Match reportLiverpool beaten in WSL Merseyside derby at Goodison Park

A penalty in the opening half from home forward Katja Snoeijs provided the difference between the teams on Sunday afternoon.

The Reds had begun the contest on the front foot and signalled early intent via Leanne Kiernan’s shot from 25 yards with the dipping ball sailing just over the crossbar.

Taylor Hinds in particular caused early problems for the hosts down the left flank thanks to a number of dangerous crosses and a deflected effort.

Everton were offering little in the way of an attacking threat, though produced their first real move forward in minute 20 when former Liverpool attacker Melissa Lawley saw a dangerous delivery cleared.

Hinds dragged a shot wide of the mark on the turn in response, while Everton again broke through Toni Payne but she saw her curling shot fly past the far post from inside the box.

Despite the visitors dominating possession, it was Everton who forced the first save of the game, with Teagan Micah diving low to her right to tip away a driven Lawley effort.

Shortly before the half-time interval, however, the hosts were awarded a controversial penalty and took the lead as a result.

Amid strong protests from the Reds and manager Matt Beard, Fuka Nagano’s late tackle on the edge of the area on Honoka Hayashi was adjudged to have taken place inside the box.

Snoeijs was on hand for the Blues to take the resulting kick, as she stepped up to send Micah the wrong way and give Everton a half-time advantage.

Liverpool started the better of the two teams after the interval and were close to levelling proceedings early on.

Olivia Smith’s low ball into the area sparked two good openings for Nagano, with goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan saving her initial shot from 12 yards before leaping up to push a follow-up effort wide and complete a fine double save.

As the game reached the hour, Cornelia Kapocs and Gemma Evans were introduced from the bench.

Beard’s charges continued to push forward but were being kept to half-chances, with Kiernan seeing a tame header saved and Smith hitting a stinging shot straight at Brosnan after a swift turn.

Substitute Mia Enderby also attempted to provide a fresh attacking threat as she spun inside the box to strike wide from a low Kapocs cross.

Marie Höbinger went close with a rising shot from long range as the Reds ramped up the pressure in their search for an equaliser late on.

Gemma Bonner went closest in added time for the away side, shooting straight at the hosts’ goalkeeper once more from close range following good work to open up the chance in the box by Enderby.

Liverpool: Micah, Fisk (Daniels, 85), Clark (Kapocs, 61), Bonner, Silcock (Evans, 61), Hinds, Nagano, Holland, Höbinger, Smith, Kiernan (Enderby, 71).

Unused subs: Spencer, Fahey, Shaw.

Next up

The Reds travel to take on Newcastle United in the Women’s League Cup next Sunday (November 24) in a 2pm GMT kick-off.

• Get ticket details for upcoming LFC Women games here