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Alisson Becker of Liverpool interacts with his team-mate Milos Kerkez during the 2025 FA Community Shield match against Crystal Palace on August 10 2025(Image: Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

Liverpool finished their preparations for the new Premier League season with Community Shield defeat against FA Cup winners Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.

The Reds twice ahead through new signings Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong but were subsequently pegged back by equalisers from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr.

Mohamed Salah, Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott then all failed from the spot during a dreadful, low-quality penalty shoot-out to help Palace to a 3-2 success.

But there was plenty that went unnoticed or under the radar during the 90 minutes at Wembley...

READ MORE:Liverpool sent Marc Guehi transfer reminder as Florian Wirtz left visibly unhappyREAD MORE:Steve Parish makes major Marc Guehi exit claim after Liverpool transfer interest - 'No doubt'

Cursing Kerkez

The Community Shield has forever been the runt of the domestic trophy litter.

But that doesn't mean the two teams involved are quite happy to phone in their performances.

Indeed, the disappointment at the loss was a bit too much for Milos Kerkez, who was spotted in the tunnel angrily removing his runners-up medal while signalling his four-letter potty-mouthed frustration at nobody in particular.

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A bit later, Mohamed Salah declined the invitation of a brief chat with the gathered journalists.

Well, the team bus at any rate.

Hugo tune not boss

By scoring after only four minutes, Ekitike didn't take long to win over the Liverpool supporters.

And that was clear from the chants that rained down from the travelling Kop.

The repurposing of Darwin Nunez's chant to celebrate the Frenchman may have been a bit lazy, but it was certainly better than the efforts to be original.

Singing his name to the tune of "Do the Conga" is something nobody ever needs to hear ever again, thanks.

Wirtz going on?

Referee Chris Kavanagh bemused the Liverpool support throughout the game by showing a reluctance to penalise Palace while readily awarding the Londoners free-kicks.

And there was a moment in the second half when, after the concession of yet another foul, Florian Wirtz gave the ball a frustrating slight boot and was promptly booked for kicking it away.

The response on the touchline of Reds boss Arne Slot, head in his hands at sheer disbelief and anger at the decision, encapsulated what at least half of Wembley was thinking at that moment.

Marc of respect

In case you haven't noticed, Liverpool have been rather busy in the summer transfer window.

But plenty believe they shouldn't be finished yet, with a striker and a centre-back top of the agenda.

It led to an amusing moment before kick-off when Slot shared an extremely firm and friendly handshake with Palace skipper Marc Guehi, who has been linked with a move to Anfield for several months.

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In the background, the greeting was evidently spotted by Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, whose eyes told the story somewhat.