Glad all over again. For the second time in a summer, Crystal Palace came to Wembley, fearlessly took on one of the superpowers and made off with silverware, aided by Dean Henderson’s excellence at saving penalties. It was not even the best day of their 2025, given their FA Cup triumph over Manchester City, but, if they are consigned to the Conference League by Uefa, European football’s governing body may note that Oliver Glasner’s trophy-gathering habit might mean they win it.
As they claimed their latest prize, Palace supplied a reminder that money cannot buy everything. A side shorn of signings in their starting XI beat one furnished with four expensive arrivals. For a while it seemed as though Hugo Ekitike would be the match-winner on his competitive Liverpool debut, then that Jeremie Frimpong would. Instead, the decisive kick of the ball came from the unheralded Justin Devenny. Formerly of Airdrie, perhaps only sent on because Marc Guehi had cramp, the Northern Ireland international midfielder almost delivered a 95th-minute winner, then converted the winning penalty in the shootout.
