Crystal Palace beat Liverpool on penalties to win Community Shield

LONDON – FA Cup winners Crystal Palace beat Premier League champions Liverpool 3-2 on penalties to win the Community Shield after an entertaining 2-2 draw at Wembley on Aug 10.

Substitute Justin Devenny scored the winning spot kick to give Palace the spoils, after Mohamed Salah, Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott missed for the Reds.

New recruit Hugo Ekitike had put Liverpool ahead inside four minutes before Jean-Philippe Mateta levelled from the penalty spot in the 17th for Palace after Virgil van Dijk brought down Ismaila Sarr.

Close-season signing Jeremie Frimpong restored the Reds’ lead, as Liverpool fans marked the death of Portugal forward Diogo Jota with 20 minutes on the clock, sending an attempted cross looping in off the post.

But Palace equalised again with 13 minutes to play, Sarr slotting past onrushing goalkeeper Alisson to send the traditional season curtain-raiser to penalties.

“These emotions are fantastic. We deserved that in the end – the manager said we’d get chances at 2-1 and we did,” said Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

“I love the big moments, I really enjoyed that today. The homework we did for the penalties was great, so thanks to everyone behind the scenes who helped me with that.

“Two trophies in three months: that’s incredible. Let’s fight for the next bit of history.”

Liverpool boss Arne Slot told TNT Sports: “It is disappointing of course, if you go in front and you are not able to win the game. It was close and there were points where I thought we could win it, but it went to penalties and they were better in that moment.”

He added that he has mixed feelings on his new-look side, adding: “If you look at our attacking play, it looks better than last season. On the other hand we conceded two goals, we need to be better defensively.”

Off the pitch, Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez has joined Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal on a three-year deal, both clubs said on Aug 9.

Financial details of the transfer were not disclosed but British media reported that the Saudis paid €53 million (S$79.4 million) plus add-ons that could take the final price tag higher for the 26-year-old.

“Al-Hilal Club Company is pleased to announce the signing of Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez from Liverpool FC on a three-year contract,” the Saudi club said on their website.

“Nunez has just joined the squad during the current pre-season training camp in Germany.”

Nunez joined Liverpool in June 2022 from Portugal’s Benfica for an initial fee of €75 million but he struggled for consistency, with 40 goals and 26 assists in 143 games in all competitions.

The striker found himself on the fringes of the first team during Liverpool’s title-winning campaign last season, starting only eight league matches and netting five times.

His sale would take Liverpool’s income for transfer sales this window to nearly €200 million after the departures of Luis Diaz, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Tyler Morton.

The club’s record signing Florian Wirtz, meanwhile, was named Germany’s Player of the Year, further cementing the attacking midfielder’s status as a rising star.

Wirtz, whose £100 million (S$173 million) transfer fee with add-ons could rise to £116 million in what would be a British record, secured 191 votes among German sports journalists, putting him comfortably ahead of runner-up Michael Olise of Bayern Munich, who garnered 81 votes.

In other news, Salah has criticised European football’s governing body Uefa for posting a tribute to “Palestinian Pele” Suleiman al-Obeid that did not mention the former international died after being hit by Israeli gunfire in the Gaza Strip.

Obeid, 41, was killed on Aug 6 when Israeli forces “targeted people waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip”, the Palestinian Football Association said in a statement.

Uefa posted on X: “Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the ‘Palestinian Pele’. A talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times.”

Salah responded by posting: “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?”

In October 2023, the Egyptian striker called on “world leaders to come together” to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza to “prevent further slaughter of innocent souls”. AFP, REUTERS