Crystal Palace Wins First Community Shield Beating Liverpool on Penalties at Wembley

Crystal Palace secured their first-ever Community Shield by defeating Premier League champions Liverpool 3-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Wembley Stadium, marking a landmark victory under manager Oliver Glasner. Liverpool took an early lead with goals from new signings Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong, while Palace responded through Jean-Philippe Mateta's penalty and Ismaila Sarr's late equalizer to force a shootout. Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson was pivotal, saving two penalties, including attempts from Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott, while Liverpool star Mohamed Salah missed his kick. Young Palace midfielder Justin Devenny, who came on late due to a teammate's cramp, scored the winning penalty, underscoring Palace's resilience against Liverpool's expensive summer signings. The match was held under somber circumstances with tributes to the late Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, whose number 20 shirt was retired by the club. Palace's victory highlights their ability to triumph through grit and teamwork despite a less lavish squad compared to Liverpool's record-breaking investment in new players.