Crystal Palace beat Liverpool on penalty kicks to win a thoroughly entertaining FA Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.
It is the first time in Palace’s history that they’ve won the trophy.
Liverpool took the lead twice in the first half through new signings Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong either side of Jean-Philippe Mateta’s penalty kick.
But Liverpool failed to build on that lead and Ismaila Sarr scored a deserved equalizer late in the second half as Palace took the game to penalty kicks. Youngster Justin Devenny was the hero as he scored the winning penalty kick after Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson made two stops, and Mohamed Salah blasted over, in the shootout.
This trophy is just the second in Palace’s history and comes straight after their FA Cup win at Wembley against Manchester City in May. Now all of their focus is on their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) about which UEFA competition they will compete in this season after being demoted from the Europa League to Conference League.
For now Palace’s fans are in dreamland once again as Oliver Glasner’s side were good value for this victory. Liverpool boss Arne Slot will have been happy with most of what he saw but the reigning Premier League champions did look a little shaky defensively and the rest of the team is getting used to how their new full backs operate and trying to get the ball to Florian Wirtz, Mohamed Salah and Ekitike as much as possible.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool score: 2-2 (3-2 on PKs)
Mateta 17', Sarr 77'; Ekitike 4', Frimpong 21'
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool live updates!
Penalty shootout to decide the winner!
The game finishes level and we are now going to penalty kicks to decide the winner of the FA Community Shield...
Mohamed Salah blasts his penalty kick way over, then Mateta slots home again. Then Dean Henderson denies Mac Allister with a brilliant save. But then Alisson denies Eberechi Eze. Then Cody Gakpo scores to make it 1-1 but Ismaila Sarr makes it 2-1 to Palace from three penalties each. Henderson then denies Harvey Elliott’s penalty kick and Borna Sosa can win it for Palace... but he hits the crossbar! Drama continues. Szoboszlai scores to make it 2-2. If Palace score their final penalty they win and youngster Justin Devenny steps up... and he smashes home a beauty. Palace have won the Community Shield!
Crystal Palace win the Community Shield on penalties! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NE6PAUixH8
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 10, 2025
Devenny nearly wins it!
Justin Devenny has only just come on and the youngster drags an effort inches wide. Palace thought they had won it right at the end!
Salah denied by Henderson!
A cross finds Salah but he smashes his shot straight at Henderson. Big chance late on.
Kerkez blocks Sarr’s effort, but Mac Allister looked to have handled just before
As a ball is clipped in to Sarr and the ball clearly touches the hand of Mac Allister before Kerkez blocks superbly. VAR has a look at the handball but no penalty is given. That is a bit of a surprise.
Sarr finishes superbly!
Van Dijk steps out at the wrong time and a clever pass from Wharton finds Ismaila Sarr and he keeps his calm and finishes well. 2-2 with just over 12 minutes to go!
Ismaïla Sarr with the equalizer! 👊
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 10, 2025
📺: Crystal Palace 🆚 Liverpool live on Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/7AarLRzB0m
Mac Allister, Endo on
The duo of Mac Allister and Endo are on for Ekitike and Jones. It looks like both Szoboszlai and means Wirtz will be pushing slightly further forward.
Wirtz should hit the target
Florian Wirtz is found in so much space on the edge of the box and he turns but then rushes his shot and gets it all wrong as he blasts way over the bar. He had more time than he realized.
Eze denied by Alisson as Palace push hard for an equalizer
Palace are pushing really hard to make it 2-2 and Alisson does well to get a strong hand on Eze’s effort.
Sarr so close to heading home at the back post!
A brilliant cross is whipped in and Mateta gets a slight touch on it, then Sarr flies in at the back post but can’t get enough on it.
Ekitike heads wide when he should score, then smashes over
Lovely cross from Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike heads wide from close range. It looked like he was offside, but that was still a big miss. Moments later Ekitike then fires a good chance way over.
Palace are growing into this game
Liverpool have looked a little shaky defensively on the counter and Munoz’s cross causes panic and it ends with Hughes smashing over. Munoz then crosses for Sarr but he can’t stay on his feet to convert. Palace are playing really well.
Kamada is off injured and Hughes comes on
Disappointing moment for Palace as Japanese midfielder Kamada, who has really grown into his central midfield role, comes off with an injury. Will Hughes is on.
