England: Community Shield
Wembley Stadium
FULL TIME
AFTER PENALTIES
(Pen: 3 - 2)
2 - 2
(2 - 2)(1 - 2)
Crystal P
Liverpool
J. Mateta (17), I. Sarr (77)
H. Ekitike (4), J. Frimpong (21)
By Michael Kryschak@michaelkryschak

Bittersweet start to life at Liverpool for Wirtz, Ekitiké and Frimpong

The former Bundesliga trio of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and Jeremie Frimpong experienced a bittersweet start to life at Liverpool in their first match of the 2025/26 season.
Hugo Ekitiké, Jeremie Frimpong and Mohamed Salah for Liverpool.
Hugo Ekitiké, Jeremie Frimpong and Mohamed Salah for Liverpool.Photo: Clive Mason / Getty Images.

In their first competitive match of the 2025/26 season with Liverpool, the former Bundesliga trio of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and Jeremie Frimpong had a bittersweet experience.

Liverpool faced Crystal Palace in the Community Shield, the English equivalent to the German Supercup, in order to crown a champion - and Crystal Palace won after a penalty shootout (5:4).

Before the 90 minutes were over however, Wirtz, Ekitiké and Frimpong all played a very good match: former Frankfurt star Ekitiké scored the opener after 4 minutes, with Florian Wirtz making the assist.

But Wirtz wasn't the only former Leverkusen star to get a scorer in this game: Frimpong put Liverpool once again in front after scoring from a cheeky cross/shot in the 21st minute.

The game finished 2:2 after 90 minutes and Liverpool weren't able to crown the debut of their new Bundesliga trio with a victory and trophy.

While the result of the penalty shootout was quite “bitter”, the performances of Wirtz, Ekitiké and Frimpong were “sweet” - and give the indication of some good transfer business by the Premier League winners.

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