Match reportLiverpool beat Everton to reach Abode Women's FA Cup quarter-finals

The Reds won Sunday’s Merseyside derby at St Helens Stadium thanks to first-half goals by Mia Enderby and Beata Olsson. Enderby had to be stretchered off due to an injury sustained while scoring, with Olsson her replacement from the bench.

Everton pulled one back with a little less than 20 minutes left through a Jennifer Falk own goal, the goalkeeper unfortunate as Aurora Galli’s effort struck the post then hit her on the back before crossing the line.

But Gareth Taylor’s side then showed impressive game management to book their place in the quarter-finals, the draw for which will take place on Monday evening.

Enderby had the game’s first sight of goal as she shot wide from the edge of the area and, after Falk had done well to beat Yuka Momiti to a long ball, it was Enderby who opened the scoring with 34 minutes on the clock.

Martha Thomas found Ceri Holland, whose delivery was outstanding throughout the afternoon.

Holland sent in a cross to the back post and Enderby bravely attempted a header knowing she was going to collide with Everton ‘keeper Courtney Brosnan, with the ball hitting the forward’s foot before going in.

Enderby was carried off, with Taylor bringing Olsson on and being rewarded on the stroke of half-time as the striker notched with a typical poacher’s finish.

Another excellent ball in by Holland caused chaos in the Everton penalty area and Olsson reacted quickest to squeeze the ball beyond Brosnan from close range.

Liverpool began the second half in dominant fashion and Everton needed two fine saves by Brosnan to deny Jenna Clark and Cornelia Kapocs.

Brosnan somehow thwarted Thomas from point-blank range and the Blues then gained a foothold in the second half, with Falk making a superb stop to tip Imma Gabarro’s low strike wide.

But there was nothing the Liverpool ‘keeper could do to prevent Everton from halving their deficit in minute 72 as Galli’s first-time hit rebounded in off Falk via the foot of the post.

Hikaru Kitagawa saw a deflected attempt well saved by Falk as the visitors sought to level, but the introduction of Aurélie Csillag off the bench gave the Reds an injection of energy and attacking threat.

Indeed, it was the hosts who looked most likely to score again in the closing stages and Olsson saw a goal ruled out for handball, but Liverpool had already done enough to earn their spot in the last eight.

Liverpool: Falk, Shimizu, Clark, Fisk, Bernabe, Nagano, O’Sullivan, Kapocs, Enderby (Olsson, 38), Holland, Thomas (Csillag, 81).

Unused subs: Laws, Kirby, Evans, Woodham, Bonner, McDonald, Trueman.

Next up

Liverpool now have a three-week wait until their next game, with Leicester City visiting St Helens in the Barclays Women's Super League on Sunday March 15 (11.55am GMT kick-off) after the international break. Ticket information is available here.