WEMBLEY — Sadly for Liverpool’s rivals, the Premier League won’t go to penalties. For those taking comfort from this outcome, seeing in Liverpool’s unlikely Community Shield defeat a reason for optimism, the cold slap of reality surely awaits.
The Reds rolled out their four power signings of the summer as if to say ‘ave that, a £270m statement of filthy intent. And for an hour Crystal Palace mostly ate it. Only Alexander Isak was missing, though he might shed his Newcastle United stripes before the month is out.
In his absence, Hugo Ekitike did his best to persuade Liverpool no further investment was necessary with a goal inside five minutes. To emphasise the quality of the additions, Milos Kerkez began the move from left-back, Florian Wirtz embroidered it with needle-threading finery and Ekitike finished it with lethal force. Oh, and Jeremie Frimpong scored, too, if a little fortuitously.
There was then on this sunny afternoon at Wembley an unmistakable hauteur about Liverpool, the gold shirts on their backs a wholly apt symbol of their ever-rising stock. Liverpool took their place in the Community Shield as champions, of course, a station they reached without challenge in May, and start this campaign as clear favourites to claim a 21st crown.
Ekitike’s big cat instincts mark him out as a danger to any, but the real star of this display was Wirtz, whose mercurial quality makes him impossible to contain. Ignore the rolled-down socks, there is nothing effete or perfunctory about this dream-maker.
Mo Salah misses Liverpool’s opening penalty in the shootout
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 10, 2025
@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/AccQrc0Zoe
He finds space with King Kenny-like intuition yet at a pace Dalglish could never match, and all while barely breaking sweat. Wirtz is the more dangerous for his ability to drift and to drop deep almost unseen. Then, in accordance with the No 7 shirt he wears, he insinuates his way through the gaps leaving a mosaic of failed tackles behind him.
Just as Dalglish did, Wirtz raises the standard of those around him, not only by his creativity but his work ethic. Witness the Herculean shift of Cody Gakpo for one, making tackles in support of Kerkez at left-back and probably playing for his place. Even with the champagne contributions of Wirtz and Ekitike, Gakpo was never less than eye-catching. And to think, if Isak does escape exile to Anfield, Gakpo is likely to be the one parked on the bench.
As the scoreline tells us, Palace, roared on by what felt like the whole of south London, were never out of the contest. Moreover they seemed determined to wring the last drop out of their last Wembley experience, displaying through their own trio of front-rank ballers the super high quality that secured their first trophy in May at Manchester City’s expense.
Though Adam Wharton’s languid patrol was frequently stretched he was ever alert to the quick pass, which was invariably forward and accurate. One such set Jean-Phillipe Mateta free in the move which led to the spot-kick from which the Frenchman levelled in the first half, and then again in the second when Wharton picked out Ismaila Sarr to score off a post.
The third member of Palace’s power triumvirate, Eberechi Eze, overelaborate shootout penalty aside, cruised about the paddock at his pleasure, making you wonder why, with due respect to Palace, he has remained so long at Selhurst Park.
Your next read
Perhaps high on their own artistry, Liverpool never quite got to grips with their opponent’s counters, with skipper Virgil van Dijk the most prominent culprit and for the greater part of the game a slow-moving vehicle. Van Dijk, whose contract extension in the spring was priority No 1 at Anfield, was at fault for both goals, a reminder, perhaps, that even the great teams need all components in sync to prevail.
Mo Salah, that other high-priced renewal, was equally absent, apart from his awful shootout opener. Only Alisson of Jurgen Klopp’s elite guard upheld the necessary standard. But none of that weighed heavily in that first hour when Wirtz had baton in hand, leading a new fab four.
Sport loves a trier, however. Substitute Justin Devenny was a whisker from hitting the winner in added time, sending a shot across Becker’s outstretched arm. When fate called him forward a second time there would be no mistake, Devenny smashing the winning penalty high into the net to complete a remarkable trophy double for the Eagles. High-flying birds indeed.
from Football - The i Paper https://ift.tt/9ftjQGr
Post a Comment