Crystal Palace

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Former Premier League midfielder Don Hutchison believes keeping hold of key players is the "best outcome" for Crystal Palace in the transfer window.

The Eagles have made just two signings so far this summer, but Hutchison feels it is not just incomings that the club should focus on.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, Hutchison said: "Palace have had a really good [transfer] window [so far] in not allowing any of their big players to leave.

"What they've got to do now is convince them to stay. I'd like to think that Oliver Glasner has got the pulling power to say to his players and say to the likes of Marc Guehi that they should stay to help them in Europe for just one more year.

"Keeping hold of their best players would be the best outcome for them this transfer window".

Palace won a second trophy in three months at Wembley on Sunday, with a penalty shootout victory over champions Liverpool.

Glasner's side twice came from behind to take the match to spot kicks and Hutchison believes they deserved their victory.

"How can you not love Palace's story?" Hutchinson said.

"They are one of these teams that have had it hard for a long time and now they've got their second major trophy in a matter of months.

"They play and they run hard for their fans and they are a team I think that are hard not to like. The players work really hard for the badge on the front of the shirt and they thoroughly deserved their win."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds here.

Pre-season is completed and the countdown to the 2025-26 season is on.

It's been a difficult summer at Selhurst Park given the uncertainty over which European competition the team will be playing in next season.

However, as things stand, key players Marc Guehi, Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta are still at the club.

So, with the Premier League campaign starting at Chelsea on Sunday, do you think Crystal Palace are ready?

Get in touch

Emma Smith
BBC Sport journalist at Wembley

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Amid the frenetic scenes at Wembley, an unlikely hero emerged for Crystal Palace - 21-year-old Northern Ireland international midfielder Justin Devenny.

Devenny was only introduced in second half stoppage time after Palace captain Marc Guehi went down with cramp, but volunteered for the penalty shoot-out.

And after stars like Mohamed Salah, Eberechi Eze and Alexis Mac Allister fluffed their lines, Devenny was nerveless in striking Palace's fifth, and winning, penalty.

"I am delighted Devenny took the decisive penalty," Palace manager Oliver Glasner told his post-match media conference.

"We did not talk about it before as you never know who will be on pitch. He volunteered, and said he would take fifth one. He was not scared."

Devenny made 23 Premier League appearances for Palace last season, and looks like he has the temperament needed to play a major role this campaign.

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Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner spoke to TNT Sports after his side won the 2025 Community Shield.

On winning at Wembley again: "I like it [the feeling]. I have to give big credit to the players for this win today, we came back and were able to decide the game on penalties. We were on the same level as Liverpool and it was a big performance, I'm proud of the team."

On how his team have improved: "We know what we can do and how we can create chances. Things have developed over 18 months and the players are really starting to believe in what we are doing. I knew we could score at least two goals."

On signing new players: "I'm very happy with the squad because they just won another trophy. I see the number of games we have to play next season as a reward, we want to win something and we want the European football. We might miss Daichi Kamada - who got injured today - at Chelsea next week and it's times like this where we will assess our targets and find the right players."

On what he said at half-time: "I told the players to keep calm, I was proud of how they played. They were unlucky with the second goal. I knew if we stuck to the plan then we would get our chances and we always know if we take them we will win the game."

On Joel Ward: "We miss him a lot, he played more than 300 games in the Premier League [for Crystal Palace]. It's not just the player, it's a big personality in the dressing room that you can't replace."

On Justin Devenny's decisive penalty: "Justin came to me and said 'I'll take it, I'll take the last one'. I like him having this confidence and the determination to win us the game, he will play many minutes for us this season."

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• Crystal Palace have become the first new winners of the Community Shield since Nottingham Forest in 1978.

• Since Oliver Glasner's first game in charge of Palace (24 February 2024), the only Premier League players that have scored more goals than Jean-Philippe Mateta (31, level with Cole Palmer) in all competitions are Erling Haaland (50), Mohamed Salah (40) and Alexander Isak (38).

• This was Palace's first penalty shootout victory in any competition since beating Sunderland in the 2004 second tier play-off semi-final. The Eagles had lost six consecutive shootouts prior to today.

Crystal Palace have won the Community Shield on the penalties after a 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Wembley.

Reds new boy Hugo Ekitike gave Liverpool the lead early on before Jean-Philippe Mateta levelled from the penalty spot after Virgil van Dijk bought down Ismaila Sarr.

Arne Slot's side then retook the lead when Jeremie Frimpong's looped cross evaded Dean Henderson and found the far corner.

Sarr equalised again for the Eagles late in the second half to set up the penalty shootout from which Oliver Glasner's team emerged victorious.

What did you learn from the game?

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Emma Smith
BBC Sport journalist at Wembley Stadium

Oliver Glasner has named a five-man defence for Crystal Palace's first competitive game of the season.

It is the same system used for their most recent friendly, a 1-0 loss to Augsburg on 1 August. Captain Marc Guehi - subject of transfer speculation as he enters the last year of his contract - is one of three centre backs.

Palace have several injury issues, with Eddie Nketiah and Cheick Doucoure among those set to miss the start of the season.

