Liverpool Crash for Community Shield: Crystal Palace Win 2-2 (3-2 on Penalties)
Na pure heartbreak for Liverpool fans as dem team lose the 2025 FA Community Shield to Crystal Palace for Wembley Stadium on August 10, 2025.
The match end 2-2 after normal time, but Palace win 3-2 for penalty shootout, carry the first trophy of the season.
This na Arne Slot first big test as Liverpool coach, and e show say the road to success no go easy with all the new players wey dem sign.
This 700-word match report go yarn the key moments for pidgin, so you fit feel the game as e happen, with all the drama and lessons wey follow am.
First Half: Liverpool Start Strong, But Palace No Shake
From the whistle, The reds come out like say dem wan scatter everything. Hugo Ekitike, one of the new boys wey dem spend big money to sign, score sharp for 4th minute.
Na fine goal—e collect pass from Florian Wirtz, dribble one Palace defender, and fire the ball past Dean Henderson.
Liverpool fans for Wembley dey shout like say dem don win already. By 21st minute, another new signing, Jeremie Frimpong, add second goal.
Na proper wing-back run, as e overlap, collect pass from Mohamed Salah, and slot low shot wey enter net. Everybody think say Liverpool go just waka pass Palace.
But Crystal Palace no be small team. For 17th minute, dem get penalty after Virgil van Dijk foul Jean-Philippe Mateta inside box. Referee no waste time, point to the spot, and Mateta blast the ball past Alisson Becker to make am 2-1.
That goal wake Palace up, and dem start to press Liverpool, especially for midfield where Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones no fit hold ground well.
Fans for X dey yarn say Liverpool midfield dey leak pass basket, and Palace use that chance to control ball small-small. Half-time come, Liverpool still dey lead 2-1, but things no too tight.
Second Half: Palace Equalize, Liverpool Struggle
Second half na where wahala start proper. Crystal Palace come back with serious ginger, and their wingers, Ismaïla Sarr and Eberechi Eze, dey give Liverpool defense tough time. Arne Slot high defensive line no work well, as Palace dey send long balls to Mateta wey dey run like say dem dey pursue am.
For 77th minute, the equalizer land. Sarr collect one sweet through ball from Adam Wharton, beat Van Dijk for pace, and slot the ball past Alisson to make am 2-2. Wembley erupt as Palace fans dey sing, while Liverpool supporters dey hold head.
Liverpool try to fight back, but their attack no click. Salah, wey suppose be star man, no get him groove—e miss two clear chances and dey misplace pass anyhow. Cody Gakpo for left wing sef no help matter, as e no fit connect with Ekitike or Wirtz.
Fans for X dey vex, talk say Salah and Gakpo play like say dem no sabi ball again. Van Dijk, wey be defensive rock, make mistake wey lead to Sarr goal. The game drag to full time with no winner, so na penalty shootout go settle am.
Penalty Shootout: Salah, Mac Allister, and Elliott Fumble
Na for penalty shootout the real gobe happen. Palace score their first penalty as Mateta no waste time score for Palace. Salah send him effort go sky as pressure mount Liverpool.
Eze and Borna Sosa miss their penalty kicks for Crystal palace while Dean Henderson turn Hero save Mac Allister and Harvey Elliot penalty kicks.
Justin Devenny maintain composure under pressure score him kick to win the penalty shootout for Crystal Palace.
Wembley scatter as Palace lift the Community Shield, while Liverpool players waka comot pitch with head down. X posts dey call out Salah sky-high miss and Henderson saves as the moments wey kill Liverpool.
Wetin We Learn: New Squad, Old Problems
This match show say Liverpool new signings—Ekitike, Wirtz, Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez—get talent, but dem never gel. Midfield na big issue, as Szoboszlai and Jones no fit shield defense like proper No. 6.
Slot high-line tactics need time to settle, and e clear say Salah, Mac Allister, and Elliott no bring their A-game for the shootout.
Fans for X dey complain say Liverpool spend big money, but dem still dey play like team wey no know each other.
Way Forward: No Panic, But Work Dey
Community Shield na friendly, but e show where Liverpool need to fix. Slot go need work on midfield balance, maybe find one strong defensive midfielder.
Salah, Mac Allister, and Elliott need to sharpen their finishing and composure. The new boys need time to understand the system. With Premier League wey go soon start, Liverpool get chance to correct these mistakes. Dem get depth and quality, so if dem fit build chemistry, dem go dey dangerous. For now, na lesson wey dem learn the hard way.