Match reportLiverpool and Leicester draw 1-1 in WSL season-opener

An accurate header on the stroke of half-time from Sophie Roman Haug had given the Reds a lead as 2024-25 got under way at St Helens Stadium.

But in a game of plenty of chances, the visitors were always in it, and a crisp piece of finishing by Jutta Rantala soon after the interval drew them level – and that is how it remained.

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The opening phases of Liverpool’s new era in St Helens were cagey, but Ceri Holland produced the first dangerous moment nine minutes in.

The Wales midfielder made the most of some space just outside the ‘D’ and tried her luck with a rising, left-footed drive that appeared on course for the top corner until Lize Kop palmed the ball away.

Matt Beard’s side began warming to their task and twice could have taken the lead before the 20-minute mark.

First, Olivia Smith rolled her marker and scurried into freedom through the right channel. The summer signing unselfishly squared for the trademark supporting run of Marie Höbinger, whose prodded low finish was too close to Kop.

Moments later, a deep Taylor Hinds cross from the left bounced all the way to the far post and found Lucy Parry, but once again the effort was central enough for the Leicester goalkeeper to make a routine save.

Rachael Laws’ first save at the other end came in the form of a touch around the post to deny Noemie Mouchon’s strike from outside the box, which was dipping slightly.

That threat perhaps buoyed the visitors, who were beginning to grow in ascendancy as half-time approached, with Ruby Mace firing too high after being teed up at the end of a slick move.

But Liverpool grabbed an advantage in the final minute of the half. Höbinger swung in a corner from the left and Roman Haug ensured she was first to it, guiding a header down into the bottom right of the net.

In a reverse of the closing stages of the first half, at the beginning of the second it was the Reds controlling the ball but Leicester who scored.

A long, angled pass over the top evaded the stretching leg of Hinds and arrived at its target, Rantala, who proceeded to move in on goal and dispatch a clinical low shot across Laws for 1-1.

Beard’s team responded well and Kop twice thwarted Holland as the contest ticked beyond the hour mark, gloving away a nice hit from 20 yards before blocking the No.18’s close-range header from Hinds’ cross.

A raft of changes from the Reds boss included the introduction of Cornelia Kapocs to join Gemma Evans and Smith in making a first appearance since joining the club in pre-season.

Genuine goalscoring opportunities dwindled in the final throes in St Helens, though one did fall the way of centre-back Gemma Bonner three minutes from the end.

Holland’s excellent set-piece from the flank found Bonner in the near-post area for a headed chance that she flicked too high over the target.

Four minutes into seven added on at the end, Mace had the ball in the net only to be ruled offside – and the full-time whistle was blown without any further changes to the scoresheet.

Attendance: 3,058

TEAM

Liverpool: Laws, Parry, Clark (Enderby, 62), Bonner, Evans (Matthews, 46), Hinds, Nagano, Holland, Höbinger (Lundgaard, 68), Smith (Kapocs, 70), Roman H. (Kiernan, 70).

Unused subs: Spencer, Fahey, Daniels, Silcock.

NEXT UP

The Reds are on the road for the second WSL matchday of the season, visiting West Ham United next Sunday (September 29).

Kick-off at Chigwell Construction Stadium is 3pm BST and the game will be broadcast live on the Barclays WSL YouTube channel.