CRYSTAL Palace started the new season with a suddenly familiar feeling, basking in trophy glory as triumphant underdogs at Wembley.
The FA Cup holders beat Premier League champions Liverpool 3-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw to win an enthralling Community Shield on Sunday.
Goalkeeper Dean Henderson was the shootout hero for Palace as he saved from Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott, while Mohamed Salah sent his kick over the bar.
It allowed 21-year-old midfielder Justin Devenny, sent on as a stoppage-time substitute, to smash the winning penalty past Alisson.
Palace, who had not won a major trophy in their history until this year, have now earned two in three months at Wembley, having snatched the first at Manchester City’s expense.
They are also the first club to win the Community Shield on their debut in the match for 50 years, since Derby County in 1975.
Spot-kicks provided a thrilling conclusion to one of the most exciting season openers in years, in which the drama started in just the fourth minute.
Four of Liverpool’s five major summer signings started, and two of those players combined to brilliant effect in the early moments at sun-drenched Wembley.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool’s £116m record signing, fed Hugo Ekitike on the edge of the box and the French striker turned and struck a low right-foot shot into the far bottom right corner, beyond the diving Henderson.
Palace were undaunted and deservedly equalised 13 minutes later when Jean-Philippe Mateta slotted in from the spot after Virgil van Dijk fouled Ismaila Sarr. Mateta would also score in the shootout later.
But soon after, yet another Liverpool newcomer stepped up as right-back Jeremie Frimpong jinked into the Palace box and chipped what looked like a cross over Henderson, the ball hitting the far post and bouncing in.
Moments earlier, Liverpool’s supporters had been paying a 20th-minute tribute to Diogo Jota, the forward who wore the number 20 shirt for the club before his tragic death in a car crash last month.
Ekitike should have extended the Reds’ advantage in the opening minute of the second half but guided a header wide from inside the six-yard box. The new signing from Eintracht Frankfurt also blazed over from 12 yards.
Liverpool were made to pay when Ismaila Sarr was played onside by Frimpong and finished clinically in off the post.
Palace felt they should then have had a penalty when Mac Allister appeared to handle a cross, but the on-field decision was upheld by the video assistant referee (VAR), before Devenny was inches away from scoring the winner in the final seconds.
However, Palace’s Northern Ireland midfielder would soon have his moment in the sun.
A big moment is coming for Palace on Monday, when they will discover from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) whether their appeal against demotion from the Europa League has been successful.
But there was no evidence of the ‘Sunday scaries’ – that dread of what lies in wait on Monday – for the Eagles.