Glasner’s Masterstroke: How Palace Turned Liverpool’s Dream Start Into a Reality Check! | OneFootball

At Wembley, the Community Shield was billed as a first real test for Arne Slot’s seemingly impervious Liverpool – and for 30 minutes, they looked every bit the juggernaut. Wirtz drifted into pockets, Ekitike sliced into channels, and Palace were penned back.

Yet Oliver Glasner, ever the chess player, spotted a flaw and twisted the board. With Muñoz charging unchecked down the right and Kerkez repeatedly exposed, Palace found a route back, turning Liverpool’s control into chaos.

By full-time, they’d not only hauled themselves level but broken the Reds on penalties. Still, amid defeat, Slot’s vision gleamed through the interplay of his new signings – a tantalizing blueprint for what lies ahead.

For Glasner, it was proof that tactical clarity can topple even the brightest early-season aura. Let’s dissect how a seemingly perfect start for Slot soon transitioned into utter dismay as Liverpool’s blueprint met Glasner’s gambit.

Tactical Analysis: Crystal Palace Edge Liverpool in Community Shield Thriller

The Community Shield served up a spectacle at Wembley, with Crystal Palace lifting yet another piece of silverware after a 2-2 draw and penalty shootout win over Liverpool.

The contest offered two distinct tactical narratives: Liverpool’s encouraging attacking innovations through new signings Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, and Oliver Glasner’s in-game adjustments that shifted momentum Palace’s way.

Below, we dissect the key phases and battles that defined the match.

Weathering the Early Liverpool Onslaught

Liverpool’s opening spell was relentless. Arne Slot’s side sought to stretch and disorganize Palace’s back five through intelligent rotations, spearheaded by the fluid movement of Wirtz.

Overloads via Wirtz:

Operating in a free role, Wirtz drifted into half-spaces on both flanks, combining with Milos Kerkez and Cody Gakpo to create local overloads. At times it was Gakpo who dropped deeper; often acting as an auxiliary midfielder perhaps, to make space for Kerkez to push forward. This fluid interchange of positions was a hallmark of their play.

Wirtz’s positioning dragged Crystal Palace defenders-most notably Chris Richards-out of line, opening channels for direct penetration.

Ekitike’s Channel Runs:

The French striker repeatedly targeted the gap between the outside centre-back and wing-back, particularly between Richards and Daniel Muñoz. Ekitike movement exploited Palace’s defensive shape, pulling their back line deeper and creating pockets of space for Liverpool’s midfield to exploit.

The result was Liverpool’s opener; a sequence where Wirtz’s drifting run and Kerkez’s advanced positioning pinned Muñoz back, freeing space for Ekitike to receive a precision pass and finish clinically.

Why Palace Survived

While Liverpool carved out early chances, Palace remained compact in central zones, forcing Slot’s side to operate predominantly in wide areas. By limiting direct central penetration, Glasner’s side kept the deficit manageable and prevented the early storm from turning into a rout.

Wirtz & Ekitike – A Glimpse of Liverpool’s Future Attack

Despite the defeat, Liverpool’s attacking interplay offered plenty of promise.

Wirtz’s influence and his spatial awareness allowed Liverpool to dictate attacking zones. By drifting across the pitch, he repeatedly manipulated Palace’s defensive spacing, creating decision-making dilemmas for defenders. His presence demanded multiple markers, which directly led to space for others-particularly Ekitike.

Ekitike’s Physical & Technical Blend makes him more than just a target man. The French Striker timing in attacking the blindside of defenders was exceptional. His ability to hold up play, turn under pressure, and exploit central space forced Palace into constant readjustments.

The interplay between Kerkez, Wirtz, and Ekitike illustrated Slot’s vision for layered attacking movements: a high, aggressive full-back pins the opposition; the creative playmaker roams to overload; and the forward attacks the channel created. This structure produced fluid, vertical football-suggesting Liverpool’s new-look front line could become a major weapon in the season ahead.

Muñoz – The Constant Right-Sided Threat

While Liverpool dominated early, Palace’s main counterpunch came via Daniel Muñoz’s surging runs down the right.

