It took 19 matches, but the Liverpool FC Women have now recorded their first away win in the WSL this season on Saturday. It just so happened to take place in a Merseyside derby, making it all the sweeter.
Liverpool had already beat Everton earlier in the winter, taking a 2-1 win in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, but the Reds have struggled to get results against their crosstown rivals in league play over the past few seasons. Gareth Taylor’s side came out with energy and purpose, however, putting the hosts
under pressure from the opening whistle.
Liverpool’s aggressive high press and slick passing saw them generate several good chances in the opening minutes of the match. The only blip in the first 10 minutes was a poor giveaway by Kirsty MacLean near the top of her own box, but Jenna Clark flew over to clear the danger. Outside of that, it was one way traffic for Liverpool.
The pressure paid off when an a scramble in the Everton box after a corner kick saw a flick on from Grace Fisk blocked by the hand of an Everton defender. Liverpool were awarded the penalty, and Ceri Holland coolly slotted home a panenka from the spot in just the 11th minute.
The Reds didn’t have to wait long to double their lead, netting again in the 20th minute. The goal itself may have been a bit fortuitous, but it came from a brilliant bit of play to get the ball up the pitch to Alejandra Bernabé. The move started deep in the defensive half, with Kirsty MacLean progressing the ball with mazy run, turning away from pressure several times before finding the run of Cornelia Kapocs ahead of her. Kapocs played a slick 1-2 with Beata Olsson before sliding the ball to Bernabé in space on the left side of the box. The left back quickly sent a cross in for the run of Beata Olsson, but it was Everton defender Martina Fernandez who got her head to it first. The pace and angle of the cross, however, forced the defender’s header to flick into her own net to give Liverpool a 2-0 lead.
Liverpool continued to force the issue as the first half wore on, and began to hit Everton on the counter as the Blues tried to push forward to find a way back into the game. A brilliant bit of transitional play saw Liverpool score a third goal just before half time. Ceri Holland started the play from her own box, playing a 2 person game with Beata Olsson, getting a second flick on from the forward near midfield that allowed Holland to steam forward into acres of space down the left wing. Holland raced forward and cut inside a defender near the top of the Everton box before arrowing a shot into the top corner to take a 3-0 lead into the half.
Liverpool would end up needing all of those first half goals to hold on and record a result. Everton came out with renewed vigor in the second half, but Liverpool were still comfortably containing any threat until an innocuous coming together outside the top of the Liverpool box in the 63rd minute. Jenna Clark looked to have won the ball, but the referee whistled for a soft foul. Aurora Galli lined up the free kick on the left side of the D, and her driven effort clipped off of the head of Beata Olsson in the wall and deflected into the far corner as Jennifer Falk was wrong-footed in net.
Just two minutes later, Everton were given another lifeline from the referee. Zara Kramzar barged into Grace Fisk off the ball, sending the center back tumbling to the ground in a clear foul that went uncalled. Fisk got up and clipped the heel of Kramzar as the ball was well away in the other half, with Kramzar theatrically falling and then kicking out at Fisk. It was of course Fisk who was the only one penalized, and was shown a second yellow in the 66th minute after receiving a card in the first half for a similarly soft clip of a heel.
Despite being down a player, it was Liverpool who came close to scoring the next goal. The Reds earned a corner kick on the right side, and the set piece was headed toward the far post by Jenna Clark. The ball was cleared off the line by Ruby Mace, with the spin of the ball almost seeing it bounce back in the net before it could be claimed by Courtney Brosnan in net.
Everton pushed hard with their extra player advantage to find a second goal to give themselves a chance. Zara Kramzar, who could easily have been sent off for her actions in the incident with Grace Fisk, found a bit of space in the box 86th minute, and her rocket of a shot was touched onto the crossbar by Jennifer Falk. Kramzar would find the net in the 91st minute from almost the exact same spot in the box, this time taking the ball out of the air with her right leg before driving a shot past Falk with her left.
Liverpool would manage to hold on for six more minutes until the final whistle was blown to take the win and all three points. With the victory, The Reds have built additional cushion over both West Ham and Leicester City. With three league games left to play, Gareth Taylor’s side have a four point cushion over West Ham and an eight point lead over Leicester City, though the Foxes have two matches in hand at the time of this writing.
Liverpool are done with WSL play prior to the next international break, with a quarterfinal fixture in the FA Women’s Cup against Charlton next Sunday before the squad disperses. The Reds will have three WSL matches after the international break, with a huge match up against West Ham first on the docket before rounding out the season with league leaders Manchester City and an Arsenal side looking to wrap up a Champions League spot.
