It might be the international break but there was plenty of football taking place at Anfield as summer turned to autumn. First the Liverpool Legends on Saturday, as numerous stars from yesteryear returned to claim bragging rights against bitter rivals Manchester United.
But if Saturday’s occasion was a nostalgia-fest looking back to past, Sunday’s match was a glimpse into the future as 27,574 supporters piled in to watching Liverpool Women battle the first Merseyside derby of the season against Everton.
A 4,000 increase since 23,500 supporters watched the Blues beat the Reds 1-0 back in November 2019 the last time Anfield played host to such an occasion, such an attendance is more than Premier League sides Bournemouth, Brentford, Fulham and Crystal Palace even have the capacity to host for their biggest of occasions and, with the Sky Sports cameras watching, is an exciting sign of the direction the women’s game is heading.
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Of course, we shouldn’t be surprised following the Lionesses’ incredible summer ended in them being crowned European champions. With Liverpool newly-promoted after winning the FA Women's Championship title last season, a new generation of supporters were excited to see what Matt Beard’s team could do at the Reds’ iconic stage.
Expectations were high, perhaps overly so, after Liverpool kick-started their campaign with a 2-1 victory over reigning champions Chelsea last weekend. As a result, the Reds were ultimately brought crashing back down to earth as they suffered an emphatic derby defeat. Rarely threatening goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan, clearly there is still work to be done.
Goals from Megan Finnigan, Jess Park and Hanna Bennison saw Everton run out 3-0 winners and, truth be told, Liverpool were ultimately the cause of their own undoing as they struggled to defend set-pieces, long balls over the top and counter-attacks.
But Beard’s side must walk before they can run. Their story is one of gradual progress, with the Reds’ return to the WSL not one that will end in title triumph at the first time of asking.
With Everton the superior side at Anfield from start to finish, they wasted no time in opening the scoring after Rachael Laws had tipped Finnigan’s long-range, dipping effort over the bar. From the resulting corner, the home side failed to clear and the same player was on hand to head home after forcing Emma Koivisto out of the way.
With just nine minutes on the clock when the opening goal went in, it was a harsh lesson for the Reds and one they struggled to learn from. Matching Everton’s 3-4-3 formation, they found themselves chasing shadows in midfield as the visitors dominated possession and continued to push forward, with Laws alert to tip a Katrine Veje strike behind on what would be an increasingly busy evening for the shot-stopper.
A rare chance for Liverpool went begging after Katie Stengel stole possession and raced through on goal. Alas, supported by Melissa Lawley, she was caught in two minds between passing and shooting as thoughts of scoring at Anfield went through her head. With the ball subsequently caught underneath her feet, she fired harmlessly over the bar.
With such Reds chances few and far between, they were made to pay when Everton doubled their lead shortly after the half-hour mark as Jasmine Matthews got caught under a long ball, allowing the dangerous Park to get in behind and be gifted a free run on goal. Showing great composure in front of the Kop, which Stengel had lacked at the other end, she confidently rounded Laws before rolling the ball home.
Megan Campbell was a rare bright spark for Liverpool, with her delivery into the box, both with her feet and hands as she unleashed repeated threatening long-throws. Yet it was from one of her corners where the Reds missed their next great chance.
After Ceri Holland had flicked the ball on at the near post, it fell back to following scuffed Everton efforts to clear. Yet, she failed to hit the target as she bent her effort wide.
Katja Snoeijs nearly made it 3-0 soon after only to toe wide after combining well with Izzy Christiansen, yet the Blues were never going to be made to regret such a miss.
Rachel Furness replaced the ineffectual Missy Bo Kearns at the break and made a notable difference as Liverpool tried in vain to fight their way back. As a result, Everton remained the more likely to add to the scoreline, with the Reds yet to even test goalkeeper Brosnan, as Snoeijs was twice denied by Laws.
With nothing left to lose, Taylor Hinds started running at defenders and looked the most likely to make anything happen for Beard’s side from open play. Yet she often found herself muscled out as her efforts to get into the box led to nothing.
Furness would have Liverpool’s first shot on target soon after with an acrobatic volley over her shoulder, but it was ultimately easy for Brosnan to gather.
With the result already clear at this point, a youthful crowd continued to encourage the Reds to the best of their abilities and, with Liverpool and Everton fans sat together around the ground, was a throwback to the days of the ‘friendly derby’ that went before. Sadly, a minority also thought it would be wise to cause numerous delays by invading the pitch, disappointingly seeing this occasion as an opportunity to walk the Anfield turf themselves.
This needs to stop. Frustrating the crowd even further with such antics, the guilty parties let themselves, Liverpool and Everton Women and the supporters who remained in their seats down. Sunday's Merseyside derby was not their day, no matter how much they tried to make it so.
Having seen England win the Euros this season, many young girls would have been at Anfield for the first time, excited to see their own heroes and role-models wear the famous Red kit on this famous pitch. Regardless of the age of those who encroached, they didn’t need to witness this disrespect and it’s simply not good enough. Another step in the right direction for Women’s football shouldn’t be disrupted like this.
Everton would score their third late on as Bennison converted after Campbell was dispossessed, though by this point the damage had long since been done.
Stoppage-time would see Liverpool desperately search for a consolation at least, to give their young support something positive to cheer. Furness would see one header deflected off-target, while Yana Daniels could only fire straight at Brosnan when left unmarked at the far post.
Meanwhile, Stengel would head over from close-range with the goal gaping in the dying embers after being picked out by Rhiannon Roberts. The chance for her to score in front of the Kop gone within the blink of an eye.
Sunday’s derby was a missed opportunity for Liverpool Women to build momentum at Anfield, against their local-rivals in front of a near-30,000 crowd. They will go to bed frustrated that they couldn’t deliver more.
Yet Everton are the giants on Merseyside when it comes to Women’s football, showing the Reds what they need to do to catch up. Three points from their opening two games, having downed the champions, is arguably more than Beard and his side could have hoped for.
Derby day might not have gone as planned, and there is plenty more work to be done, but Liverpool won’t have it any other way as they look to cement their place back in the WSL with a whole new generation of fans watching on.
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