Liverpool lose Community Shield on penalties as Florian Wirtz debut decision speaks volumes

Crystal Palace came from behind twice and kept their cool in the penalty shoot-out to beat Liverpool in the Community Shield.

After a poignant tribute to Diogo Jota before kick-off, Hugo Ekitike put Liverpool ahead early on with a sharp turn and finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. But Palace were soon level, with Jean-Philippe Mateta coolly slotting in a penalty after Virgil van Dijk tripped Ismaila Sarr in the box.

Jeremie Frimpong then restored the Reds' lead when his stabbed cross went over Dean Henderson and into the far corner. Alisson kept out shots from Chris Richards and Eberechi Eze as Palace searched for a second equaliser.

Their deserved leveller came when Cody Gakpo was muscled off the ball and Adam Wharton sent Sarr through to beat Alisson one-on-one in the 77th minute. Mohamed Salah blasted a great chance straight at Henderson as the match went to penalties at a sun-soaked Wembley.

Salah blasted his spot-kick over the bar and Alexis Mac Allister saw his saved by Henderson before Alisson kept Eberechi Eze's. But another save by Henderson from Harvey Elliott swung it back in Palace's favour and they claimed the season-opener as 21-year-old substitute Justin Devenny smashed in the winning penalty.

READ MORE: Hugo Ekitike sends clear Alexander Isak transfer message after first Liverpool goal

READ MORE: Liverpool receive unlikely Alexander Isak boost as manager makes telling transfer decision

1. Wirtz given the keys

When a team forks out £116million for a player, you assume they will immediately become a key part of the side. And after glimpses of excitement throughout pre-season here was confirmation that Florian Wirtz will be given free reign in the Liverpool side.

"I think I'm a player who needs freedom on the pitch, and the manager gives it to me,” Wirtz said earlier this week. “Of course, I have to respect the position I’m in and the players around me, but I try to give my best on the pitch and find the right places, and I have the freedom for this here."

The 22-year-old put that philosophy into practice at Wembley, gliding around the pitch to find space, link play and cause Palace problems. It was from his pass that Ekitike opened the scoring and there were many other instances of a relationship developing between Liverpool's two most expensive summer signings.

2. Palace's predicament

While Liverpool's starting line-up boasted four new signings in the form of Wirtz, Ekitike, Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, Palace's had an extremely familiar feeling. Oliver Glasner's side have not been busy in the market, signing just two players for a grand total of £3m and are in a difficult position.

Their two star players, Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze, both started at Wembley, but their futures at the club remain unclear. Guehi has less than a year left on his deal and has been targeted by Liverpool, while Eze remains a transfer target for Arsenal.

There was a reminder of their other issue, with fans protesting against UEFA's decision to demote them from the Europa League to the Conference League. With Palace waiting on the Court of Arbitration for Sport, there is still a lot of dust left to settle.

3. Liverpool's new full-backs

For the best part of eight years, Liverpool fans have got used to seeing Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson operating down the flanks. But with Alexander-Arnold having departed for Real Madrid and Robertson not the player he once was, this was a first look at a new full-back pairing.

Frimpong and Kerkez have arrived this summer and showed why Slot was keen to sign them. The former Bayer Leverkusen star scored with a cross and bombed up and down the right side, while Kerkez frequently looked to get forward - at times leaving a huge space for Palace to exploit when the ball was turned over.

As Jamie Carragher noted on X: "LFC looking great going forward but susceptible defensively, as we’ve seen all pre season. A lot of the goals conceded by LFC have come from going man to man really aggressively & leaving space in behind. Today Kerkez is getting dragged inside with Sarr leaving Gakpo chasing WB."

While Alexander-Arnold's passing ability can't be replicated, Frimpong's speed and engine is a major asset, while Kerkez has similar characteristics to Robertson, who was on the bench on Sunday.

4. Wharton vs Jones

With Ryan Gravenberch sitting the match out after becoming a father and with Alexis Mac Allister not arriving on the pitch until the 71st minute, Curtis Jones was given a chance to impress in a deep-lying midfield role for Liverpool.

The England midfielder was exemplary and tidy, completing all 53 of his passes, but it was Adam Wharton who caught the eye in the middle of the pitch, growing into the game in the second half. The classy left-footer dictated play for Palace, knitting together attacks and probing before sending Sarr through to make it 2-2. Having been hyped for a long time, could this be the season he explodes?

5. New forward needed

It may sound strange for a club that has spent around £300m this summer, but Liverpool still need another forward this summer. Having sold Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, and tragically lost Jota, the Reds look short of depth up front.

Federico Chiesa is slated to leave and didn't make it off the bench at Wembley and Liverpool lacked a focal point when Ekitike was withdrawn. The prospect of Alexander Isak arriving before the window closes on September 1 should terrify Liverpool's rivals and would complete a brilliant summer of business.

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