Match reportLiverpool claim Merseyside derby victory over Everton in Women's League Cup
The Reds made four changes for their final group-stage contest, at St Helens Stadium, while the visitors opted to select a youthful line-up, involving a number of U21s in their starting team.
Liverpool began the night on the front foot with Ceri Holland involved in the opening two chances of the game.
She first shot over the bar from inside the area, before seeing a header from close range saved by goalkeeper Emily Ramsey after a Yana Daniels delivery.
Cornelia Kapocs was next to work the reflexes of the Blues stopper after Fuka Nagano won the ball high up the pitch, ahead of reacting to Zara Shaw’s shot quickest to force another save.
Liverpool, however, did finally open the scoring deservedly prior to the half-hour mark from a Holland corner ball.
Jenna Clark jumped highest at the back post to meet the cross and produce a well-timed header down and into the net to break the deadlock.
Matt Beard’s charges continued to dominate and almost added to the scoreline before the break, seeing Leanne Kiernan curl an effort from inside the box onto the crossbar from Shaw’s cutback.
Jasmine Matthews and Olivia Smith were introduced at the half-time break and the latter had an almost-immediate impact.
Her forward pass found the run of Kapocs just seconds into the half, who in turn delivered across goal for Holland, though the resulting half-volley fell wide of the mark.
Kiernan was then forced off ahead of the hour due to injury, but it was her replacement Mia Enderby who doubled Liverpool’s advantage to put the hosts in control.
The striker sprinted in to steal the ball from the Everton defence and composed herself well to fire low into the net and give the Reds breathing room.
Kapocs continued to threaten as the Blues struggled to deal with her movement, forcing Ramsey into a strong save after breaking in one-on-one.
With a little more than 10 minutes remaining, both Neve McDonald and goalkeeper Eva Spencer were brought on from the bench for their senior debuts.
The former almost made it a dream introduction, converting a bouncing cross inside the box, but an offside flag denied her celebrations having strayed beyond the final defender.
Kapocs, however, wasn’t to be denied her goal as she finally got on the scoresheet, with Daniels feeding in the forward to dart into the area and lift the ball high into the goal emphatically.
Liverpool were in complete control and finished with a flurry of attacking football in the closing stages.
Nagano first struck the bar from distance after capitalising on a poor defensive clearance, though it was Enderby who was on hand to complete the victory with a fourth strike.
She again composed herself well inside the box to place a shot into the bottom corner and round off the win in style.
Liverpool: Micah (Spencer, 79), Daniels, Clark, Fisk (Matthews, 46), Silcock (Fahey, 61), Hinds, Nagano, Shaw (Smith, 46), Holland (McDonald, 77), Kiernan (Enderby, 53), Kapocs.
Unused subs: Laws, Bonner, Duffy.
Next up
Liverpool return to Barclays Women’s Super League action on Sunday afternoon when they host Arsenal.
The contest at St Helens Stadium is set for a 2.30pm GMT kick-off and is being broadcast in the UK by Sky Sports.