Everton Women lost 2-0 to Liverpool in the Women's Super League Merseyside derby at Anfield on Sunday. The result ended Liverpool's long winless run in the fixture and left Scott Phelan's team sixth in the league with six points from four matches, having scored two goals and conceded five for a goal difference of minus three.
Beata Olsson headed Liverpool in front inside the first five minutes from a Natalia Ramos corner. Everton goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan made several important saves to keep her side in contention, with defender Ruby Mace also making two vital goal-line clearances. The visitors could not find a response, however, and Cornelia Kapocs sealed the win for the hosts four minutes from time, finishing after a defensive error.
Derby drought ends
The victory was Liverpool's first WSL win over Everton at Anfield after six attempts. Everton had won all five of their previous league visits to the stadium since 2019, scoring 11 goals and conceding just once. Liverpool manager Gareth Taylor acknowledged the significance of breaking that sequence.
Everton's attack struggled to trouble the Liverpool goal, with their only notable chance before halftime coming from a scuffed Hannah Cain effort on the counter. The team's two league goals this season have both been own goals, a fact head coach Scott Phelan addressed. He further explained that the team's buildup play was good but the final action let them down, and they must be more ruthless.
The defeat sees Everton leapfrogged by Liverpool in the standings, with Taylor's side moving up to fifth. Phelan's team must now regroup ahead of their next WSL fixture, a home match against Birmingham City on 4 October. Birmingham currently sit 12th in the table. Everton will look to build on their positive start to the season, which included a 2-0 win over Birmingham City just four days before the derby, with goals from Zara Kramzar and Yuka Momiki.
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Everton Women manager Scott Phelan said his side must learn from their 2-0 derby defeat. He also pointed to players failing with individual decisions during the game at Anfield. The loss leaves Everton sixth in the FA WSL with six points from four games. Phelan's team host Birmingham City on Sunday.
