Liverpool: Olsson 11’, Hollans 89’
Leicester City: NA
Pre-Match
The Liverpool FC Women return from an international break with a chance to extend their lead over relegation rivals Leicester City at the bottom of the table. The Foxes are currently in the 12th spot on 9 points, while the Reds are just a point ahead in 11th.
As is typical this season, Gareth Taylor is missing a bevy of key players for the match. Denise O’Sullivan was injured during the international break and Alice Bergstrom remains out as well. Fuka Nagano and Risa Shimizu are away as Japan have
reached the semifinals of the Asian Cup. In positive news, Mia Enderby’s knee injury against Everton just before the break was not as serious as feared, and she is fit to start. Meanwhile, Anna Josendal dresses for the Reds for the first time.
Lucy Parry is given the start at right back with Risa away, and Kirsty MacLean is given a start in a midfield role with O’Sullivan and Fuka not available. It seems like Ceri Holland is dropping into midfield, with a front three of Enderby, Thomas, and Olsson.
First Half
Well, the stream for the match didn’t start until five minutes into the match. Looks like both sides had an attempt in the opening few minutes, but no score as of yet.
GOAL LIVERPOOL!!! The Reds go coast to coast, staring with some simple passes out of the back before Cornelia Kapocs carries the ball down the right channel. She feeds the ball for the run of Mia Enderby out right, who quickly plays a square ball across the face of goal that is touched home by Beata Olsson just ahead of a touch from goalkeeper Janina Leitzig.
Beata Olsson is a bundle of energy up top. She is flying around in the press, and does well to drop back and nip the ball just ahead of a defender by the midfield strip to win it back for the Reds to regain possession.
It very much looks like Olsson as the point striker with Enderby and Thomas part of an attacking band with Cornelia Kapocs behind Olsson.
Jenna Clark with a nice bit of covering as Alisha Lehmann looks to make something happen in the Liverpool box. The Leicester City attacker gets past Lucy Parry too easily before Clark steps in to clear the ball away.
Liverpool look to counter off of a Leicester City corner, with the ball played forward to Mia Enderby on the right. The young attacker has space in front of her and Beata Olsson in support, but she has too heavy of a touch and sees the ball swept away.
Lucy Parry is struggling to keep up with the pace of Alisha Lehmann, getting into a tussle as he tries to hold the arm of Lehmann to slow her down. Jenna Clark reads the flight of the ball over the top and is again able to come over to clear the ball away. Something to keep an eye on though, as Parry is not having the best start.
Some great work by Alejandra Bernabé earns a corner from Liverpool on the left side. The set piece is sent deep to the far post and partially cleared. The Reds regain possession on the right side, and another cross is sent in but this time it is too close to Leitzig, and the goalkeeper claims it.
Mia Enderby with some quick footwork on the right to jink past Ashleigh Neville on the right after winning the ball back, but the cross in is well overhit and flies past everyone in the box. Liverpool retain possession on the left flank, with Ceri Holland providing service into the box. The ball is flicked on towards goal by Beata Olsson, but it goes just wide of the far post.
Liverpool stay on the attack after winning the ball back from the goal kick. Cornelia Kapocs turns away from a defender and is hacked down to earn a free kick in a dangerous area in the right channel about 25 yards from goal. The free kick is sent into the box, but it is headed clear this time.
Ceri Holland decides to be a one woman show on the left, carrying the ball past a defender into the box and creating a pocket of space to get a shot away. The ball is partially blocked, and it bounces towards Martha Thomas who is steaming in with a late run. Janina Leitzig gets to full stretch to get a touch just ahead of Thomas to deny a certain goal. The ball is recycled to Kirsty MacLean, and the Scot drives a shot at goal but her effort goes just over the crossbar.
Leicester City get a shot away after causing a turnover just outside the Liverpool box. The turnover is caused by a clear foul on Kirsty MacLean, who is spun around after her arm is yanked backwards two or three times right in front of the referee with no foul called. Thankfully the shot goes well high of the net.
Both sides pushing and probing towards the end of the first half. Leicester City get a chance that is flicked on by Lehmann from close range, but Jennifer Falk comfortably saves the attempt. Liverpool have a couple of opportunities to fashion a shot in the box, but both Mia Enderby and Ceri Holland turn the ball over instead.
Liverpool get a late corner kick after Cornelia Kapocs feeds the ball for Mia Enderby by the end line, forcing Ashleigh Neville to touch it behind. The corner is headed only as far as Alejandra Bernabé at the top of the box, and the left back hits the ball on the half volley, but the ball flies just wide of the near post. Not a bad effort at all.
That’s the last action of the half as Liverpool take a 1-0 lead into the break. Gareth Taylor will be glad with the lead, but Liverpool are showing enough cracks with a modified lineup that they will want an insurance goal.
Second Half
No changes for either side to start the second half. Gareth Taylor does have a couple of attacking options on the bench to put on against tired legs later in the match. We could finally see a debut for Anna Josendal two months after she joined the Reds.
Liverpool earn an early corner kick after Mia Enderby turned away from a defender and carries the ball forward. She feeds Martha Thomas to her right, and the strikers attempted cross is blocked behind. The set piece is driven into the box, but no Liverpool player can get an initial touch on it and the ball is cleared before Liverpool recycle the ball all the way back into their own half.
