Crystal Palace stunned Premier League champions Liverpool to lift the Community Shield for the first time in their history, prevailing 3-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in normal time at Wembley.
Dean Henderson emerged as the Eagles’ hero, producing two decisive saves in the shootout from Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott, while Mohamed Salah fired over the bar. The decisive moment came when substitute Justin Devenny lashed an unstoppable penalty into the roof of Alisson Becker’s net, sealing a famous win for the FA Cup holders.
Liverpool, featuring four debutants, made a blistering start. Hugo Ekitike, one of the summer’s marquee signings, finished clinically into the bottom right corner after collecting Florian Wirtz’s pass, capping a sweeping move that involved nine players and lasted just over a minute.
Palace hit back swiftly when Virgil van Dijk brought down Ismaila Sarr in the area, allowing Jean-Philippe Mateta to send Alisson the wrong way from the spot.
The Reds, playing their first competitive match since the death of Diogo Jota, regained the lead through Jeremie Frimpong. His driven cross-shot looped over Henderson in the 21st minute.
Patrick Vieira’s side improved markedly after the interval. Chris Richards and Eberechi Eze were both denied in quick succession by Alisson, but the pressure told when Sarr drilled home a crisp finish with 13 minutes remaining.
The contest moved straight to penalties, with Salah’s miss setting the tone. Henderson’s double save left new arrival Borna Sosa with the chance to win it, only for the Croatian to strike the bar. Devenny then stepped forward to complete the job in emphatic style.
