Everton 0-0 Liverpool: Tame WSL Merseyside derby ends in draw

[Pelican Press 0]

Everton 0-0 Liverpool: Tame WSL Merseyside derby ends in draw

Everton have won the last three Merseyside derbies at Anfield but drew 1-1 with Liverpool at Goodison Park last season

Everton and Liverpool played out a goalless draw in the Merseyside derby in an uneventful afternoon at Goodison Park.

The visitors arrived in good form, knowing a point would be enough to jump above Manchester ******* into fourth place in the table, while Everton were seeking a first victory this month.

The Reds had triumphed just once in seven WSL meetings with Everton but there was confidence in the build-up that they could make up for their defeat at Anfield earlier this season.

But a stop-start game, hampered by an injury crisis at Everton and a lack of quality shown by Liverpool, made for a dull encounter in which neither side really imposed themselves.

The 9,457 watching at Goodison Park had little to cheer about until Everton’s Lucy Hope struck a fierce effort on to the crossbar in the second half and team-mate Justine Vanhaevermaet tested goalkeeper Rachael Laws with a fizzing long-range effort.

Asked about the attendance and whether Everton had hoped for a ******* crowd, manager Brian Sorensen said: “I’m happy for everybody who showed up, I hope they had a really good time. Of course we want to grow the game as much as we can.

“I don’t have an answer as to why there wasn’t more because it’s Sunday, 1pm, there should be. I saw a lot of families in the stands. But I was just happy there was a good crowd and they created a good atmosphere.”

Everton’s Emma Bissell had fired into the side-netting in the first half, before Jasmine Matthews’ effort was brilliantly blocked by Vanhaevermaet at the other end.

Liverpool rarely tested goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan, although striker Sophie Roman Haug attempted a chip from long range in the first half which almost caught her out and midfielder Ceri Holland made a dangerous dart towards goal in stoppage-time.

Sorensen’s Everton had brief periods of pressure later on but did not record a shot on target until the 79th minute in a largely forgettable Merseyside derby.

Missed opportunity for Reds against injury-stricken Everton

This was a real opportunity for Liverpool to stamp their authority on Everton in a rivalry that has often gone the Blues’ way in the WSL – but they did not take it.

Memories of Everton fans celebrating in the Kop at Anfield following their 1-0 win back in October were still fresh in the minds of the players this week but Matt Beard’s side ******* to capitalise against a home side badly weakened by injuries.

It was a credit to Everton then, that they were able to stifle Liverpool’s momentum and did not allow their neighbours to gain any control at Goodison Park.

From the first minute, it was a scrappy encounter, with both sides lacking intensity and fluidity and Everton only applying pressure later in the second half.

The hosts looked more likely to score though, which will give Sorensen’s side a boost as they try to navigate the final stages of the season and look to rebuild in the summer.

Liverpool, whose successful campaign is shown in their jump up to fourth place, will be hugely disappointed not to have got something more from the game and they will finish yet another season having ******* to upset their biggest rivals.

Line-ups

Everton Women

Formation 4-1-4-1

1Brosnan

22Galli8Vanhaevermaet20Finnigan17Hope

21Kühl

19Payne7Wheeler10Bennison11Bissell

25Snoeijs

• 1Brosnan
• 22Galli
• 8Vanhaevermaet
• 20Finnigan
• 17Hope
• 21KühlSubstituted forPiemonteat 74′minutes
• 19Payne
• 7Wheeler
• 10BennisonSubstituted forHolmgaardat 85′minutes
• 11BissellSubstituted forVejeat 74′minutes
• 25Snoeijs

Substitutes

• 2Veje
• 12Ramsey
• 13Hart
• 15Dale
• 18Piemonte
• 28Holmgaard
• 30Wilding
• 39Hobson
• 40Settle

Liverpool Women

Formation 3-4-3

1Laws

17Clark5Fahey4Fisk

32Parry8Nagano18Holland6Matthews

7Kearns9Kiernan10Haug

• 1Laws
• 17Clark
• 5Fahey
• 4Fisk
• 32ParrySubstituted forLawleyat 74′minutes
• 8Nagano
• 18HollandBooked at 14mins
• 6MatthewsSubstituted forDanielsat 64′minutes
• 7KearnsSubstituted forHöbingerat 59′minutes
• 9KiernanSubstituted forEnderbyat 59′minutes
• 10Haug

Substitutes

• 11Lawley
• 13Enderby
• 14Höbinger
• 16Micah
• 19van de Sanden
• 20Daniels
• 23Bonner

Referee:

Kirsty Dowle

Attendance:

9,457

Live Text

1. Match ends, Everton Women 0, Liverpool Women 0.

2. Second Half ends, Everton Women 0, Liverpool Women 0.

3. Mia Enderby (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.

4. Foul by Katrine Veje (Everton Women).

5. Attempt blocked. Martina Piemonte (Everton Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lucy Hope.

6. Delay over. They are ready to continue.

7. Delay in match because of an injury Ceri Holland (Liverpool Women).

8. Foul by Jenna Clark (Liverpool Women).

9. Martina Piemonte (Everton Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

10. Corner, Liverpool Women. Conceded by Courtney Brosnan.

11. Attempt saved. Ceri Holland (Liverpool Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

12. Marie-Therese Höbinger (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

13. Foul by Karen Holmgaard (Everton Women).

14. Melissa Lawley (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

15. Foul by Martina Piemonte (Everton Women).

16. Niamh Fahey (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

17. Foul by Karen Holmgaard (Everton Women).

18. Attempt missed. Sophie Haug (Liverpool Women) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Marie-Therese Höbinger.

19. Attempt missed. Megan Finnigan (Everton Women) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Katrine Veje with a cross following a corner.

20. Substitution, Everton Women. Karen Holmgaard replaces Hanna Bennison.

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