Liverpool:
Arsenal: Russo 19’
Pre-Match
The Liverpool FC Women have one last match before the winter break, taking on third placed Arsenal. It has been a rough stretch for the Reds in the league leading up to this match, losing the last three matches in a row and dealing with a plethora of injuries. There is some positivity, however, as Liverpool won their first match at their new home ground on Wednesday in a 4-0 drubbing of Everton in cup competition.
Matt Beard is still without the services of the likes of Sophie Roman Haug, Sofie Lundgaard, and Marie Höbinger. Striker Leanne Kiernan also joins the injury list after sustaining an ankle injury against Everton. Gemma Evans and Rachael Laws both return to the bench after injury spells themselves while 17-year old Zara Shaw gets her third start in a row due to the depleted midfield depth. Mia Enderby gets the start up top to partner with Olivia Smith.
First Half
Arsenal manage to take out two Liverpool players on one play, with both Ceri Holland and Olivia Smith taking hard challenges. The referee awards the earlier foul on Holland, giving the Reds a free kick about 35 yards out. It is lofted into the box and Gemma Bonner gets pushed in the back as she tries to get to the ball. The referee allows the ball to run out of play for a goal kick rather than award a penalty.
Arsenal have gotten behind Liverpool’s defense twice in the first 10 minutes, but both instances have been flagged for offsides in tight decisions. Definitely warning signs for the Reds.
Liverpool get their first chance of the game after some play on the left sees the ball on the foot of Taylor Hinds. The captain whips a cross in, and it is attacked by two Liverpool attackers. The ball takes a deflection and pops up for Olivia Smith who controls it with her chest before driving a volley towards goal. It goes just over the crossbar.
Jasmine Matthews gets the ball high up the pitch on the left wing. She drives the ball into the box and it fades towards the goal, forcing Daphne van Domselaar to catch the ball before it drifts into the far corner of the goal.
Arsenal mount a series of attacks on the Liverpool goal just before the 20 minute mark, with the Reds scrambling to clear the ball under pressure. Grace Fisk heads a ball clear, but the header goes central to the top of the box directly to an Arsenal player. The ball is played back in and Taylor Hinds flicks it behind for a corner.
Goal Arsenal. The corner kick is driven low across the face of goal, going past Tegan Micah and a host of other players. Gemma Bonner clears the ball off the line, but it goes directly to Alessia Russo who drives the ball into the goal from close range.
Penalty to Arsenal. A ball is played into the box and Alessia Russo gets a touch to the ball before running into the foot of Gemma Bonner. Russo throws herself down and the referee points to the spot.
BALL DON’T LIE. Mariona Caldentey takes the spot kick, sending Teagan Micah the wrong way, but she puts the shot off the base of the post.
Liverpool work the ball forward and Taylor Hinds picks the ball up in a central area. She steps forward into space and drives a shot from long range, but it is too close to van Domselaar in net.
Liverpool are starting to see more of the ball in transition now with the game getting stretched. Mia Enderby carries the ball down the left channel and picks the right pass to Olivia Smith, but the ball is just a touch too far in front of the Canadian.
Jasmine Matthews carries the ball into the Arsenal half and gets pulled down from behind. Ceri Holland whips the free kick in, but it is cleared first time and Arsenal charge back the other way on the counter. The Reds manage to get back and slow the transition down.
Mia Enderby takes a knee to the rips as she challenges for a ball on the touch line. She goes down immediately off the field of play, so the referee force Liverpool to continue play down a player as Enderby receives treatment off the pitch.
Off the post for Liverpool! The Reds immediately take the ball forward, and it is lofted into the box in the direction of Olivia Smith. Katie McCabe uses Smith as a launching pad, using her arms around Smith’s shoulders to get above the Liverpool attacker. McCabe wins the header, but puts it across the face of her own goal and it hits the post and drifts just outside of the goal before it is cleared away. McCabe easily could have been called for a foul on Smith, but again the referee decides that type of play is only a foul outside of the box.
Important challenge by Jasmine Matthews to deny a 1v1 opportunity just before the half. Jenna Clark attempted to clear a ball while facing her own goal, but it came off of an Arsenal player and deflected forwards towards the Liverpool goal. Jasmine Matthews makes a perfectly timed slide tackle in the box to hook the ball away from another Arsenal attacker before they could get through on goal.
That’s the last significant play in the half. Liverpool trail but have put forth a great effort thus far. The Reds have had two penalty shouts ignored while Arsenal put an awarded penalty off the post.
Second Half
Arsenal have been in control t start the second half. Liverpool only clear the ball as far as an Arsenal player, who immediately plays it to Russo in the box. The striker turns and takes shot, but it is deflected by a sliding Gemma Bonner. The ball loops over Tegan Micah and comes off the post.
Liverpool finally get the ball forward in transition, with Mia Enderby playing it to Grace Fisk in the right side of the box. The wing back looks to put a ball across the face of goal, but it is blocked out for a corner. The ball in from Taylor Hinds is a good one, forcing van Domselaar to come off her line to punch it clear in a sea of bodies. The Arsenal goalkeeper runs into one of her own players and play is stopped momentarily.
Taylor Hinds loses the ball in the Arsenal half after a poor touch. She races back to defend and slides in from behind, giving up a foul and earning a yellow card in the process.
Olivia Smith FINALLY earns a foul after being hacked an dragged down by Leah Williamson. Liverpool have a free kick on the left wing, with Ceri Holland over it. She drives the ball into the box, but misses all of the attacking players and puts it right at van Domselaar. As the Arsenal goalkeeper puts the ball down to start a move Olivia Smith charges forward and slides in to block the ball. Unfortunately for Smith, the ball rebounds directly to van Domselaaar.
Olivia Smith is again absolutely whacked, being hit from the blind side. The referee ignores the clear foul yet again, and only stops play for Smith to receive treatment after going down in a heap. Matt Beard gives the referee an earful and is shown a yellow card.
Jasmine Matthews again makes a perfectly timed challenge in the box to deny a big chance. She slides in and blocks a ball out for a corner just before the ball can be slid across the face of goal with several players lurking.
Matt Beard make two changes in the 77th minute. Hannah Silcock replaces Fuka Nagano while Yana Daniels comes on for Zara Shaw.
Liverpool have to deal with two corner kicks in quick succession. Jen Clark does well to get her head to deflect a goal-bound shot after the first corner was initially cleared.
Olivia Smith is pulled down from behind by Mariona Caldentey on the counter and the referee calls the foul. Caldentey is shown a yellow.
Three more late subs for Liverpool. Cornelia Kapocs, Gemma Evans, and Niamh Fahey come on. Mia Enderby, Gemma Bonner, and Jasmine Matthews come off.
Liverpool try to mount some late attacks but are continually undone by poor passing and loose touches. They do finally get the ball forward and get a decent delivery into the box by Niamh Fahey, but Yana Daniels can only get her flicked header to go well wide of the post.
Final Thoughts
Liverpool played decently, but again were never really able to create more than an isolated chance on the attacking end. It’s the fourth league loss in a row to end 2024 for the Reds, who will now be off until the middle of January. They will head into the winter break a disappointing 8th in the table. Let’s hope Matt Beard will be able to get some of his key injured players back and get things trending in a positive direction for 2025.