Match reportLFC Women kick off new WSL season with win at Emirates Stadium
Liverpool FC Women delivered a memorable start to the new season with a 1-0 victory over Arsenal Women at Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Miri Taylor’s low finish three minutes into the second half separated the sides as the Reds held firm in impressive fashion to kick off the 2023-24 Barclays Women’s Super League with three points.
They did so in front of a record attendance for the division, with 54,115 supporters making up the crowd in north London.
Before the game got under way, all at Emirates Stadium paused to hold a minute’s silence in memory of Maddy Cusack.
Matt Beard’s Liverpool starting XI in the capital included competitive club debuts for Jenna Clark and Grace Fisk in defence and Marie Höbinger further forward.
The hosts made the brighter start to proceedings and settled into an early dominance of possession as the Reds organised themselves into a solid shape with three centre-backs and Emma Koivisto and Taylor Hinds roaming as wing-backs.
There was little in the way of clear chances, though, with the most obvious threat a strike by Frida Maanum, after a cutback from the left, that was deflected wide.
A neat counter-attack led by Ceri Holland later created a chance for the No.18, who met Höbinger’s lofted pass into the box with a first-time volley that was accurate but lacked the power to trouble Manuela Zinsberger in goal.
Beard’s side soon needed their own goalkeeper to come up with a big save, though. Arsenal’s Lotte Wubben-Moy met a corner from the left with a firm header across goal that Rachael Laws reacted superbly to pad away.
Back at the other end on the half-hour, Liverpool came so close. Zinsberger fumbled a hoisted pass into the area and the ball fell to Hinds, whose attempt to finish was denied by the blocking leg of Jennifer Beattie.
Missy Bo Kearns curled a 25-yard free-kick just wide of the left post before Laws kept the Gunners at bay twice ahead of the interval.
First she batted out a dangerous Maanum volley that looked on course for the top corner and then the ’keeper sprung to her right to stop a well-struck drive from the ‘D’ by Kim Little.
PHOTOS
By John and Andrew Powell
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When the deadlock was broken three minutes into the second half, it was courtesy of a very slick Liverpool move.
Höbinger threaded a pass into Kearns’ forward run into the area and the midfielder enhanced the threat with a delivery into the middle, where Taylor was waiting to nudge a low left-footed finish past Zinsberger.
Arsenal wasted no time in applying pressure for an equaliser and the Reds had to dig deep, allied to a spot of fortune, to frustrate their opponents.
After one goalmouth scramble resulted in a last-ditch block inside the area, Cloe Lacasse headed wide at the far post when picked out by Maanum’s angled cross.
Amid a succession of Gunners corners that caused concern, one from the right flank actually clattered off the near post, before Gemma Bonner produced a crucial block to deny Victoria Pelova’s effort.
Caitlin Foord’s looping header from close range just cleared the crossbar as time ticked away – and Liverpool saw out the remainder, including more than 10 minutes of added time, to clinch a fine win over last season’s third-placed side.
TEAM
LFC Women: Laws, Koivisto, Fisk, Bonner, Clark, Hinds (Parry, 81), Nagano, Holland, Höbinger (Enderby, 72), Taylor (Flint, 67), Kearns (Lundgaard, 81).
Unused sub: Micah.
NEXT UP
Matchday two in the WSL sees the Reds play their first competitive home fixture of the campaign.
Aston Villa Women visit Prenton Park for a 6.45pm BST kick-off next Sunday, October 8.