Liverpool’s Community Shield showdown with Crystal Palace may have ended in penalty heartbreak, but many Reds supporters still found reason to smile — thanks to an eye-catching debut from one of their summer signings.
Arne Slot’s men made a bright start at Wembley on August 10, with newcomer Hugo Ekitike marking the occasion with a well-taken goal past Dean Henderson. Palace hit back through Jean-Philippe Mateta from the spot, but another debutant, Jeremie Frimpong, restored Liverpool’s advantage shortly after.
However, the match took a twist when Ismaila Sarr pounced on a defensive slip from Virgil van Dijk, forcing the game to finish 2-2 after normal time. In the resulting shootout, Palace kept their nerve as Mateta, Sarr, and Justin Devenny all converted, while Liverpool saw Mohamed Salah miss and both Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott denied by Henderson.
Despite the loss, Frimpong’s performance stole the headlines. The Dutch right-back, signed to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold following his move to Real Madrid, showcased not only attacking intent — scoring on his debut — but also solid defensive work.
Fans on social media were quick to react, with one posting, “Such an upgrade!”, and another cheekily writing, “Alexander-Arnold who?”.
If this first impression is anything to go by, Liverpool’s new No.2 might just become a fan favourite before the season even gets into full swing.
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