Liverpool Women returned to Anfield following their heroic FA Cup quarter-final victory last weekend with the visit of Manchester United on the agenda as Amber Whiteley looked to continue what has been a remarkable start to life in charge of The Reds.
Despite the elation of booking a spot in the final four of the cup, a meeting with Chelsea their reward, Liverpool were somewhat stricken by an illness in the camp a powerful visiting side lay in wait.
United arrived on Merseyside with their sights firmly set on running down Women’s Super League leaders Chelsea, currently adrift by eight points but with a game in hand as Marc Skinner’s side continue to show their male compatriots how it’s done.
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Whiteley was forced into changes as Grace Fisk and Gemma Bonner were among four ruled out on Friday morning, Gemma Evans and on-loan Chelsea defender Alejandra Bernabé coming into the starting XI as Liverpool’s wretched Anfield availability luck continued.
Taylor Hinds captained a side containing Sophie Roman Haug, Marie Hobinger, Fuka Nagano and this season’s leading scorer Olivia Smith who scored at our L4 home in defeat to Man City earlier this season.
Before the match got underway there was a presentation for goalkeeper Rachel Laws after the Reds’ stopper made her 100th appearance for the club by starting last Sunday’s successful cup tie as well as a light show as the Women took to the famous stage for the first time under the lights.
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Whiteley’s charges started well, navigating the opening 10 minutes with minimum fuss and looking to counterattack when possible before a lengthy stoppage that saw Smith need treatment following an aerial challenge from behind.
Following on from her pre-match presentation, Laws was called into action for the first time shortly after the 13-minute mark, tipping behind a Millie Turner effort destined for the corner with her fingertips.
The resolute defensive efforts continued impressively for the hosts as the half-hour came and went without much in the way of alarm and Liverpool created a momentary suggestion of an attacking opportunity for their own.
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Laws was called into action once more before the break, this time a fingertip stop diverting a long-range strike over the bar as the visitors opted to try their luck from further out having struggled to make serious inroads through a well-organised home defence.
Liverpool’s resolute performance at the back was rewarded when their ambition matched their determination as Olivia Smith went on a marauding solo run down the right, thinking her way inside the area before finishing superbly from a tight angle.
Not content with taking a somewhat of a shock lead, Laws’ clearance found the head of Roman Haug whose flick-on was taken down by Cornelia Kapocs who made room for a shot and tested Phallon Tulis Joyce into tipping the ball over for a corner as The Reds finished the half very much on the front foot.
There was still time for another effort and this time Smith started the counter, taking the ball down inside the area before setting Sam Kerr away down the right who played a perfectly timed pass towards Nagano to finish first time into the far corner and put Whiteley’s side into dreamland at half time, her first goal for the club and what a time to score it.
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Following that whirlwind of a conclusion to the opening 45 minutes, the assembled 15,996 took to their seats once again with the majority hoping for an equally impressive showing.
It was Smith once again causing a host of problems to the United defence as she committed Anna Sandberg inside the area, seemingly fouled in the process although the referee waved away the claims despite the Canadian international requiring treatment.
After another penalty appeal was waved away Liverpool continued to pile on the pressure and when Kapocs was sithed down after a neat interchange down the left the referee finally pointed to the spot and Smith made no mistake in front of The Kop.
Very much in the ascendency and seemingly growing in confidence, The Reds were playing some lovely football and looking the more likely to score next as the final 15 minutes arrived.
Just after the 80-minute mark, Smith was replaced by Mia Enderby to a rapturous reception from the crowd who had witnessed a superb all-around attacking display from a player who has quickly become one of the most exciting in the league.
There was still time for a late United goal as the previously dogged defence was breached by Maya Le Tissier who fired beyond the previously unbeatable Laws from inside the area.
No clean sheet this time for Whiteley but a hugely significant win for so many reasons nonetheless as a side with a newfound calmness and belief continued to defy the odds. Anfield hoodoo well and truly broken.
