Match reportLiverpool suffer WSL defeat against Arsenal at the Emirates

The hosts turned their front-footed football into a quickfire double ahead of the 30-minute mark, with Caitlin Foord’s close-range effort followed within seconds by a Jasmine Matthews own goal.

Any hopes of a Reds comeback at Emirates Stadium were only further reduced on the cusp of the interval when Mariona Caldentey found the target with a curler.

And misfortune struck Matthews again in the second half as a cross went in off her to complete the scoring.

The Gunners made an energetic start to the contest and threatened the Liverpool goal inside the opening three minutes.

Chloe Kelly crafted some space at the edge of the penalty area for a powerful effort towards Rachael Laws that was too powerful, whistling over the crossbar.

Arsenal’s pressure continued as the Reds tried to settle down and a slick passing move involving Frida Maanum and Kelly set up Alessia Russo inside the box for a turn-and-shot that was vitally diverted behind by Matthews’ block.

Liverpool saw appeals for a penalty dismissed by the officials when Taylor Hinds’ attempted cross from the left-hand side struck the arms of Emily Fox.

The traffic remained mostly one-way, however, and the woodwork rescued the Reds on 22 minutes.

A deft Russo touch released Maanum into the box along the left and she tried to deceive Laws with a reverse finish that clattered the near post.

Russo’s rebound was blocked and Laws made a relatively routine save to deny Maanum’s header when Arsenal swung the ball back into the danger zone.

Their double breakthrough came just shy of the half-hour mark.

A scramble from a corner allowed Maanum to tee up Foord for a low, hooked conversion yards out, and within seconds it was 2-0 as Kim Little’s cut-back was inadvertently sent into her own net by Matthews.

Buoyed, the Gunners were dominant in the remainder of the half, Maanum hitting the other post with a side-footer, Matthews diverting Foord’s drive off target, and Leah Williamson squandering a good chance having been found free at the back post.

But the gap was increased to three goals at the interval.

Another cross in from the wing was cleared to the edge of the area, from where Caldentey was able to pick out the top left corner with a clinical, arced shot.

The flow of the encounter was similar upon the restart, with Arsenal setting the tempo and Liverpool struggling to make inroads in the opposite direction.

A series of corner kicks ahead of the hour mark led to Williamson being served into a pocket of penalty-area space but her rising attempt was gloved away by Laws.

The Reds goalkeeper and Matthews were helpless to prevent the hosts’ fourth on 69 minutes, though, as a low cross from substitute Beth Mead flicked off the latter and drifted into the net.

That was the final significant piece of action as Liverpool’s three-game winning streak under interim head coach Amber Whiteley was halted.

Team

Liverpool: Laws, Fisk (Bernabe, 83), Clark, Matthews, Hinds, Kerr, Nagano (Bartel, 74), Holland (Höbinger, 63), Smith (Kiernan, 74), Roman H., Kapocs.

Unused subs: Micah, Evans, Enderby, Bonner, Shaw.

Next up

The Reds are back in WSL action at St Helens Stadium next Sunday (March 30), hosting Aston Villa. Kick-off is 2pm BST.

Book tickets and travel for that match here.