Match reportHöbinger's late strike sees Liverpool draw with Spurs in WSL

Melissa Lawley arrived from the bench to bring up a century of appearances for the Reds – and provided a crucial assist for the goal as both sides had to settle for a point on Sunday.

A freak second-half goal had looked set to give the visitors victory but Höbinger’s effort rescued a deserved point for Matt Beard’s side from the Barclays Women’s Super League clash.

The teams came into the encounter level on points, wins, draws and losses, so a tight affair always looked on the cards and so it proved.

Clear-cut chances were at a premium all day as the blustery conditions made things difficult for both sets of players, Liverpool threatening first in the game with that strong wind behind them.

Spurs’ Barbara Votikova failed to claim a Jasmine Matthews cross, Shanice van de Sanden returned it to the centre and Ceri Holland’s flick was just too close to the goalkeeper with only two minutes on the clock.

Grace Clinton was the first to try to test Rachael Laws in the Reds’ goal, accepting a return pass from Bethany England and putting her effort just over the bar.

The visitors forced a couple of corners from Olga Ahtinen, the second of which required some brave defending to clear from a dangerous delivery, while a foul from Martha Thomas stopped Holland as she looked to put a teammate away on the break.

Holland was in action again on 32 minutes, collecting a pass from Missy Bo Kearns and seeking Van de Sanden in the box, but Votikova was out bravely to gather.

Three minutes later, the Spurs ’keeper passed the ball straight to the oncoming Emma Koivisto, though the Liverpool wing-back’s strike lacked power and Votikova made amends with a save low to her left.

Thomas was the key figure at the end of the half, with first Niamh Fahey delivering a captain’s challenge to deny her a shot on goal before the Spurs striker headed straight at Laws from a perfect position in front of goal.

The Reds needed to step it up in the second half and the Prenton Park crowd urged them on to increase their pressing.

It delivered results, too, with Spurs struggling to get out of their half for the first quarter, Kearns and Fuka Nagano winning the ball in good positions and trying to create a priceless opening for their side.

Van de Sanden looked set to cross to an unmarked Sophie Roman Haug but the pass took a deflection and the chance was lost.

Lawley came on from the bench for her 100th game at the club as Beard’s side continued to dominate territory, however with chances still limited.

The game changed with 20 minutes left when an almost freak goal gave Tottenham the lead. Thomas crossed from the right and Celin Bizet met the ball with an effort that somehow looped over Laws and into the net.

It could have been two just three minutes later, Amanda Nilden hitting the post on a break from a Liverpool free-kick that never reached the penalty box.

Substitute Lucy Parry sent in some dangerous crosses as the Reds looked to salvage a point, but the goalmouth scrambles were not quite falling their way.

Laws was needed to save from substitute Wang Shuang to keep the deficit to one – and that proved vital as the match moved into injury time.

Lawley robbed a defender of possession and fed Höbinger, who cut in and drove a low effort past Votikova to secure a share of the spoils.

TEAM

Laws, Fisk, Matthews, Koivisto (Parry, 78), Fahey (Kiernan, 78), Bonner, Nagano, Kearns (Höbinger, 68), Holland, Van de Sanden (Lawley, 60), Roman H.

Unused subs: Doran, Clark, Enderby, Daniels, Lundgaard.

NEXT UP

Liverpool continue their journey in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup next Sunday, travelling to face London City Lionesses in a 2pm GMT kick-off.