Weekend Review: Palace’s penalties secure second successive Wembley win

Crystal Palace (4/1) landed a second Wembley win in three months following a dramatic penalty shootout triumph over Liverpool (31/50) in the 2025-26 FA Community Shield. 

Two of the Reds’ new summer signings got on the scoresheet in Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong, while Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaïla Sarr bagged Palace’s goals. 

With nothing to separate the two in 120 minutes, it was the reigning FA Cup champions who prevailed in the traditional season curtain-raiser. 

That upset proved to be beneficial to the operators, with a draw in 90 minutes and Liverpool superstar Mo Salah failing to find the back of the net the top positives.

Bet365’s Steve Freeth said: “We initially feared the worst when Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike combined effectively within the first five minutes, but the game turned in our favour when being decided by penalties and Mo Salah failing to register a goal or an assist.” 

He added that the result has done little to harm Liverpool’s status as Premier League favourites, while Palace have gone up in fan’s estimations, stating: “7/4 Liverpool remain the best backed in the Premier League outright market but our customers have been getting stuck into Crystal Palace after their Community Shield success.  

“The 750/1 became 500/1 after a significant number of wagers on the Eagles to win the title and Jean-Philippe Mateta is into 13/8 from 5/2 to score 15 or more.”

Betfred’s Alan Firkins echoed a similar sentiment, adding: “The 90-minute draw was of course a cracking result, and round one of the impending marathon can be chalked up to the layers.

JUST LOVE THIS LOT#CPFC pic.twitter.com/PvgWP92pdL

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 11, 2025

“Having strengthened their side significantly over the summer (notably Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez) Liverpool remain warm favourites to retain their crown at 15/8, then it’s Arsenal 9/4, City 3/1, Chelsea 9/1, and it’s 25/1 bar the four.”

FDJ United’s Ali Gill added: “It looked like Liverpool’s to lose, especially after taking the lead after four minutes, but it wasn’t to be, and a 2-2 draw in 90 mins was a great result for the book to kick things off.” 

Away from Wembley, English Football League (EFL) action ramped up, as Championship sides began their bid for promotion. 

The opening weekend was not short of surprises, with Coventry held at home to a 0-0 draw against Hull (15/4), though the biggest upset came at Bramall Lane where Sheffield United were hammered by Bristol City (4/1), who ran out 4-1 winners. 

Relegated Southampton required two stoppage time goals to deny Wrexham a Hollywood start to life in the second-tier, too.

Leicester, who were also relegated from the Premier League last season, got away with a 2-1 win against Sheffield on Wednesday, having gone a goal down courtesy of Nathaniel Chalobah.

Midnite’s vice-president of sportsbook Zach Amin said: “Southampton were 5/6 to beat newly promoted Wrexham and delivered for their backers – just about. Having trailed since the 22nd minute, the Saints grabbed three points with goals in the 90th and 96th minute to take three points.”

Freeth added: “The Championship is often considered the most difficult to predict and we were grateful for some short ones in the form of 4/6 Coventry and 7/10 Sheffield United getting chinned on Saturday, and we so nearly got 2/9 bankers Leicester turned over before beating Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday. 

“Southampton hit 66/1 before their frustrating comeback against Wrexham as they joined 8/13 Luton, 23/20 Huddersfield, 8/13 Barnsley and 8/13 Bolton in the third tier and 19/20 Chesterfield and 13/8 MK Dons as the most popular selections in Leagues One and Two, respectively.” 

Gill outlined that outcomes from match-week one in the Championship were positive for FDJ United. 

“A good start in the Championship too as we managed to finish with a fair profit from opening weekend,” he analysed. “Bristol City’s 4-1 demolition of Sheffield Utd was the highlight, while late wins for Leicester and Southampton gave punters something to cheer.” 

night all x pic.twitter.com/X1PyxvdSba

— Bristol City FC (@BristolCity) August 9, 2025

Summing up the EFL, Amin added: “It was great to see the EFL back with a bang, bringing its usual level of chaos and unpredictability. Across the Championship, League One and League Two, there were five red cards and there was a nice big serving of late drama, with no fewer than 12 goals on or after 90 minutes. We love to see it.”

Elsewhere, on the horseracing front, the next major event in the calendar comes in the form of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival, and Firkins has issued a preview of the action, set to start later this month. 

He added: “Racing is ticking over right now in readiness for York’s four-day Ebor Festival, with the likes of Ombudsman (2/1) and Delacroix (6/4) highly likely to do battle in the Juddmonte International.”