Liverpool Fall to Palace on Penalties Despite Early Leads
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk called the team’s Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace “disappointing” after squandering two leads and eventually losing on penalties at Wembley.
Debut goals from Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong gave Liverpool an early edge, but penalty misses by Mohamed Salah, Alexis Mac Allister, and Harvey Elliott handed Palace a 3-2 shootout win after a 2-2 draw in regulation.
The match marked Liverpool’s first competitive outing since their 2024–25 Premier League title win and served as a key test ahead of their first title defense in over 40 years.
Van Dijk: “Not a Good Start” to the Season
Speaking post-match, Van Dijk admitted the defeat was a setback:
“Obviously today we lost, so that is not a good start. That is the mindset and has always been the mindset for us. It is going to be a very intense season in all competitions, and we have to be ready to show our quality.”
While acknowledging some encouraging signs, Van Dijk emphasized the importance of regrouping ahead of the Premier League opener:
“You want to win this game — it is a final, it is a trophy — and that is the disappointing part of it.”
Positive Debuts for New Signings
Arne Slot handed debuts to four new signings, and three were involved in goals early. Florian Wirtz, the marquee £100 million summer arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, assisted Ekitike for the opening goal in just the fourth minute.
After Palace equalized via a Jean-Philippe Mateta penalty—awarded following a foul by Van Dijk—Frimpong restored Liverpool’s lead with a sharp finish before halftime.
Despite the eventual defeat, Van Dijk praised the impact of the new recruits:
“The players that come in bring quality to the team. All the new boys in my opinion have settled in quite nicely. You have to feel like you are welcome, and I think the boys are feeling just that.”
Liverpool Look to Regroup Before Season Opener
Liverpool begin their Premier League campaign at Anfield against Bournemouth on Friday. Van Dijk stressed the importance of making the most of the final days of preparation:
“There were many good things in this game, but there was a lot of work to do still and we have five more days to get ready for the start of the Premier League.”
With Arne Slot leading a new era and fresh talent integrated into the squad, Liverpool face the pressure of maintaining elite standards. The Community Shield may not affect league standings, but for Van Dijk and his teammates, it served as a crucial early wake-up call.