Palace XI: Henderson; Munoz, Richards Lacroix, Guehi, Mitchell; Wharton, Kamada; Eze, Sarr, Mateta.

Subs: Benitez, Lerma, Clyne, Hughes, Esse, Edouard, Sosa, Devenny, Cardines.

Four of Liverpool's summer signings, including record acquistion Florian Wirtz, make their first competitive starts for the club today.

Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez form a new look pair of full backs, while it appears Hugo Ekitike will lead the line as the central striker.

Alisson keeps his place in goal, with Giorgi Mamardashvili among the subs.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Jones; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Elliott, Robertson, Nyoni, Doak, Nguhoma.

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner says that it would be a "mistake" for the club to wait on their European fate before making any signings - and also says there are no negotiations over a new contract.

The club have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against their demotion from the Europa League to the Conference League.

The Eagles have been drawn against against Norwegian side Fredrikstad or Midtjylland of Denmark, for the Conference League play-off round.

The two legs are played on 21 and 28 August but Glasner says Palace, who have only signed two players this summer, should not wait until those matches to bring in new faces.

"If you're thinking like this, you make a mistake," he said. "Then you're always reacting to situations. You can't run a business where you're always reacting.

"You can but you'll never have long-term success. You have to be active and plan what's going on.

"You can't say we wait and then on the 28th, if we qualify for the Conference League group stage, then we act. We don't think like this."

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Last season, Glasner was frustrated with Palace's late activity in the transfer window, especially given the Eagles' slow start to the season where they won only one of their opening eight league games.

But Glasner says he is not worried about a repeat as long as the club keeps their top talent.

"The difference now is the team stayed together," Glasner said. "Last year, we lost 10 of the dressing room and added seven - 40% of the dressing room left.

"This year two loan players left and two new come in. That means the chemistry and spirit is great. Everybody knows how we want to play because everybody was here last year."

When asked if he has asked for investment into the squad, Glasner says it is not solely about wanting players.

"It's not that I want investment - it's about Crystal Palace," Glasner said. "My expertise and my advice is what Crystal Palace should do to be competitive in four competitions.

"If we want to be better than last year, then let's sign at least two players. Not to be happy, not to fulfil my wishes, nothing at all.

"It's been a good summer, a good pre-season, I love the players and staff who are here. I love the club and the fans."

The Palace boss also revealed there had been no talks about extending his contract. beyond next summer when it expires.

"Again, at the moment it's three weeks time to get the squad done, so Oliver Glasner's contract is not important at the moment," he said.

Asked if what happens before the transfer deadline would impact whether he wants to talk about a new deal, the Palace boss said: "We will see."

Captain Marc Guehi's contract expires next summer and there has been interest in the defender from both Liverpool and Newcastle.

"Marc and me - we have the same fate." Glasner said with a smile. "I can't speak, you have to ask Marc. At the end, it's always the player's decision.

"Marc decides about his future. Of course, everybody wants Marc to sign a new contract. It will be his decision.

"Everybody wants to keep this squad together as it did so well. I don't know how often this happens here at Palace.

"We never know what will happen in this sometimes crazy transfer market."

You have been sharing your stories and photos about why you love Palace.

Here is a final selection of your submissions, but do make sure you scroll down this page to see all the best responses from throughout the week:

Harold: My first Palace game was in the 2004-05 season against Bolton Wanderers, played at home. I was taken by a friend and his dad who supported Arsenal and Tottenham respectively but had managed to get Palace season tickets that year.

Earlier in the same season I'd been taken to a Millwall home game by my godfather, who supported Millwall - an effort to woo me to the wrong side of south London.

It turns out that about 10 years before that, my dad had taken my mum to watch Palace against Sheffield Wednesday, in the away end, supporting Wednesday, as their first date!

Among a host of clubs that could have been chosen that year, I fell in love with Palace and was proud of them as my local club, having grown up in West Norwood.

That pride only gets stronger.

And all it took was losing 1-0 at home to Bolton!

Dave: Like so many, I fell in love with Crystal Palace after watching the 1990 FA Cup final. Seeing Ian Wright score those amazing goals and the team's kit caught my eye with the iconic "Fly to LA" shirts.

My dad used to take me to Palace's away games in the Midlands against Stoke City as this is where we lived. Palace always did well and I'd have to sit on my hands and not celebrate as we always scored against Stoke.

But inside I was bursting with pride. They will always be my team.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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Crystal Palace owner Steve Parish is finding it difficult to even comprehend it has got this far. The club's supporters feel the same.

For those with Palace connections, it is a nonsense that their place in the Europa League - secured following last season's historic FA Cup triumph - has been ripped away from them by Uefa red tape.

Yet they are where they are. Parish led his legal team into battle on Friday morning at a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing which Palace hope will see them reinstated into European club football's second-most prestigious competition.

Palace feel they have assembled a strong case. Part of their appeal hinges on an understanding that Nottingham Forest were afforded extra time to comply with the same multi-club ownership rules Uefa concluded Palace had breached, but the Eagles were not given the same time.

Palace feel the simple matter of common sense means they are allowed back into the Europa League.

Often, however, common sense in football doesn't prevail. That is Parish's fear.

