But Palace hit back on 17 minutes when Virgil van Dijk fouled Ismaïla Sarr in the box, and Jean-Philippe Mateta converted the resulting penalty.
Four minutes later, right-back Jeremie Frimpong restored Liverpool’s lead in bizarre fashion, his mishit cross looping over Dean Henderson into the net.
Ekitike wasted two big chances early in the second half, and Liverpool were punished when Sarr equalised in the 77th minute with a cool finish at the near post.
With no further goals, the game went to penalties. Mohamed Salah blazed Liverpool’s first spot kick over the bar, and Henderson denied both Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott to secure Palace’s 3-2 shootout victory.
The win ends a run of four consecutive defeats for Community Shield debutants and marks Palace’s first piece of silverware in the competition’s history.