The referee really doesn’t seem to be interested in calling fouls when players are hauled back. There have been quite a few instances of blatant pull backs allowing for a change in possession, but she just stares dispassionately from a few yards away.
Lucy Parry with some tekkers worth a second look. She holds the ball up under pressure from Alisha Lehmann deep in the Liverpool half, facing her own end line. Parry back heels the ball for a nutmeg before turning past Lehmann to carry the ball down the touch line.
Parry goes down just a minute later after some defensive work in her own box. She’s grabbing her calf and lower leg as the medical staff come out. It looks like it may be a cramp as she is put through some stretches. She is up and able to return to play. Something to keep an eye on though as Liverpool do not have a natural right back on the bench.
Liverpool with a spell of possession in the attacking half as they work the ball around. It eventually comes to Mia Enderby at the top of the box and the attacker tries a low shot. It doesn’t have enough power to really trouble Leitzig as the Leicester City goalkeeper comfortably gets down to her right to make the save.
Lucy Parry is down again after the chance and is not able to continue. Gemma Bonner is already kitted up and ready to go as the substitution is quickly made. Bonner will go into central defense and Grace Fisk kicks out to right back.
Beata Olsson steams down the left flank with the ball shortly after the substitution. She gets a shot away and forces Leitzig to push the ball around the far post as the ball skimmed the wet surface. It’s another good ball into the box from the set piece, but nothing comes of it.
Liverpool with another sustained bit of pressure, and the Reds earn a free kick on the left side. Ceri Holland sends the ball into the box and it bounces dangerously, falling to Mia Enderby with a clear look at goal from 12 yards. Enderby fluffs her chances however, mishitting the ball so it bounces harmlessly away.
That’s the last action for Enderby as she is withdrawn just a minute later. Aurélie Csillag enters for Enderby for some fresh legs. Csillag goes to the point striker role, with Beata Olsson moving out to the right.
Leicester City now with some sustained pressure in the attacking half as Liverpool are unable to clear their lines. The Foxes earn their first corner of the game that Falk is forced to punch away. Leicester City retain possession and look to be through on goal, but Grace Fisk does well to get a leg in and touch the ball behind for another corner. This time Falk is able to claim the ball cleanly.
After calling very few clear fouls, the referee is now calling every little coming together. All of the players are looking confused with some of these calls.
Liverpool go route 1 with a ball over the top to Aurélie Csillag. The Swiss forward does well to get to the ball and hold off the defender as she enters the box, but she is off balance as she gets a shot away and it goes past the near post.
Liverpool again stream forward on the counter with Beata Olsson carrying the ball down the right flank as players sprint forward with her. Olsson tries to get to the end line and is felled by a shoulder barge as the ball runs out. The two options for the referee are a penalty kick or a goal kick. She awards a corner kick. The ball in is headed over the crossbar by Grace Fisk.
Ceri Holland is down after a she is drilled while going up to win a ball in the air. The medical staff are quickly out to check on Holland and she is evaluated for a concussion. It looks like she will be able to continue as Liverpool set up to take the free kick. It comes to nothing.
PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL! A brilliant ball is fed through for Aurélie Csillag in the box, and the Swiss attacker turns away from one defender before being clearly tripped by a second as she advanced on goal. The referee has no choice but to point to the spot this time, and also shows Asmita Ale a yellow card for the foul. Ceri Holland steps up to take the spot kick.
GOAL LIVERPOOL!!!! Holland drives the shot low and hard to her left, past the dive of Leitzig. The ball pings off the inside of the post and into the back of the net to double the lead!
Ooh, so close from Martha Thomas. The striker gets the ball at the top of the box from Cornelia Kapocs and quickly drives a low shot towards the far post. She has Leitzig beaten, but the ball skews just inches past the outside of the post.
Anna Josendal comes on to make her Liverpool debut for the last few minutes of the match. She replaces Beata Olsson as we enter 8 minutes of extra time.
Jennifer Falk with a really poor turnover as she plays the ball out of the back passing it directly to a Leicester City player. She is stranded out of position as the shot flies over her head and thankfully over the crossbar.
Anna Josendal does really well to flick the ball past her defender deep in her own half and then race forward with the ball to relieve pressure. She slides the ball inside to Aurélie Csillag, but there are too many defender and the ball is lost. Still a nice bit of play to give the defense a rest.
Another great chance from Liverpool as Alejandra Bernabé steps up to pick up a pass and race forward down the left flank. She feeds the ball inside for the run of Aurélie Csillag, who tries to redirect the ball on goal. Janina Leitzig again is on the spot to get just enough on the ball to ensure it goes out for a corner kick.
The set piece is sent in low and does not beat the first defender, but it doesn’t matter as the referee blows for full time!
Final Thoughts
It was a solid performance missing quite a few key players, and a much needed result as Liverpool look more and more likely to stave off relegation. With the win, the Reds jump to 10th in the table, pending the result of West Ham vs Manchester United later today. Gareth Taylor’s side are now four points clear of Leicester City at the bottom of the table, and stand two points ahead of West Ham ahead of the Hammers kick off later today.
Liverpool will have another decent chance to pick up points as they head to Brighton next Sunday. The Seagulls sit eight in the table with a four point cushion over the Reds.
