Liverpool FC Women 4, Aston Villa 1: Reds Climb Out Of The Basement

Liverpool: Enderby 9’, Thomas 14’, Fisk 84’. Csillag 97’

Aston Villa: Taylor 41’

Pre-Match

The Liverpool FC Women have a legitimate chance to get out of the relegation zone today if they manage a win after Leicester City lost yesterday. The Reds had their first win of the season against Spurs in late January, and had a much more positive outing in a loss to Manchester City last weekend.

Gareth Taylor is still having to deal with plenty of players missing through injury or working their way back to full fitness. Sofie Lundgaard is the latest player to sustain a long term injury, with news breaking that she would be out for the rest of the season earlier in the week. Beata Olsson is only fit enough for the bench again, while Anna Josendal is still not fit enough for her Liverpool debut. The only change from last Sunday is Mia Enderby getting the start while Alice Bergstrom drops to the bench.

First Half

Liverpool earn an early corner kick after Alejandra Bernabé ventures forward from her left back spot and combines with both Ceri Holland and Denise O’Sullivan before seeing a cross blocked out for the corner. The initial set piece is partially cleared and recycled to Holland, who sends another cross into the box. Jenna Clark heads it goalwards, but it is deflected out for another corner. The second ball in is a good one, but is eventually cleared.

Liverpool quickly get forward again in transition, with Mia Enderby driving forward with the ball towards the top of the box. Enderby is in a central area and tries an early shot from distance that has Sabrina D’Angelo scrambling across the face of goal to cover the far post. The ball rolls wide of the post, but a decent opening salvo.

GOAL LIVERPOOL!!! The Reds turn their dominance into an opening goal after Ceri Holland receives a brilliant pass in the left channel. She steams forward and slides a ball across the face of goal with Martha Thomas and Mia Enderby making runs. Enderby’s slightly deeper run sees her in the perfect spot to slot the ball in first time!

GOAL LIVERPOOL!!! It starts with a great diagonal out of the back from Grace Fisk to Alejandra Bernabé, who immediately spots the run of Ceri Holland in the left channel. Holland again turns creator, driving a cross into the box. The ball actually goes past the sliding Martha Thomas and comes off the leg of a defender, but the ball pops up into the air. Thomas reaches a leg out while on the ground and manages to redirect the ball past the surprised D’Angelo in net just 14 minute in!

The Reds continue to cause all sorts of problems down the left flank. This time it’s Ceri Holland feeding the ball for the run of Alejandra Bernabé. The left back hits a first time cross near the end line, and the ball drifts towards the crossbar, forcing Sabrina D’Angelo to palm the ball over the net for a corner kick. The set piece is driven in and comes to Bernabé with space to shoot from 16 yards out, but her volleyed effort skews wide.

Aston Villa are trying to find a way back into the match after conceding two early goals. They are starting to get some sustained spells of pressure in the Liverpool half. They manage to earn a corner kick, but the Reds do well to defend. The visitors manage their first shot of the match in the 30th minute, and effort that is blocked near the top of the box.

Liverpool begin to dominate the ball again, moving the ball around well in the Aston Villa half as they push and probe to create another opportunity. A loose pass is picked off and played forward as Liverpool are caught with numbers forward. Jenna Clark shows off her speed, racing back to get to the ball ahead of the attacker, playing it calmly back to Jenna Falk to end the danger.

Ceri Holland has been a massive thorn in the side of Aston Villa this first half. She again gets on the ball on the left flank, pushing the ball past Lucy Parker with space in front of her to run into. Parker blatantly grabs a fistful of jersey and hauls Holland back, giving the referee no choice but to award a foul and a yellow card to the Aston Villa defender.

Goal Aston Villa. The ball is battled for in midfield, and headed forward into the Liverpool half. Georgia Mullet and Kirsty Hanson both out-battle Liverpool defenders to win the ball, with Hanson getting a cross away. The ball comes inside to the top of the box, where former Liverpool midfielder Miri Taylor takes a touch and unleashes a blistering shot that beats the leap of Jenna Falk and speeds just under the crossbar. It’s a goal late in the half that will buoy the spirits of the visitors.

Liverpool with a bit of possession to finish out the first half, though Aston Villa are now snapping into tackles and causing many more problems for the Reds. Liverpool will take a rare lead into the second half, with 45 minutes to fight for just their second league win of the season.

Second Half

No changes for Liverpool to start the second half. Aston Villa make a change, bringing on Noelle Martiz for Ebony Salmon.