Kerkez’s was positioned narrow to prevent inside runs from Ismaïla Sarr, Kerkez frequently tucked inside, leaving Muñoz unmarked on the flank. The Hungarian left back positioning gave Palace the ability to circulate possession from left to right created repeated opportunities for Muñoz to attack space. Guehi’s role in initiating switches was crucial, drawing Liverpool’s press to one side before releasing Muñoz into space.

Muñoz’s threat forced Gakpo to track deep, often forming an auxiliary defensive pairing with Kerkez. This blunted Liverpool’s left-sided attacking transitions and allowed Palace’s back line to advance up field. Muñoz’s constant availability not only delivered dangerous crosses but also destabilized Liverpool’s defensive balance, a theme that became decisive later.

Targeting Milos Kerkez – A Persistent Palace Strategy

Oliver Glasner identified a structural vulnerability: Liverpool’s left side because of Kerkez Inexperience in the System. As the left back is still bedding into Liverpool’s defensive framework, Kerkez’s positioning choices created exploitable gaps. When tucked in, Palace exploited the wide space with Muñoz. When stepping out aggressively, the space between him and Virgil van Dijk became a prime target for Sarr.

To protect Kerkez, Gakpo deep tracked, which in turn isolated Liverpool’s forward line and allowed Palace’s midfield to dictate tempo. This calculated targeting wore down Liverpool’s defensive organization and directly influenced the game’s shift in momentum.

Glasner’s In-Game Adaptations – The Turning Point

After Liverpool’s early dominance, Glasner engineered a tactical turnaround.

Phase One: Establishing Possession Control

The double pivot of Kamada (later Hughes) and Adam Wharton became the fulcrum, recycling possession quickly and advancing the ball with incisive forward passes. By drawing Liverpool’s press to one flank before switching, Palace disrupted Slot’s pressing triggers, slowing the Reds’ aggression and allowing Palace to settle.

Phase Two: Exploiting the Flanks

Palace doubled down on attacking Liverpool’s left, giving Muñoz licence to advance while Sarr threatened the inside channel. This forced Gapko into a quasi-wing-back role which reduced Liverpool’s offensive outlet on the left, allowing the Eagles defensive line to push higher.

Phase Three: Targeting the Gap Between Kerkez and Van Dijk

To equalized, Palace targeted the gap between Kerkez and Van Djik. Wharton’s line-splitting pass found Sarr in the exact gap created when Kerkez stepped out to engage Muñoz. Van Dijk’s hesitation compounded the issue, allowing Sarr to receive and drive through to score. From that moment, Palace were in control. They took the game to penalties-where their composure sealed another Wembley triumph.

Final Tactical Takeaways

One of the brightest spots for Liverpool in this game was Wirtz’s roaming creativity and Ekitike’s dynamic movement. This gives Slot a potent attacking combination. When combined with aggressive full-back play, the Reds will be able to dismantle even well-drilled defences.

On the other hand Glasner’s ability to diagnose and exploit structural weaknesses mid-game-particularly the Kerkez flank-was decisive. The combination of targeted wing play, midfield control, and direct passing unlocked Liverpool’s defensive block. This shows how much the Eagles matured tactically under the Austrian manager. Muñoz surges were more than just a wide threat-they shaped Liverpool’s entire left-sided structure, indirectly limiting their offensive rhythm.

An Exciting Tactical Battle To Start the Season

By the final whistle, Wembley had witnessed a tactical duel worthy of a season’s highlight reel. Glasner’s adjustments from unleashing Muñoz to surgically targeting Kerkez Final word dismantled Liverpool’s early dominance, turning Slot’s flowing system into one fighting to stay afloat. The Community Shield may not define a season, but this encounter offered a revealing glimpse into both sides’ tactical evolutions.

For Liverpool, the raw materials of a high-functioning, multi-faceted attack are clear. For Palace, it was another demonstration of their capacity to adapt, disrupt, and ultimately prevail on the big stage. Palace’s composure in possession and precision in exploiting space proved that no side, however well-drilled, is untouchable.

Yet, amid the sting of defeat, Slot’s blueprint shone: Wirtz orchestrating overloads, Ekitike slicing through defensive seams, and a front line capable of unsettling any opponent. For Slot, it was a warning and a promise: the weapons are there, the patterns are forming, and when the flaws are ironed out, Liverpool’s “invincibility” may yet be more than just a mirage.