Liverpool picked up their first win since October with a 1-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers in the Continental Cup.
Sunday's clash marked the start of four consecutive home games for Liverpool, and the Reds took to the turf at Prenton Park looking to continue their excellent cup form. Matt Beard's side started the day at the top of Group B, having already defeated Sunderland and comfortably dispatched Leicester in the competition this term.
The hosts made eight changes from the side that were pegged back by Reading in the Women's Super League on Thursday night, with goalkeeper Faye Kirby making her first appearance in Red since signing from Everton in September. There was also a familiar face in Blackburn's starting XI, with former Liverpool defender Evie Smith coming up against her old club following her own summer switch from Merseyside to Lancashire.
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It was Liverpool who made the brighter start to the action, with wing-back Rhiannon Roberts - fresh from her goalscoring exploits in midweek - whipping a flurry of searching balls into the box to send the Blackburn defence into disarray. The visitors did well to limit the Reds to few clear cut chances early on, with Megan Hornby seizing every opportunity to probe the Liverpool back line and trying her luck with an ambitious shot from distance after spotting Kirby off her line.
The hosts soon grew into the game and nearly made their early posession count shortly before the half-hour mark; Emma Koivisto nodding Roberts' cross onto the roof of the next before Melissa Lawley's curling shot cannoned off the bar. Liverpool capitalised on their dominance on the stroke of half time, with Jasmine Matthews nodding home a sublime Carla Humphrey cross to give Matt Beard's side a deserved lead heading into the break.
The Liverpool boss made three changes at the break and top-scorer Katie Stengel nearly made an instant impact as she motored towards the Blackburn goal and saw her shot comfortably saved by Brooks. The visitors defended heroically in the second half, with Liverpool's biggest chance coming when Leighanne Robe's side-footed effort sailing just over the bar on 79 minutes.
The late introduction of Shanice van de Sanden sparked a host of tantalising deliveries into the box, but the Reds were unable to add to their tally. The win sees Liverpool extend their flawless start to their Conti Cup campaign, with Matt Beard's side to battle Manchester City for the top spot in Group B when the two sides meet at Prenton Park in December.
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