Arne Slot’s Liverpool reign began with heartbreak as Crystal Palace claimed the Community Shield on penalties, punishing three costly Reds misses before substitute Justin Devenny buried the decisive spot-kick to seal victory for the FA Cup winners.
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Liverpool’s £300m summer investment seemed set for a dream debut as Hugo Ekitike and Jerome Frimpong found the net, with Florian Wirtz supplying an assist. But Palace battled back, Jean-Philippe Mateta’s penalty and Ismaila Sarr’s late strike forcing the shootout.
In a chaotic finale from 12 yards, Mo Salah ballooned the opening effort, while Dean Henderson denied both Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott. Palace kept their nerve, with Devenny smashing into the top corner to cap a rousing comeback.
Slot’s four marquee signings all started, including ex-Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, while Oliver Glasner stuck with his FA Cup final XI. Liverpool began in style — Wirtz twice feeding Ekitike for a composed low finish inside four minutes — before Palace hit back through Mateta after Virgil van Dijk’s clumsy foul on Sarr.
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Frimpong quickly restored the lead with an intended cross that looped over Henderson, but Palace grew into the game. Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton pulled the strings, with the latter splitting Liverpool’s defence for Sarr to smash home off the post on 77 minutes.
The Londoners even had shouts for a late penalty waved away, and extra-time tension spilled into the shootout — Palace’s composure proving decisive in a fiery Wembley atmosphere.
For Palace, it was another glorious Wembley triumph. For Liverpool, an early reminder that even in the Slot era, winning will take more than star signings.
