Match reportCeri Holland strikes to give Liverpool win at Brighton in WSL

Ceri Holland’s second-half strike secured a first league victory of 2024 for Matt Beard’s side, who held firm despite a late onslaught from the Seagulls at Broadfield Stadium and the dismissal of their goalscorer for a second yellow card in stoppage time.

The win consolidates the Reds’ fifth-placed standing in the WSL table, and moves them to within two points of fourth-placed Manchester United, who were beaten at Arsenal on Saturday. It also completed a league double over Brighton, who were dispatched 4-0 at Prenton Park back in November.

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Liverpool threatened from the off here, with two Marie Höbinger corners met by Sophie Roman Haug inside the opening seven minutes.

Brighton went close on 11 minutes, with Elisabeth Terland dispossessing Höbinger in midfield and striking a 25-yarder that clipped the foot of Rachael Laws’ right-hand post.

Höbinger was in the thick of the action early on, seeing a goalbound effort blocked after Jasmine Matthews had done well to retrieve Melissa Lawley’s dangerous cross.

Clear-cut chances, though, were at a premium for both sides in what was a scrappy first half, although Roman Haug was inches away from opening the scoring in the final minute of the 45, glancing her header just wide from another Höbinger set-piece delivery.

Brighton then hit the bar through Poppy Pattinson’s cross-shot, as the sides went in level at the break.

PHOTOS

Liverpool started the second half on the front foot, a high press leading to a deflected Höbinger strike that was eventually gathered by Sophie Baggaley in the Brighton goal.

And it was another high press, seven minutes into the second period, that led to the Reds taking the lead.

The tireless Lawley did superbly to close down Baggaley and the goalkeeper’s hurried pass was collected by Holland, who made no mistake with a clinical low finish.

Beard sent on both Leanne Kiernan and Missy Bo Kearns soon after, with Lawley and Höbinger the players replaced, but Liverpool needed both Matthews and Grace Fisk to be alert inside their own penalty area in quick succession as Brighton threatened an equaliser.

Fisk did well again as Katie Robinson looked to turn home Terland’s cross from the left, while Jenna Clark, Yana Daniels and Sofie Lundgaard were all brought on for the closing stages.

Lundgaard immediately had a penalty appeal turned down as she went down in the area, while Laws was able to comfortably hold Julia Zigiotti-Olme’s speculative effort at the other end, as the Reds defence remained solid.

Indeed, the visitors could have added a second goal themselves in stoppage time, with Emma Koivisto just unable to turn home Kiernan’s fine cross at the back post.

Holland, the match-winner, was shown a red card in the 94th minute, picking up a second booking for a foul on Zigiotti-Olme, but Laws was able to gather Pattinson’s free-kick with ease to preserve the three points.

TEAM

Liverpool FC Women: Laws, Koivisto, Fahey (Clark, 72), Bonner, Fisk, Matthews (Daniels, 72), Nagano (Lundgaard, 79), Höbinger (Kearns, 59), Holland, Lawley (Kiernan, 59), Roman H.

Unused substitutes: Micah, Enderby, Van de Sanden.

NEXT UP

Liverpool return to WSL action in two weeks’ time, with a trip to Aston Villa on Sunday March 3. It’s a 2pm GMT kick-off at Bescot Stadium.