The Liverpool FC Women were hoping to start their season in style under new manager Gareth Taylor. The Reds looked extremely bright to start the match, playing confidently as they built out of the back and finding all sorts of space to generate attacks. Cornelia Kapocs opened to scoring with a searing strike, but a goal against the run of play saw Everton level things a few minutes later. The Reds generated
wave after wave of attacks, hitting the woodwork twice in the first half, but they could not find a second goal. It was the visitors who somehow yet again produced a piece of magic at the end of the first half to find a goal, giving Everton a lead that felt undeserved.
The second half was another tale entirely. Everton made tactical changes at the half that Liverpool were not ready for, and the Blues pounced to score two quick goals to take all the air out of the match. Liverpool struggled to get on the ball and keep possession, registering just one measly shot the entire second half. In the end, it was another nightmare for the Reds at Anfield.
Below, we take a look at some winners and losers on the night, and attempt to disentangle narrative from fact.
Winners
Cornelia Kapocs
With Olivia Smith moved on to Arsenal, Gareth Taylor will be looking for the player or players who can step into a larger role in the attack. The Swedish striker made her presence know, opening the scoring with an emphatic strike. Her movement down the left caused Everton problems throughout the first half.
Ceri Holland
Deployed more as a right winger than we are used to seeing, Holland was a menace in the first half. She continually turned her defender inside out and was unlucky not to score after a brilliant curler rebounded off the post. She led all players with 7 touches in the opposition’s box.
Kirsty MacLean
The diminutive midfielder made her Liverpool debut as a second half substitute. Despite only having 25 minutes on the pitch, MacLean quickly became a creative hub from a deeper midfield role. She displayed her vision and passing range, spraying a few diagonal balls from deep to find attackers in space on the flanks.
Ornella Vignola
The young Everton striker scored a hat trick on her debut. The third goal was certainly helped by a deflection but the first two goals were extremely well taken. Ugh.
Losers
Anfield Magic
To say the Liverpool FC Women have struggled at Anfield in the league is an understatement, especially against Everton. The Reds lost for the sixth time in a row in the league to Everton at Anfield.
Finding the Finish
Liverpool had 9 shots in the first half, including 3 big chances. Both Ceri Holland and Gemma Bonner were denied by the woodwork, and Marie Höbinger fluffed her shot after being gifted the ball with an open net in front of her. What a different match it could have been if Liverpool could have found another goal in the first half.
Second Half Adjustments
It was a tale of two halves for Liverpool. The Reds were dominant throughout the first half, building the ball from deep with confidence and always seeming to find an angle for the next pass. In the second half, Everton ramped up their pressure and Liverpool struggled to keep hold of the ball. Many players seemed to be a half step behind their Everton counterparts. The Reds never really seemed to find their own adjustments and only managed to register a single shot in the entire second half.
Goalkeeper Depth
Gareth Taylor was forced to field third string goalkeeper Faye Kirby with Rafaela Borggräfe and Rachael Laws both missing out. It is unclear who the backup goalkeeper on the bench was, but a little sleuthing leads me to believe it is the Academy coach Del Morgan, who previously played for AFC Wrexham. According to Gareth Taylor in a post-match interview, Borggräfe is away from the team due to an “internal club issue” and is currently in Germany. Not an ideal situation to start the season.
From The Manager
“Games can get away from you really, really quickly. My feelings are strange because particularly that first 40 minutes, we were better than pretty good.
-Gareth Taylor
What Happens Next
Liverpool are very much a work in progress with Gareth Taylor joining just a few weeks ahead of the season and four new players being signed just a few days ahead of the first match. The Reds will look to continue to build out their style of play and integrate the new faces ahead of their match next Sunday away to Leicester City.