Oh no, and immediate concern for both teams just off the kickoff. The ball is played forward into the Aston Villa box, with Alejandra Bernabé racing down the left wing. Sabrina D’Angelo comes out of her net after once of her defenders fails to adequately clear the ball, and the goalkeeper collides with defender Noelle Maritz before bounding into Bernabé as they all challenge for the ball. D’Angelo and Bernabé both go down, and the medical staff races onto the field. Bernabé has a cut on her lip after taking a shoulder to the face, but is able to continue after changing her shirt. Sabrina D’Angelo has to come off, with Ellie Roebuck replacing her in net.

Liverpool are again dominating possession to start the half as they look to put their stamp on the match. The Reds are doing well to win the ball back quickly when they do lose control, and are mounting more and more pressure.

Fuka Nagano earns a corner in the right channel after getting taken down by Kirsty Hanson. Ceri Holland lofts a free kick into the box for the head of Grace Fisk, and the defender is able to steer the ball goalwards. It’s an easy save for substitute Ellie Roebuck, however.

Aston Villa come back the other way and immediately earn a corner kick. They try a set piece routine and manage a shot from distance, but it’s taken under pressure and goes wildly high and wide of the net.

Gareth Taylor goes to his bench in the 65th minute. Alice Bergstrom and Aurelie Csillag come on as fresh legs for Mia Enderby and Martha Thomas respectively.

Alice Bergstrom almost has an immediate impact, swinging a ball in for Ceri Holland. The attacker just can’t get the ball on target, unfortunately.

Denise O’Sullivan tries to nip the ball off of Miri Taylor, but is just a half beat late and catches the midfielder on her ankle. The referee waves for advantage, but comes back to give O’Sullivan a yellow card after the sequence has ended.

After some slick passing out of the back, Alice Bergstrom is set free down the right wing. She carries the ball forward from the midfield line all the way to the goal and has the option to shoot or cross it. Bergstrom tries to cut the ball back for players making runs but the ball seems to bobble as she hits it and pops up so it can be cleared from the center of the box.

Risa Shimizu is slow to make a decision on the ball from her right back spot and has it taken from her by Kirsty Hanson. The attacker carries the ball forward and gets a low shot away the Jennifer Falk is forced to dive and push wide of net so it can be cleared.

A scramble in the Aston Villa box sees Cornelia Kapocs and Aurelie Csillag both with chances to shoot, but both elect to pass before the ball is cleared.

There is just 10 minutes of regulation and extra time left now for the Reds to see out. It’s a bit nervy as we’ve seen Gareth Taylor’s side concede late all too often to drop points.

GOAL LIVERPOOL!!! It’s captain Grace Fisk who seals the deal for the Reds. A corner kick is swung in, and Jenna Clark twice manages to get the ball to a teammate, with the second time chesting it in the direction of Fisk. The captain swings through the ball on the volley from the top of the box, driving it through a crowd and off the leg of a lunging defender who tries to block if off the line!

Aston Villa in desperation mode now as we enter eight minutes of added on time. There is still work to be done by Liverpool to see this out.

Immediately after the eight minutes is shown on the board, Aston Villa attack and get the ball to Kirsty Hansen in the box. Risa Shimizu makes a fantastic sliding challenge to block the ball out for a corner. The Reds manage to deal with the set piece.

Gemma Bonner comes on in the 95th minute to replace Risa Shimizu. Nice to have the experience of Bonner in the back line as Liverpool try to hold on for the win.

Fuka Nagano with a brilliant play to put her body between the ball and Chastity Grant after the Aston Villa attacker pushed the ball too far in front of herself. Nagano forces the foul, and Grant is shown a yellow card.

GOAL LIVERPOOL!!! The ball is sent forward by Gemma Bonner to Aurelie Csillag in the right channel, and the striker does well just to keep hold of the ball under pressure initially. She carries it forward into the box with a defender on her back and drives a shot on goal while under duress, sending it past Ellie Roebuck for an insurance goal!

Final Thoughts

It’s a deserved win after a very solid performance by Liverpool as the Reds finally turned consistent pressure into a barrage of goals. It’s the highest goal tally in the WSL for Liverpool this season, with two of the January signings contributing on score sheet.

With the win, Liverpool finally move out of the bottom of the table for the first time since this fall, passing Leicester City by a point, though the Foxes have a game against Arsenal in hand. West Ham managed to pull out a late 3-2 win over Brighton, meaning the Hammers stay a point ahead of the Reds. Everton also won, keeping their four point advantage over Liverpool.

Gareth Taylor’s side will head to London next Sunday to face Chelsea. The Blues are in the unusual position of not being in first place, and in a fight for third in the table.