Alexis Mac Allister and Virgil van Dijk have reacted after Liverpool's loss to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield
Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool watches on as his penalty is saved by Dean Henderson of Crystal Palace in the shootout during the 2025 FA Community Shield match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium
Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool watches on as his penalty is saved by Dean Henderson of Crystal Palace in the shootout during the 2025 FA Community Shield match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium
(Image: 2025 James Gill - Danehouse)
Alexis Mac Allister has held his hands up and accepted responsibility following Liverpool’s Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace. The Argentina international missed the Reds’ second spot-kick as they lost 3-2 on penalties to the FA Cup winners in the annual curtain-raiser at Wembley.
The 26-year-old has only recently returned from injury, having missed the end of last season with an unspecified issue. Returning to full team training during Liverpool’s pre-season tour of Asia, he made his first start of the summer in the Reds’ first clash with Athletic Bilbao last week.
Mac Allister was brought on in the 71st minute at Wembley on Sunday with Arne Slot’s side leading 2-1, but could do little to prevent Ismaila Sarr equalising for the Eagles minutes later.
He was then denied in the shoot-out by Dean Henderson as the goalkeeper dived correctly to tip his low penalty around the post. Mac Allister’s saved effort came after Mohamed Salah had skied his own attempt, with Harvey Elliott later seeing his penalty saved as Liverpool suffered defeat.
Mac Allister has now taken to social media following the spot-kick miss as he sent a message to supporters after the Reds’ Community Shield defeat.
“We are here to take responsibility, both in the good times and the bad,” he wrote on Instagram. “Let’s keep working and getting ready for the start of a new Premier League campaign.
“Thank you to those who came to Wembley to support the team - see you at Anfield on Friday”.
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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk also took to Instagram after the defeat at Wembley, with the Netherlands international ultimately struggling in the initial 2-2 draw with Palace.
The 34-year-old clumsily conceded the penalty tha gifted Jean-Philippe Mateta Palace's first equaliser, cancelling out Hugo Ekitike’s opener, while he was also unsuccessful in his efforts to play Sarr offside the goal that took the contest to penalties.
Van Dijk had missed Liverpool’s final two pre-season friendlies against Athletic Bilbao because of illness, with the centre-back hinting he was still building up his fitness following his brief absence.
“First of all, congratulations to Crystal Palace,” he wrote on Instagram. “Tough to take for us & on a personal level, head down, work and improve!
“It was good to get more minutes out there as I continue to work back to health and fitness. Time to focus on what’s ahead now. I can’t wait to be back at Anfield!”