Crystal Palace players showed off their winners’ medals after a momentous 2025 FA Community Shield win over Liverpool at Wembley Stadium in London. They captured the first title ever in this competition after a dramatic penalty shootout. The match opened the new English football season with a bang. It finished in a dramatic 2-2 tie after regulation.
Jean-Philippe Mateta opened the scoring for Crystal Palace after converting a penalty kick in the first half. Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk was the foul that caused penalty. At the same time, this seemingly innocuous moment created an atmosphere ripe for a stressful interaction. The hosts equalized just a few minutes later when Hugo Ekitike leveled the score in the 4th minute. In scoring the goal, he was assisted by fellow Liverpool new boy, Florian Wirtz.
Jeremie Frimpong helped Liverpool respond immediately after, scoring to put the Reds up 2-1 in just over 20 minutes of game time. Crystal Palace refused to take no for an answer. They equalized once more with Ismaila Sarr’s howitzer of a goal, taking the match to the most intense of semester-ending penalty shootouts.
Liverpool’s campaign was dealt yet another bitter blow in the penalty shootout. And because you can’t have a shootout without a bomb, Mohamed Salah failed to convert his chance, sending it screaming over the crossbar. Dean Henderson, the Crystal Palace goalkeeper, made crucial saves against Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott, cementing his team’s growing momentum.
The match became more than just a platform for skill exhibition, but provide clearer picture of Liverpool’s daring summer transfer plan. The club spent an estimated £260 million ($350 million) acquiring players such as Ekitike, Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez. With the influx of new talent, Liverpool was expected to be a top-4 threatening team this season. They faced a huge test from a scrappy and stubborn Crystal Palace side.
Crystal Palace’s win is further evidence the tide is turning for football royalty. This victory follows closely on the heels of their dazzling triumph at the FA Cup final against Manchester City last May. This victory in the Community Shield cements Crystal Palace’s growth into one of the most threatening sides around English football.
Liverpool’s players wore a “Forever 20” crest for the game. This introduction of Diogo Jota’s retired shirt number brought an emotional factor to their run. Despite their efforts and new acquisitions, Liverpool faced disappointment as their hopes for silverware were dashed in this season opener.
