Liverpool started strongly with two new signings scoring but wound up losing the Community Shield on penalties, with Crystal Palace 3-2 shootout victors.
Liverpool 2-2 Crystal Palace (2-3 pens)
Community Shield | Wembley
August 10, 2025
Goals
Ekitike 4′ (assist: Wirtz)
Mateta pen 17′
Frimpong 21′ (assist: Szoboszlai)
Sarr 77′
Penalties
Liverpool
Salah – MISSED
Mac Allister – SAVED
Gakpo – SCORED
Elliott – SAVED
Szoboszlai – SCORED
Mateta – SCORED
Eze – SAVED
Sarr – SCORED
Sosa – MISSED
Devenny – SCORED
Team news
No surprise given the changes over the summer, Arne Slot named a new-look side at Wembley, with Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike all starting.
Alisson returned to the side at the expense of Giorgi Mamardashvili while Curtis Jones was entrusted in the deep-lying role with Ryan Gravenberch out following the birth of his daughter.
Kostas Tsimikas was among those to miss out, with the left-back attracting growing interest.
First half
It took under four minutes for two of Liverpool’s new faces to combine for the opener, with Ekitike and Wirtz exchanging passes before the striker cut across the box and fired in for 1-0.
Palace were level soon after, with Virgil van Dijk bringing Ismaila Sarr down in the box and, following a VAR check, striker Jean-Philippe Mateta fired in the penalty.
Liverpool restored their lead in unlikely circumstances while their fans were applauding the late Diogo Jota in the 20th minute, with Frimpong overlapping on the right and seeing his cross curve over Dean Henderson and straight in.
There were hallmarks of Slot’s first season throughout a largely dominant first half, but with more pace out wide, more presence up front and Dominik Szoboszlai a notable upgrade in his long-range passing from deep.
The Reds led the first half’s possession with 65 percent, with Wirtz creating more chances than any other player (three).
Half-time: Liverpool 2-1 Crystal Palace
Second half
Liverpool kept things up after the break and both Wirtz and Ekitike were the key threats, again involved in a bright move early on in the second half which ended with the striker hitting a left-footed effort over.
Palace winger Sarr had a big opportunity to equalise just before the hour mark but could not get enough on a header after Mateta flicked on Marc Guehi’s lofted ball.
Alexis Mac Allister was introduced with 20 minutes to play as his workload continues to build, which is particularly valuable given Gravenberch is suspended for the Premier League opener.
Sarr got his goal after Cody Gakpo was harshly robbed in the middle of the park and Van Dijk stepped out of his defensive line to allow the winger space to pick up the pass and blast home for 2-2.
Harvey Elliott was an interesting choice to replace Wirtz late on given the uncertainty over his future, but the young midfielder tried to push Liverpool on as they sought a late winner.
That winner did not come though and the tie went straight to penalties, with the champions losing the shootout 3-2.
TIA Man of the Match: Hugo Ekitike
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Liverpool: Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez (Robertson 84′); Jones (Endo 69′), Szoboszlai, Wirtz (Elliott 83′); Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike (Mac Allister 69′)
Subs not used: Mamardashvili, Nyoni, Doak, Chiesa, Ngumoha
Crystal Palace: Henderson; Richards, Guehi (Devenny 90+4′), Lacroix; Munoz, Wharton (Lerma 84′), Kamada (Hughes 29′), Mitchell (Sosa 79′); Eze, Sarr, Mateta
Subs not used: Benitez, Clyne, Esse, Edouard, Cardines
Next match: Bournemouth (H) – Premier League – Friday, August 15, 8pm (BST)
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