Jeremie Frimpong’s cross floats in! Liverpool retake the lead
New Liverpool right back Frimpong clips in a cross to the back post and it goes straight in. What a bizarre goal! It also came in the 20th minute, just as Liverpool fans were paying an emotional tribute to Diogo Jota.
Jeremie Frimpong’s turn to score a goal! 👀
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 10, 2025
What a start in this match. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/uvOIDl8BOl
Alisson denies Mateta, then Palace win a penalty kick and Mateta equalizes!
Mateta is clean through but Alisson does really well to come off his line and stop him. Ismaila Sarr then dribbles into the box and his touch takes it past Virgil van Dijk who catches him. Van Dijk doesn’t like it, but that is a penalty. Mateta slots home. 1-1.
The penalty is good for Jean-Philippe Mateta! ✅ pic.twitter.com/bLBD9yi0PK
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 10, 2025
PENALTY TO @CPFC 😮
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) August 10, 2025
A massive chance for Jean-Philippe Mateta ends in the referee pointing to the spot!
📺 Watch the #CommunityShield live on @footballontnt and @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/DjyOPemKgs
Could be 2-0 to Liverpool!
Lovely play from Ekitike and Salah and a cross is flicked on but Gakpo is denied by Henderson at the back post. The offside flag was up though.
Superb goal from Hugo Ekitike as Liverpool grab an early lead!
Brilliant goal from Liverpool’s new striker. Wirtz finds him on the edge of the box and Ekitike turns and slots home smoothly. Liverpool’s fans go wild at Wembley!
Hugo Ekitike opens the scoring in the Community Shield 🤩
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 10, 2025
Watch Crystal Palace vs. Liverpool LIVE on Sportsnet 📺 pic.twitter.com/ftg7A9qCw7
Crystal Palace lineup
Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Eze, Sarr; Mateta
Liverpool lineup
Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Jones, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
Crystal Palace team news, focus
Long-term absentees Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure remain out, while Crystal Palace are also without Eddie Nketiah who has suffered a hamstring injury. Oliver Glasner has called for some additions to be made but given the change in ownership dragging on and the uncertainty over which European competition they will play in, there hasn’t been much movement in Palace’s squad this summer. Eze, Guehi, Mateta, Henderson and Wharton are the spine of the team and that remains intact, while the likes of Munoz and Kamada will look to build on a superb end to last season.
Liverpool team news, focus
There are very few injury concerns for Liverpool as they lined up the quartet of Mohamed Salah, Wirtz, Ekitike and Cody Gakpo from the start against Athletic Bilbao at Anfield on Monday. Slot is trying to get the balance right so he can put as much attacking talent on the pitch as possible at the same time. Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez are struggling with injury, while Virgil van Dijk missed the games against Bilbao due to illness and goalkeeper Alisson returned to Brazil for private reasons.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool prediction
This is always a funny game to predict but it feels like Liverpool will lay down a marker for the levels they’re going to try and reach this season. Given the uncertain offseason Palace have had, they’ll be competitive but it feels like they’ve stood still. Crystal Palace 1-3 Liverpool.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool preview
FA Cup holders Palace will be eager to win even more silverware as Oliver Glasner’s side have had a disrupted summer following their heroic defeat of Manchester City in the FA Cup final at the end of last season. Palace have been demoted from the UEFA Europa League to the Conference League due to rules regarding multi-club ownership but they’ve appealed that decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and will find out the verdict soon. American billionaire Woody Johnson has agreed to buy the majority stake in the club from fellow American John Textor whose Eagles Football group are at the center of the dispute over Palace’s demotion to the Conference League. On the pitch they’ve managed to keep hold of key players Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze for now.
Liverpool continue to mourn the loss of Diogo Jota after his tragic death in a car accident in Spain over the summer. On the pitch, Arne Slot has added plenty of new players this summer with Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong all arriving to boost his squad. Luis Diaz has left and Darwin Nunez appears to be on the way out too to help offset some of the huge spending, while Alexander Isak is also a target for Liverpool. It’s clear the Reds aim to make the most of their title win last season and are now focused on winning the Champions League, and everything else, too.
How to watch Crystal Palace vs Liverpool live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Sunday (August 10)
Venue: Wembley Stadium — London
TV Channel/Streaming: ESPN+
