Crystal Palace won the Community Shield title by defeating Liverpool on penalties 3-2 (regular time 2-2), on Sunday, at «Wembley Stadium».Liverpool took the lead twice in regular time through Frenchman Ugo Ekitiki (4) and Dutchman Jeremy Frimpong (21), and Palace responded both times through Frenchman Jean-Philippe Mateta (17) and Senegalese Ismaila Sara (77).Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson was the star of the match, specifically in the penalty shootout, where he blocked attempts by Argentine Alexis McAllister and Harvey Elliott, while Egyptian Mohamed Salah shot his kick high.
The Community Shield match annually brings together the English Premier League champion and the Cup champion. Liverpool won its twentieth title in the English Premier League, equaling the record of its neighbor Manchester United last season, while Crystal Palace won the first title in its history by being crowned champion of the FA Cup with a surprise victory over Manchester City 1-0 in the final.Henderson was also the architect of Palace's victory against City in the cup final when he saved a penalty kick by another Egyptian, Omar Marmoush, before his teammate Iberici Eze scored the winning goal for Palace.
Liverpool have signed four new players this summer: Ekiteke, Dutch full-backs Frimpong and Hungarian Milos Kierkez, as well as German playmaker Florian Wirtz. The «Reds» missed its Dutch midfielder Ryan Grafenberg after his wife gave birth on Saturday, while Argentine Alexis McAllister, who was not completely physically ready, participated in the last twenty minutes and missed one of the penalty kicks.On the other hand, Crystal Palace played the match with the same lineup that defeated City in the cup final, led by French striker Mateta, winger Izzy, centre-back and team captain Mark Gehe.
