Match reportContinental League Cup: Liverpool edged out by Leicester in opener

Natasha Flint scored against her former team late in the first half to bring the Reds level after Aimee Palmer’s free-kick opened the scoring, but a Hannah Cain winner early in the second half saw the hosts take the points.

The two sides came into the group-stage game sitting joint-top of the Barclays Women’s Super League and delivered an entertaining contest in Burton-on-Trent.

Reds boss Matt Beard made seven changes from the team that beat Aston Villa Women last Sunday at Prenton Park, offering a competitive debut to Teagan Micah in goal and first starts for Flint up front and Mia Enderby on the wing.

The home side started slightly better, Sam Tierney shooting wide after a short backpass from the visitors, while the dangerous Missy Goodwin shot too high after cutting in from the left.

Enderby offered the first promise for Liverpool, collecting Marie Höbinger’s pass and crossing to the back post, where captain Taylor Hinds was blocked out.

Micah did well to tip over Cain’s cross-shot before Flint showed her threat at the other end with a powerful drive on 22 minutes that Janina Leitzig pushed away.

In an even game a set-piece looked a likely way for the deadlock to be broken and so it proved on 34 minutes. Palmer was fouled outside the box but got up to curl a free-kick past Micah for an impressive opener.

Another free-kick almost offered the Reds a quick response, Höbinger’s delivery met by Flint at the back post, but Leitzig clawed her header away.

In first-half injury time, though, the equaliser did arrive. Good work from the excellent Lucy Parry was followed up by a great run and cross by Enderby, with Flint taking a touch before blasting past Leitzig.

A slow start to the second half saw the Reds fall behind again, however, as a low cross from the left was met by Cain to make it 2-1 five minutes after the restart.

Ceri Holland arrived from the bench on the hour mark and almost got her side back on terms within three minutes, her snapshot from the edge of the box turned away by Leitzig. Jenna Clark met the resulting corner with a header but it drifted wide.

Another two subs combined for Liverpool’s best chance of an equaliser, Melissa Lawley putting in Yana Daniels after Parry won the ball in midfield, but the winger couldn’t quite get the ball out of her feet quickly enough to get a shot away on goal.

TEAM

LFC Women: Micah, Parry, Fisk (Bonner, 46), Clark, Matthews, Hinds (Koivisto, 46), Taylor, Lundgaard, Höbinger (Holland, 60), Flint (Daniels, 75), Enderby (Lawley, 60).

Unused subs: Laws, Kearns, Nagano.

NEXT UP

The much-anticipated Merseyside derby at Anfield now follows for the Reds, with Everton making the short trip for a 4.30pm BST kick-off on Sunday in the Barclays Women’s Super League.

• Get tickets for LFC Women v Everton Women at Anfield here - just £1 for U18s