Community Shield: Why Liverpool’s Loss to Crystal Palace Could Be a Blessing for 2025/26 EPL
- FA Cup winners Crystal Palace fought back twice to shock Liverpool in the Community Shield at Wembley
- The loss might turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the Reds and a warning sign for 2025/26 Premier League hopefuls like Chelsea and others
- YEN.com.gh breaks down the data to show why lifting the trophy at Wembley doesn’t always translate into Premier League glory
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Crystal Palace etched their name into English football history on Sunday, August 10, claiming the Community Shield for the very first time.
In a thrilling contest that ended 2-2 after 90 minutes, the Eagles triumphed 3-2 in a tense penalty shootout against Liverpool.
Source: Getty Images
Crystal Palace stun Liverpool to win Community Shield
Twice, Palace found themselves behind, but each time they clawed their way back.
The first equaliser came from Jean-Philippe Mateta, and the second from Ismaila Sarr, ensuring the contest went the distance.
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When it mattered most, Dean Henderson stood tall. The Palace goalkeeper denied both Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott from the spot, while Mohamed Salah fired his penalty over the bar.
Liverpool’s Alisson Becker kept his side in it with a save from Eberechi Eze, and Borna Sosa rattled the crossbar, but the Eagles held their nerve to seal the win.
Ekitike, others shine despite loss
For Liverpool, new signings Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong had marked their debuts with goals during regular time, but the shootout belonged to Palace.
Despite the defeat, Slot has reasons to be encouraged. His summer signings already look at home, with Ekitike arguably the standout performer.
There’s also the possibility of adding Newcastle striker Alexander Isak to the mix.
Isak enjoyed a stellar season for the Magpies, delivering 31 goal contributions (27 goals and six assists) in 42 appearances across all competitions, according to Transfermarkt.
Combined with last season’s league-leading 86 goals, Liverpool’s attacking potential could be frightening.
Liverpool's leaky defence
For all the promise up front, defensive concerns linger. Liverpool conceded seven times in five pre-season games. Add the two goals from the Palace match, and the tally climbs to nine in six outings.
If Arne Slot can shore up the back line, the club’s Premier League title defence may still be very much alive, even if the Community Shield is heading to South London for the first time.
Why Liverpool’s loss to Crystal Palace could be a blessing
For Liverpool fans and sympathisers worried about their title defence, history offers a curious comfort.
Winning the Community Shield has rarely translated into Premier League glory.
In fact, only one of the last 14 Shield winners, Manchester City in the 2018-19 season, went on to lift the league trophy.
Before them, Manchester United achieved the double in 2011, according to the BBC.
If the statistics are anything to go by, losing at Wembley might not be the bad omen it appears to be and could be a warning sign for 2025/26 Premier League hopefuls like Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, and others.
Source: Getty Images
Liverpool coach Arne Slot reacts to defeat
After the match, Liverpool boss Arne Slot admitted his emotions were conflicted.
“It’s mixed feelings. If you look at our attacking play against a team that is so compact, it is a bit better than last season," he said, as quoted by The Athletic.
"We created more against a team that is so compact. We conceded two goals and this is something we need to do better. A good team goal for the first one.
"It’s an example of where we are more creative and the combinations are sharper. We are creating more, but we are conceding more, and if you want to win the league, you can’t concede chances first but also goals.”
Liverpool's Salah names African GOATs
YEN.com.gh earlier reported that Mohamed Salah named himself alongside three others as the greatest footballers in Africa’s history.
Among his picks is the only African to have ever won the Ballon d’Or, but notably, no Ghanaian made the list.
Source: YEN.com.gh
