Ornella Vignola enjoyed the debut of a lifetime as her three goals helped the Everton Women maintain their 100% winning record at Anfield, as Brian Sorensen’s side ran riot at the Toffees’ original home. With the victory the Blues kicked off their 2025-26 FA WSL campaign on a winning note after adding nine new faces during the summer transfer window.
Liverpool had taken the lead through Cornelia Kapocs on 11 minutes – the first ever goal for the Women’s team against Everton at Anfield – before Vignola’s
stunning strike brought the sides level 13 minutes later despite the home side being the better team in the early going.
Katja Snoeijs’ powerful header on the stroke of half-time ensured the Blues went in at the break in front, before a quickfire double from Goodison’s new Spanish hero made the game safe and ensured that Everton would kickstart the new season in emphatic fashion.
Speaking in her native Spanish tongue, Vignola expressed her delight for the fans, before sharing her hopes to give the Blues faithful more moments of happiness
“I feel very happy. To be honest, it is a dream come true to have made my debut and, on top of that, the team got the three points,” she said.
“And I was able to contribute with three goals.
“It has been an incredible day for me. The atmosphere was incredible. There were fewer [Everton fans] than Liverpool fans but you could hear them so much more. I am happy.
“I’m glad they enjoyed the match and I hope to give them many more moments of happiness.
“I can’t wait till next weekend, because if we’re going to enjoy all the matches like this, it’s going to be a great season.”
Going with a 4-3-3, Sorensen also handed debuts to Maz Pacheco, Rion Ishikawa and Katie Robinson at the back, who were joined by the returning Martina Fernandez, while Rosa van Gool made her first competitive start, lining up in midfield alongside Hayley Ladd, Honoka Hayashi.
Vignola and Yuka Momiki took to the field for the first time in Royal Blue, making up a front trio with Snoeijs, who was trusted with the captain’s armband.
But it was the hosts who began the game on the front foot, with Kapocs firing Gareth Taylor’s side ahead with a powerful strike in off the underside of the crossbar.
Gemma Bonner almost doubled their lead five minutes later effort when she met Fuka Nagano’s lofted cross from the right, but the defender saw her effort ball rebound off the upright, much to the relief of Courtney Brosnan.
The let off sparked Everton into life and they found themselves on 24 minutes.
Ladd freed the advancing Vignola, who charged into the box, turned Lily Woodham inside out before her deft left-footed curler gave Faye Kirby no chance.
Liverpool fought back and Ceri Holland struck the woodwork, although Brosnan would argue she had covered, before the hosts were struck a hammer blow before the break through a nemesis they know all too well.
Pacheco was enjoying her day down the left and her inch-perfect centre found the Netherlands star, who put enough power on her header to beat Kirby and score her third derby goal in as many games.
Sensing the game was in the balance, Sorensen introduced Karen Holmgaard, Clare Wheeler and Ruby Mace in place of Hayashi, Robinson and Ladd, as Everton took control of matters in the second 45.
And the Toffees added a third through Vignola on 54 minutes. Pacheco whipped in another dangerous ball, which was met by the 20-year-old, whose header slammed home via the upright.
And the Spaniard was celebrating in front of the Kop again two minutes later, when she completed her hattrick and wrote herself into Merseyside derby folklore.
Played in by Holmgaard, Vignola drove at the Liverpool defence that was reminiscent of Andrei Kanchelskis, before checking back across her marker and onto her left foot before firing in to the bottom corner, via a slight deflection.
With the game all but won, Everton controlled the remainder of the encounter and restricted their hosts to few chances.
Things could have got even better though, as van Gool came within a whisker of getting her name on the scoresheet.
The midfielder unleashed a thunderous drive from 25-yards, only to see the crossbar deny her what would have been a wonderful goal on her debut.
Sorensen won’t be too disappointed though, as the city turned Blue following a decisive opening day win, which will send out a clear message to rest of the WSL.
Everton Women host Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park on Sunday, 14 September (KO. 2.30pm BST, 10.30am ET, 6.30am PT), as the Grand Old Lady opens its doors for the first time this season.
