A Ceri Holland double helped Liverpool come from behind to triumph over Brighton in the Women's Super League on Sunday afternoon to help continue their survival in the league.
Matt Beard made three changes to the side that were held to a goalless draw at West Ham last time out, with striker Natasha Dowie making her first competitive start since joining the Reds on loan in January. Brighton, meanwhile, were unchanged from the side that edged Everton in a five-goal thriller in midweek, with the Seagulls having looked like a side transformed since the arrival of new head coach Melissa Phillips.
Liverpool's first chance of the game came after 10 minutes, with Dowie drilling an effort straight into the gloves of Lydia Williams after an excellent lofted delivery into the box from Missy Bo Kearns. Brighton grew into the game, though, with Leighanne Robe making some crucial interceptions to twice deny the dangerous Veatriki Sarri from getting her shot away inside Liverpool's 18-yard box.
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And the Seagulls capitalised on their dominance after 39 minutes, with Elisabeth Terland's audacious effort from distance looping over the head of Rachael Laws to give the visitors the lead. Liverpool restored parity shortly after the break through Ceri Holland, who fired past Williams after some superb work from Shanice van de Sanden down the right flank.
Holland doubled her goal tally after 70 minutes, firing home from a tight angle after a sublime ball over the top from Leighanne Robe.
The victory sees Liverpool move nine points clear of the drop zone ahead of next weekend's trip to relegation favourites Leicester.
Here, the ECHO takes a look at the four key talking points from Prenton Park.
Liverpool close in on survival
Ahead of Sunday's game, Matt Beard admitted that his side "probably need one more win to guarantee safety".
At the start of play, the Reds had 16 points, and were four places above the drop zone. It was a tally that would have more than likely ensured their top-flight survival but victory over the Seagulls has once and for all assuaged fears that they could be dragged into a relegation dogfight.
While it has been a season of highs and lows - with January's 6-0 mauling at Manchester United the crushing nadir - Liverpool have taken another huge step towards their ultimate goal: staying in the Women's Super League.
They had do it the hard way, and they will certainly have plenty more of obstacles to overcome in the coming weeks.
Dowie & co make welcome return
Veteran striker Natasha Dowie made a sensational Liverpool return in the January window, with Matt Beard keen to bolster his attacking options heading into the second half of the season.
"I think the biggest thing for us is that Tats is a goalscorer," the Liverpool boss said after Dowie arrived on loan from Reading. "If you look at her record, it’s consistently a goal every other game throughout her career.
"When the opportunity arose to bring her in – the fact she’s a Liverpool fan as well – we felt it was a good move for us and a good move for her."
A cocktail of injuries and a sporadic fixture list have prevented Dowie from really being able to make her mark on Merseyside, with the 34-year-old having made just one substitute appearance ahead of Sunday's clash with Brighton.
She showed glimpses of quality against the Seagulls, twice stinging the palms of Lydia Williams in the opening stages. Her ability to hold up the ball was key to relieving some pressure on Liverpool's defence, who were under siege for spells in the first half.
Competitive starts have also been hard to come by for summer signing Shanice van de Sanden, who's second spell on Merseyside has been severely hampered by injury. However, the Dutchwoman rewarded her manager's show of faith by turning in an impressive display on her return to the starting XI.
The winger showed glimpses of her explosive pace early on before turning provider for Holland in the second half. With Melissa Lawley also getting some vital minutes off the bench after almost two months out with a hip problem, Liverpool's attacking arsenal looks stronger than ever, and Beard will be grateful to have the luxury of selection headaches between now and the end of the season.
Nagano grows into game
Since Fuka Nagano's arrival in January, Liverpool's midfield has looked transformed. The Japan international has firmly established herself as a fan favourite, with her diminuitive stature often at odds with her battling spirit, and her eye for a pass so regularly the key to unpicking even the most stringent of defences.
In the first half, Nagano was unable to really impose herself on the game, although her defensive nous was vital in helping the Reds to keep the gutsy Seagulls at bay. It was her international teammate, Geummin Lee who was pulling the strings in the middle of the park, although there was something of a role reversal after the break.
Indeed, Nagano's second half resurgance is proof enough that when she plays well, Liverpool do too.
Liverpool respond to adversity
In the first half, Sunday's encounter at Prenton Park was low on quality. Both sides looked dangerous on the break but seemed to falter in the decisive moments.
Liverpool in particular were culpable of lacking a cutting edge in the final third and needlessly surrendering possession. It's perhaps unsurprising the Reds looked a little off the pace, considering they have had three weeks without a competitive fixture.
Brighton, conversely, were playing their third game in nine days and, even before Terland's stunner, looked most likely to go on and win the game. But this Liverpool side have had to learn to weather the storm and respond to adversity in their first season back in the top-flight.
From losing the prolific Leanne Kiernan on the opening day of the campaign to suffering a humbling defeat at the hands of their archrivals, the Reds have had plenty of knocks to contend with. But, as they did against Tottenham in March, Beard's side responded admirably to going behind.
Indeed, Liverpool looked like a side transformed after the break, and their ability overcome setbacks once again bore fruit.
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