Five Things Learnt from Liverpool v Crystal Palace Community Shield
The 2025 FA Community Shield saw Crystal Palace claim their first-ever title in this competition by defeating Liverpool 3-2 on penalties after a thrilling 2-2 draw at Wembley Stadium. Crystal Palace qualified for the match as winners of the 2024–25 FA Cup, while Liverpool entered as Premier League champions.
1. Crystal Palace’s Historic Win
Crystal Palace lifted the Community Shield for the first time in their history, adding to their FA Cup triumph just 85 days earlier. This victory marked a major milestone for the club and showcased their growing presence on big occasions.
2. An Exciting, Competitive Match
The match was highly competitive and featured four goals during regular time. Hugo Ekitiké opened the scoring for Liverpool, followed by a penalty equalizer from Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta. Jeremie Frimpong then restored Liverpool’s lead, but Ismaïla Sarr’s late goal secured a 2-2 draw and pushed the game to penalties.
3. Dean Henderson’s Key Role
Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson was decisive in the shootout, making crucial saves that ultimately helped Palace win. His performance was a key factor in turning the penalty shootout in Palace’s favor.
4. Tactical Consistency from Palace
Crystal Palace manager Ralf Glasner fielded the same starting XI that had clinched the FA Cup, suggesting confidence in the team’s structure and tactic. This consistency seemed to benefit Palace in maintaining composure in high-stakes moments.
5. Liverpool’s Resilience
Despite losing, Liverpool showed an attacking threat and resilience by taking the lead twice during the match and coming close to scoring again late. However, they ultimately fell short during the penalty shootout.
This match highlighted Crystal Palace's emergence as a competitive force in English football and Liverpool’s continued strength, setting the tone for the upcoming season.
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