Liverpool Women finally broke their Anfield hoodoo in emphatic fashion on Sunday, securing a historic 2-0 victory over Everton in the first Merseyside derby of the new Women’s Super League season.
The win marks a significant turning point for Gareth Taylor’s side, who had previously struggled to find their footing at the iconic L4 stadium. Entering the fixture, Everton had enjoyed a perfect record at Anfield, winning all six of their previous visits, including last season’s dominant 4-1 triumph. This time, however, the script was firmly rewritten.
The tone for the afternoon was set just five minutes into the match. Liverpool surged forward with intent, and Beata Olsson rose highest to power a header into the back of the net from a well-delivered corner. The early breakthrough galvanized the home support and forced Everton into a desperate defensive battle for the remainder of the half.
While Liverpool dominated the tempo, they found themselves repeatedly frustrated by the resilience of Ruby Mace. The Everton defender produced a masterclass in last-ditch defending, most notably denying Natalia Ramos with a vital block midway through the second half. Shortly after, Mace was once again the hero for the visitors, clearing a dangerous effort off the line after a header had managed to evade Everton goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan.
Despite the pressure, the game remained on a knife-edge. Liverpool’s inability to find a second goal led to increasing tension in the stands. Everton briefly threatened a comeback, with Holly McNamara forcing a sharp save from Reds keeper Khiara Keating at the near post. However, the visitors struggled to sustain any significant attacking momentum as the game wore on.
Liverpool’s persistence eventually paid off in the final minutes. As a loose ball bounced around the penalty area, Cornelia Kapocs reacted quickest to the chaos, turning smartly before slotting the ball past Brosnan. The goal sparked jubilation around Anfield, effectively killing off any hope of an Everton resurgence and cementing a landmark victory.
The match served as a testament to Liverpool’s dominance, as they rattled the woodwork through Vivien Endermann and tested Brosnan repeatedly throughout a one-sided second half. Brosnan was kept busy throughout the 90 minutes, making crucial stops against her own teammate Hannah Silcock and later stifling Endermann on the stroke of half-time.
The result is a major boost for the Reds, who now leapfrog their city rivals to move into fifth place in the WSL table. For Scott Phelan’s Everton side, it was a day of frustration, lacking the clinical edge that had defined their previous visits to Anfield. For Liverpool, the breakthrough at home serves as a definitive statement of intent as the season begins to take shape.
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