English champions Liverpoolβs summer signings threatened to steal the show in this yearβs FA Community Shield at Wembley Stadium, but it was the reigning FA Cup holders Crystal Palace who lifted the tradition-steeped silverware, after twice equalising in a 2-2 draw before winning out 3-2 in the subsequent penalty shootout.
Aiming to mastermind Liverpoolβs 17th success in this tradition-steeped fixture, Arne Slotβs new attacking additions got off to the perfect start to open the scoring inside four minutes, as Hugo Ekitike linked up brilliantly with fellow newcomer Florian Wirtz and worked enough space on the edge of the box to pick out the bottom corner. Palace responded well to the setback and had a penalty mere moments later, when Alisson Becker was deemed to have halted Jean-Philippe Mateta, as Virgil van Dijk brought down IsmaΓ―la Sarr. Not to be denied again, Mateta sent Alisson the wrong way from the spot to restore parity in the 17th minute.
With Palace wanting more, Daniel MuΓ±oz crossed for fellow wing-back Tyrick Mitchell who couldnβt find the target. Liverpool were soon ahead again, though, as Jeremie Frimpong bizarrely dinked the ball over Dean Henderson and inside the far post with 20β being shown on the clock, in a poignant moment for Liverpool. Will Hughes replaced the injured Daichi Kamada just before the half-hour mark and fired over from another MuΓ±oz cross, before the Colombian made another burst forward with the break approaching and delivered a ball that narrowly evaded Sarr.
The action didnβt slow down at all after the restart, with Ekitike heading wide from one opportunity and narrowly placing his shot off-target within seven second-half minutes. Palace still pushed forward and Eberechi Eze saw a strike deflected behind, before Chris Richardsβ header from the ensuing corner was routinely held. Adam Wharton then intercepted Dominik Szoboszlaiβs pass, before slipping Eze through for a shot that Alisson was equal to. After Wirtz had fired harmlessly over at the other end, Sarr showed his clinical touch by latching onto Whartonβs pass and sending his effort in off the post.
A last-ditch Milos Kerkez block was required to deny Sarr moments later, Mohamed Salah fired straight at Henderson, then Mateta blazed his shot over with both teams searching for a winner. With Palace still fighting tooth and nail to win the Community Shield on their very first attempt, Justin Devenny then came agonisingly close to snatching it, missing the left post by inches after a decent ball to the edge of the box.
That meant a penalty shootout beckoned, and having come so close to a winner before, Devenny emphatically took his moment to ensure Crystal Palace lifted the Community Shield having also gone a 10th competitive match in a row unbeaten. In contrast, Liverpool are winless in their last five contests across all competitions, and have won just one of their last seven Community Shield matches as Premier League champions.
