Arne Slot admitted Liverpool’s defence needs to tighten up after Crystal Palace twice came from behind to win the Community Shield 3-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Wembley.
Reds new-boy Hugo Ekitike got his competitive Liverpool career off to a dream start with a fourth-minute opener before Jean-Philippe Mateta’s penalty brought the Eagles level after Virgil van Dijk had felled Ismaila Sarr.
Liverpool regained the lead soon after when Jeremie Frimpong’s cross-shot fooled goalkeeper Dean Henderson, but Oliver Glasner’s side got the reward their improved second-half display deserved when Sarr’s cool 77th-minute finish earned Palace the draw.
With no extra time played in the Community Shield, the game went straight to penalties and Henderson was the hero, saving efforts from Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott as Palace secured their second piece of silverware at Wembley in three months.
No clean sheets in pre-season for Reds
There was plenty to admire from Slot’s new faces, with record signing Florian Wirtz in particular catching the eye with a fine display in midfield.
But Liverpool have failed to keep a clean sheet in their five senior pre-season games, conceding 10 goals in the process, and Slot knows that statistic needs to improve if his team are to mount a serious title defence this season.
He told TNT Sports after the game: “It’s a bit of a mixed feeling. If you look at our attacking play against a team who is so compact, it is maybe a bit better than last season.
“But on the other hand we conceded two goals, which we did against Bilbao and two more against Milan and that’s something we need to do better.
“I think we are able to create more now but we are conceding more at the moment and if you want to compete to win the league, one of the things is not to concede chances, let alone goals.”
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Will Palace sell Marc Guehi?
With Joe Gomez once again struggling for full fitness, Slot can only call upon two senior centre-backs – Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté.
The Dutchman continues to be linked with Palace’s England defender Marc Guehi, whose contract expires at the end of the season.
Liverpool are thought to be unwilling to meet the £40 million asking price for the 24-year-old, but Palace chairman Steve Parish confirmed on Sunday that he would rather sell Guehi this summer, rather than see him depart on a free transfer next year.
He told reporters: “For players of that calibre to leave on a free, it’s a problem. No doubt about it, unfortunately.
“We had one bid last summer but Joachim Andersen went to Fulham and we couldn’t afford to lose both of them.
“We then had another bid in January but that was a difficult situation as well, and the player had a point of view on that one.
“So we just have to see what happens but it needs a new contract or a conclusion of some kind.”
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Shameeka Voyiya 
Newsjustnews writers 
Ren Azrack Escosio