Match reportLiverpool play out stalemate with Brighton in the WSL

There were half-chances for both sides throughout Sunday’s meeting but neither could find a breakthrough.

After an incident-free first 10 minutes at Broadfield Stadium, the home team threatened twice in quick succession.

First, Rosa Kafaji met a clipped diagonal ball into the Liverpool area but she could only get a slight touch on the stretch and her volley was an easy catch for Jennifer Falk.

The danger was greater moments later as Fran Kirby broke free in the right channel. She moved into the box and opted to pass across goal rather than shoot, but it evaded teammate Kafaji.

The Reds were lacking the final pass to craft similar chances, with a glanced Beata Olsson header from the edge of the area a straightforward save.

A low effort from Kafaji was claimed comfortably by Falk before the forward failed to find a fellow Seagull with a cutback reminiscent of Kirby earlier.

Liverpool’s best opportunity of the first half was gifted to them on 37 minutes.

Brighton squandered possession to Mia Enderby at the edge of their own box and she was one-on-one with the goalkeeper but sliced her strike too high.

Kafaji was off target twice in the aftermath as she continued to be something of a magnet in each attack by the hosts.

At the other end, Ceri Holland’s direct play down the left troubled the opposition several times before the break, including a thump at goal that was stopped by Chiamaka Nnadozie.

After the restart, the Reds were grateful to captain Grace Fisk for a well-timed block that thwarted Madison Haley after she was teed up for a strike.

In response, Olsson could not keep a header down having found space and met a Holland corner kick to the near post.

Holland’s efficacy down the wing was evident again next as she hit the byline and flashed a cross into the middle that three teammates could not get contact on.

Liverpool substitute Aurélie Csillag might have made more of two free runs in behind. However, her first stumbled on a heavy touch and her second was foiled before she could pass to Holland.

As time ticked away, Fisk nodded wide with a headed effort from a corner kick, before the closest calls of the entire game for each side.

Brighton’s Manuela Vanegas was denied by a combination of Falk’s hand and the crossbar when she nodded at goal from yards out.

Then, Csillag was able to get in a low shot from the right of goal that Nnadozie got a touch on and deflected the ball narrowly wide of the opposite post.

From the resulting Holland corner kick, Martha Thomas’ header bounced off Fisk and was bound for the net until Maelys Mpome cleared off the line to ensure it ended goalless.

Team

Liverpool: Falk, Fisk, Clark, Bonner, Bernabe, Maclean, O’Sullivan, Kapocs (Csillag, 65), Enderby (Thomas, 65), Olsson, Holland.

Unused subs: Kirby, Evans, Woodham, Josendal, Bergstrom, Trueman.

Next up

The Reds are on the road in the WSL again next weekend, but with a much shorter trip to neighbours Everton.

Kick-off at Goodison Park on Saturday (March 28) will be 12pm GMT.