Match reportLiverpool beaten on penalties by Crystal Palace in 2025 Community Shield

Hugo Ekitike gave the Premier League champions an early lead, which was cancelled out by Jean-Philippe Mateta’s 17th-minute spot-kick.

A cross-turned-shot from Jeremie Frimpong put Arne Slot’s Reds ahead again, though they were pegged back in the second half by Ismaila Sarr to leave the curtain-raiser 2-2 at the end of 90 minutes.

It would ultimately be decided through a shootout, where the holders of the Emirates FA Cup prevailed 3-2.

Team

Four summer signings – Ekitike, Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez – made their competitive debuts from the start, while Alisson Becker returned after sitting out the final two games of pre-season.

Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez (Robertson, 87), Wirtz (Elliott, 87), Szoboszlai, Salah, Jones (Endo, 71), Gakpo, Ekitike (Mac Allister, 71), Frimpong.

Unused subs: Mamardashvili, Chiesa, Nyoni, Doak, Ngumoha.

First half

Liverpool started as they meant to go on as Ekitike delivered a brilliant opener inside four minutes.

After a one-two with Wirtz, the No.22 spun on the edge of the box and slotted into the far corner of Dean Henderson’s net with a powerful side-foot.

But that lead only lasted 13 minutes before Mateta dispatched his effort from 12 yards out, awarded for Virgil van Dijk tripping Sarr inside the area. Moments before the equaliser, Alisson had successfully thwarted the goalscorer in a one-on-one.

Frimpong soon restored the Reds’ advantage, however. Receiving a switch from Dominik Szoboszlai and then racing past Tyrick Mitchell, the full-back intended to pick out those of his teammates in a threatening area, only to slice the delivery and watch it drift over Henderson.

Poignantly, the goal clocked in at 20 minutes and 20 seconds, according to Opta, just as the travelling Kop were paying tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva.

Sarr was unable to get on the end of Daniel Munoz’s centre in the last real scoring opportunity of an entertaining first half.

Second half

Two good chances presented themselves to Ekitike soon after the restart, but he was off target with a close-range nod and then a bending finish.

At the other end, Alisson was called into action to keep out a header from Chris Richards and Eberechi Eze’s low shot.

But the goalkeeper was unable to stop Sarr from drawing Palace level again, the No.7’s finish from Adam Wharton’s through ball going in via a kiss off the post.

As spot-kicks now beckoned, Mohamed Salah fired straight at Henderson and Mateta blazed over before substitute Justin Devenny dragged just wide for the Eagles.

Penalties

Liverpool, through Salah and Alexis Mac Allister, were unsuccessful with their first two attempts, though Alisson did save from Eze to restrict Palace’s lead to just one.

Cody Gakpo scored but so did Sarr, as Harvey Elliott was then denied by Henderson.

Borna Sosa striking the crossbar and Szoboszlai converting only provided a brief reprieve for the Reds, with Devenny netting the decisive effort.