Liverpool FC Women 0, West Ham 1: Early Own Goal Sinks Reds

Second Half

A good early opportunity for Liverpool in the opening couple minutes of the half. Some good interplay on the right sees Risa Shimizu send Alice Bergstrom through with a ball down the right channel. Bergstrom spies the run of Beata Olsson through the middle and sends an early cross in, but the ball just evades the foot of Olsson as she stretches to touch the ball into the net. Alejandra Bernabé stings the palms of the goalkeeper as her dangerous cross creeps towards the near post. Liverpool retain possession and shift it around to the right where Fuka Nagano uses her footwork and vision to create a bit of space. She finds Cornelia Kapocs in the center of the box, with the Swedish midfielder receiving the ball facing away from goal but taking a nice turn to get a shot away that skews wide. Liverpool immediately get into the attack again, with Beata Olsson feeding a ball inside for the run of Ceri Holland. The Welsh winger’s attempt is just blocked out, with Alice Bergstrom following up with her own shot that also gets blocked on the way to the net. The Reds are really ramping up the pressure now. Ceri Holland wins the ball back in the attacking half and immediately drives towards the goal. She tries an early shot that goes over the crossbar. Liverpool need to translate the pressure into a goal soon. ANOTHER close chance in the opening 10 minutes of the half. Ceri Holland sends a ball in from the left side for the run of Cornelia Kapocs to the back post. The Swedish midfielder slides to try and get a touch, but the ball goes just past both her and the far post. Cleared off the line again! Liverpool get forward down the left with Ceri Holland sending a cross to the far post. It is headed on goal by Cornelia Kapocs, and again the ball beats the goalkeeper but is cleared off the line by Estelle Cascarino. Ceri Holland is cleaned out with a challenge, giving Liverpool a free kick from the left channel about 25 yards out. Gareth Taylor makes his first change of the match during the stoppage, bring on Anna Josendal for her second WSL appearance of the season as she replaces Alice Bergstrom. The free kick is initially defended, and then the ball is deflected behind for a corner kick. The ball in is partially cleared, but Liverpool retain possession and get another good ball into the box. Nothing comes of it and the Reds have to recycle possession all the way back to the midfield line. Yet again it is Holland and Bernabé combining down the left to cause problems for West Ham. Holland plays it just a little long for Bernabé, but the Spaniard races forward to keep it in play and earn a corner. The Reds are whistled for a foul as the corner kick is sent in, however. Gareth Taylor makes a second change as Liverpool search for a goal. Aurelie Csillag comes on for Beata Olsson as the point striker. Just about 20 minutes for Csillag to have an impact. Anna Josendal has her first real action of the match. She gathers the ball on the right wing before jinking past her defender and cutting inside. She lets fly with a shot that has great shape, but goes just on the wrong side of the far post. Csillag is trying to put her stamp on the match. She shows some nifty footwork to keep an attack alive, and then a minute later makes a good run to try to get on the end of a cross from Ceri Holland that strays just too close to the goalkeeper. Two more subs by Gareth Taylor with 10 minutes left to play. Mia Enderby and Denise O’Sullivan come on for Ceri Holland and Kirsty MacLean. Too many poor touches and crosses at the end of the match here. Anna Josendal plays a ball over the end line with a heavy touch shortly before Mia Enderby well overcooks a cross that also goes out for a goal kick. Four added minutes. Let’s see if Liverpool can fashion one last chance here. Nope, they barely have a chance to get out of their own half as they concede a couple throw ins and a free kick. They do get one corner kick at the death, but can’t even beat the first defender with the set piece.

**Final Thoughts**

It’s an extremely disappointing result for Liverpool against the side directly below them in the table. There was lots of possession and plenty of chances created, but there was not enough cutting edge along with two opportunities cleared off the line to deny a goal. While unlikely, there is still a threat of relegation if Leicester City were to win their final three matches and the Reds lose against Manchester City and Arsenal.