‘I love the big moments:’ Crystal Palace lift Community Shield thanks to Dean Henderson’s heroics

Photo Credit: Clive Mason/Getty Images

In just three games, Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson has become one of the most important players in the club’s 119-year history. Thanks to Henderson, Palace won their first major trophy at the end of last season and added more silverware to their cabinet on Sunday.

Palace defeated Manchester City in the FA Cup Final last May, marking the first major trophy in club history. A few months later, they would defeat Premier League champions Liverpool on penalties to win the FA Community Shield - a match between the reigning Premier League champions and FA Cup winners.

“They [Liverpool] have unbelievable players and have a great team but two trophies in three months is incredible,” said Dean Henderson after Sunday’s game.

Henderson was the main reason Palace broke their long-standing major trophy drought last season.

The 28-year-old English keeper was a highly-regarded prospect in the Manchester United Academy. With limited playing time available at United, Henderson was loaned out on multiple occasions before departing his boyhood club in 2023 on a permanent transfer to Palace. Henderson has 21 clean sheets in 65 games since joining the South London side.

After a quiet first season with the club, Henderson made his mark last season, especially in the FA Cup. He started all 38 Premier League games for Palace, keeping 11 clean sheets, the fourth-most in the league. Henderson played three of Palace’s six FA Cup matches last season, not allowing a goal and saving the only penalty he faced.

It was American keeper Matt Turner, who is now back in MLS with the New England Revolution, who started the first three FA Cup games, registering two shutouts and allowing one goal. Henderson would start the final three FA Cup games against Fulham, Aston Villa, and Man City.

In the quarterfinals, Henderson made three saves in a 3-0 win to help send Palace to Wembley Stadium. In the semifinals, Henderson made four saves in another 3-0 win, this time over Aston Villa, leading Palace to their first FA Cup final appearance since 2016.

It is safe to say Palace wouldn’t have won their first major trophy without Henderson in goal. The 28-year-old made six saves in a 1-0 win over reigning Cup winners Man City. After Henderson’s England teammate Eberechi Eze put Palace up 1-0 in the 16th minute, Man City were awarded a penalty kick in the 33rd minute. After prolific striker and penalty-kick taker Erling Haaland handed the ball off to midfielder Omar Marmoush, Henderson dove to his right to deny Marmoush from the spot before swallowing up Haaland’s rebound attempt.

“I knew I would save it,” Henderson said after May’s FA Cup Final.

85 days later, Henderson would return to Wembley with the same confidence, this time for the Community Shield. The first of four trophies available each Premier League season, Palace, the FA Cup winners, would meet Liverpool, the Premier League champions, in the annual match that is played the weekend before each Premier League season begins.

Henderson didn’t have the greatest of 90 minutes, making three saves and allowing two goals, including a looping cross that caught him off guard. However, a tying goal from forward Ismaila Sarr in the 77th minute would send the match to penalty kicks, where Henderson would take center stage.

Unlike most cup competitions in England, the Community Shield foregoes extra time and rolls straight into a penalty shootout.

Palace would have an advantage before they even kicked a ball in the shootout after Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah blazed his penalty over the crossbar. Henderson would make a fantastic diving save to his left on Liverpool’s next spot kick, denying midfielder Alexis Mac Allister. Forward Cody Gakpo would score Liverpool’s next penalty, but it wouldn’t take long for Henderson to make headlines again. On Liverpool’s fourth penalty, Henderson leaped low to his right to stop midfielder Harvey Elliott from leveling the shootout at two. 21-year-old midfielder Justin Devenny would win the Community Shield with Palace’s fifth penalty after Henderson saved two of Liverpool’s five attempts.

"I love it, I love the big moments, I love being in that pressure moment,” Henderson said. “I really enjoyed that today. The homework we did for the penalties was great, so thanks to everyone behind the scenes that helped me with that.

"These emotions are fantastic. You'd think obviously they were 2-1 up and we were out the game, but the lads stuck by it. The manager said we'd get a chance in the second half on transitions, we did. We stuck by it, defended great, and we deserved that in the end."

During the penalty shootout, Henderson was seen looking at a piece of paper attached to his water bottle that had information about each Liverpool penalty taker. The England international would cover his water bottle with a towel each time he stepped up to face a penalty. Many goalkeepers do this, and Henderson showed why it can be super successful.

Palace manager Oliver Glasner made sure to praise Henderson and his goalkeeping coach for the work they put in during the week.

“We know that he is a great goalkeeper,” said Oliver Glasner after the match. “There’s a lot of work behind it.

“For example, the day before the meeting in the hotel with the analysts, his goalkeeping coach, he went through all the penalty takers from Liverpool and was well prepared.

“He has the confidence, I think, that he can save the penalties. He showed it.”

Henderson’s famous baseball cap may have helped him as well. The 28-year-old is known for wearing a baseball cap during sunny games. Many refer to it as his “magic cap.” While the look is uncommon, it gives Henderson an advantage over his opposing keepers. With the penalties being taken on the sunny side of Wembley, Henderson’s cap came into play. After making his first save of the shootout, Henderson tipped his cap in celebration toward the Palace fans at the opposite end of the stadium.

Henderson’s heroics not only gifted Palace their first two major trophies, but he also helped them qualify for their first European competition. While the winner of the FA Cup earns a spot in the UEFA Europa League, Palace were demoted to the UEFA Europa Conference League due to a breach of UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules.

Despite the disappointment and frustration, Henderson views it as an opportunity to bring another trophy to South London.

“Let’s write the next bit of history."