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Community Shield final against Liverpool at Wembley (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Eddie Nketiah "has missed more or less the whole pre-season" and could is likely to be out for the first month of the new season.

• Cheick Doucoure has suffered an injury setback and "wont be back in the next couple of months," while Matheus Franca and Caleb Kporha are also sidelined.

• Glasner said the opportunity to win a trophy this early on "is much better than playing friendlies" in pre-season.

• On opponents Liverpool: "The toughest thing happened at Liverpool with Diogo Jota and his brother [who died in a car crash last month]. Then we see how unimportant results, transfers and everything else is. And the Community Shield is the first competitive game after, which will be under these circumstances."

• He said he is "always positive" so is hopeful that Uefa's decision to demote Palace to the Conference League will be overturned in today's appeal: "I can't see anything why we should be demoted and why we should stay in the Conference League. I know how the club works and it is just the chairman and the people who work here daily that take the decisions."

• He went on to say that Palace "will accept the final verdict" from the Court of of Arbitration for Sport though, as "that's the only thing we can do."

• On the feeling among the players and staff: "We will definitely play in four competitions and preparing well is the only thing we can do."

• He said the club "are quite passive" in the transfer market but "definitely need two more players - one at the back and one in the attack."

• More on the lack of incomings: "We missed in the last weeks the chance to bring new players in. But I can't complain. We have to deal with what we have."

Follow the rest of the day's football news

Full commentary of the Community Shield on BBC Radio 5 Live from Wembley at 15:00 BST on Sunday

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

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Crystal Palace's appeal against Uefa's decision to demote them from the Europa League has started at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Co-owner and chairman Steve Parish is in attendance in Switzerland along with six other members of his team.

Palace, who earned their spot in the Europa League by winning the FA Cup, were relegated to the Conference League in July after Uefa ruled they had breached their rules on multi-club ownership.

A decision on the appeal is expected on Monday.

Meanwhile, Palace play Liverpool in the Community Shield on Sunday.

Former Eagles captain Joel Ward, who left the club after 13 years this summer, told BBC Radio 5 Live the situation is "unjust" and "disheartening" but they have to remain optimistic.

"I feel for the club. You play in the most prestigious cup in England and you don't get the reward at the end of it.

"Obviously, you get the reward of the trophy, but the secondary reward is getting into Europe and that's kind of been snatched away at this point.

"We stay hopeful for the hearing and hopefully we can get the hearing that we deserve and be back in Europe."

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Crystal Palace were demoted to Europe's third competition because American businessman John Textor owned a stake in the club and was the majority owner of French giants Lyon, who also qualified for the Europa League.

Textor, who has since sold his shares in the South London club, has always maintained that he never had decisive influence over the club and had no say in management decisions.

"It's been very clear to see that Steve Parish, the chairman, makes the decisions and he's the one who leads the club," added Ward.

"Obviously the club has got investment elsewhere, but he makes his decisions and there's no kind of involvement with other clubs in any way, shape or form.

"I think that's the painful side about that. But like I said, we remain hopeful and hopefully we can get the decision turned around."

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• Liverpool have only won the Community Shield outright on one of the past six occasions they have played in the match as league champions, beating Wimbledon 2-1 in 1988.

• The FA Cup winners have beaten the league champions to the trophy in seven of the past nine Community Shield meetings.

• Crystal Palace are competing in their first Community Shield, and none of the past four such teams have won the trophy, with two of those losing to Liverpool (Southampton in 1976 and Wimbledon in 1988).

• The Eagles have also won just one of their past 16 games against the Reds (D3 L12), picking up a 1-0 victory at Anfield in the Premier League in April 2024.

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Crystal Palace centre-back Chris Richards says he is "excited" for Sunday's Community Shield despite going into the game as underdogs.

Richards, who signed from Bayern Munich in 2022, became just the third American to win the FA Cup when Palace defeated Manchester City in May.

His sights are now set on making more history and taking more silverware back to South London.

"I am excited," he told BBC Radio London. "It is another chance to win a trophy and anytime you can play for silverware, it means more.

"We will definitely be an underdog going into this game. We've had some good games against Liverpool in the past, so I think that's what gives us confidence going into the game."

The 25-year-old has now partnered with UK mental health charity VSS (Virtual Soccer Schools), external, co-founded by Tim Ream, to launch the VSS Mental Health XI campaign, aimed at tackling the mental health crisis among young people.

The initiative sees a selection of professional footballers speak to school children aged eight to 16 to about their lived experiences of mental health challenges.

"I hope we can get kids out of their comfort zone to speak about those things," added Richards. "I still think I internalise things, but I am getting better.

"I have sometimes felt things are going against me but there are bigger things than being than footballer and that's what I wish I was told more as a kid."

This week, we are asking you to share your stories and photos about why you fell in love with Crystal Palace.

Here is a selection of your submissions:

Norman: My first season was in 1968-69 when they were promoted to the First Division for the first time. We were in front of the directors' box for the last match when they threw their shirts into the crowd and celebrated promotion. My wife still has Steve Kember's sock that he threw to her (unwashed).

Send us your pictures and stories here