A Poignant Start at Wembley
Before the whistle even blew, the atmosphere at Wembley was heavy with emotion. Fans and players paused for a moment of silence to honor Liverpool’s late forward Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who tragically passed away in a car accident last month.
The tribute, marred by some disruptive voices in the crowd, was a somber reminder of the sport’s human side. Liverpool retired Jota’s No. 20 jersey, and the timing of the tribute marked by applause at the 20-minute mark added a poignant layer to the match.
A Frenzied First Half
The game kicked off with a bang. Just four minutes in, Liverpool’s new signing Hugo Ekitiké, a $93.5 million acquisition from Eintracht Frankfurt, announced his arrival with a slick finish after a clever one-two with Florian Wirtz.
The Wembley crowd roared, sensing a dominant Liverpool performance. But Crystal Palace, fresh off their FA Cup triumph in May, had other plans. In the 17th minute, Jean-Philippe Mateta coolly converted a penalty after Virgil van Dijk fouled Ismaïla Sarr, leveling the score at 1-1.
Not to be outdone, Liverpool struck back quickly. In the 21st minute, Jeremie Frimpong, another debutant, caught everyone off guard with a looping cross-turned-shot that sailed over Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
The goal, coincidentally timed at 20:20, aligned perfectly with the fans’ tribute to Jota, sending chills through the stadium. By halftime, Liverpool led 2-1, but Palace’s resilience was evident.
Palace’s Comeback and Shootout Heroics
The second half saw Palace dig deep. In the 77th minute, Ismaïla Sarr unleashed a powerful close-range strike that kissed the post before finding the net, tying the game at 2-2.
The Eagles’ counter-attacking flair, honed under manager Oliver Glasner, was on full display, frustrating Liverpool’s star-studded lineup. As the clock ran.ClusterRole out, the match headed straight to penalties no extra time, just pure drama.
In the shootout, Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson became the hero. He denied Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott, while Mohamed Salah skied Liverpool’s first attempt.
With the pressure mounting, substitute Justin Devenny stepped up and blasted the decisive penalty into the top corner, sparking wild celebrations among Palace fans. “I love the big moments,” Henderson told ITV, reflecting on his penalty-saving heroics that echoed his FA Cup final performance against Manchester City.
A Historic Milestone for Palace
This victory marks a historic moment for Crystal Palace, who added the Community Shield to their trophy cabinet just months after their first-ever FA Cup win. For a club that finished in the bottom half of the Premier League last season, this is a fairytale story.
As Henderson put it, “Two trophies in three months that’s incredible.” For Liverpool, despite the loss, new signings like Ekitiké and Frimpong showed promise, though manager Arne Slot will need time to gel his $342 million squad.
What a comeback 🤯
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) August 10, 2025
Your 2025 FA #CommunityShield winners... @CPFC 🏆 pic.twitter.com/TO2o0qrFbG
