Alessia Russo scored a brace to ensure Arsenal left Liverpool with all three points after an entertaining encounter on Merseyside.
After Russo had netted within the first ten minutes, the home side levelled the scores with a smart finish from Beata Olsson but it was Arsenal’s on form striker who had the final word, nodding home late in the first half to make safe the three points. Liverpool suffered a surprise 4-1 defeat to West Ham last time out and were looking to bounce back in front of their home fans at Anfield. Liverpool held an unenviable record against the visitors coming into this one, having lost thirteen Barclays Women’s Super League home matches in a row against Arsenal. Gareth Taylor’s side received a much needed boost ahead of the visit as club captain Grace Fisk signed a new deal with the club on Saturday. Fisk started at the back for Liverpool. The back-line was unchanged from defeat in East London with the only change coming further up the pitch as Vivien Endemann started in place of Alice Bergström after scoring off the bench last week. Taylor confirmed that the match would come too soon for Ceri Holland but he hopes the Welsh winger might return to the training pitch next week. Anna Jøsendal, Sophie Roman Haug and Lily Woodham remain sidelined with Aurelie Csillag likely to miss the rest of the season after rupturing her Achilles tendon.
Arsenal travelled to Liverpool after a frustrating 1-1 draw against Aston Villa had somewhat stunted their brief renaissance in form. The Gunners remained without Mariona Caldentey, Selina Cerci, Michelle Agyemang and Chloe Kelly all remained absent from the match day squad with various injuries. As did Katie Reid, who suffered another set-back in training after her initial recovery from an ACL injury last week was tempered by an ankle injury, Renée Slegers confirmed that Reid is not expected back until after Christmas. Steph Catley recovered from a knock against Villa to remain in the starting eleven. Arsenal captain Kim Little returned to the side in place of Kyra Cooney-Cross, Emily Fox and Lisa Baum also returned in place of Ona Battle and Géraldine Reuteler.
The Lineups
LIV: Keating; Kerr, Clark, Fisk, Bernabé; Nagano, Ramos; Kapocs, Endemann, Maclean, Olsson
ARS: Misa; Hinds, Catley, Williamson, Fox; Little, Stanway, Russo; Baum, Foord, Smith
The Action
Arsenal pressed Liverpool high up the pitch in the early minutes, as they looked to take advantage of some evident early nerves that home side exhibited. Lisa Baum was causing problems for Liverpool and Alejandra Bernabé in particular. Running directly at Bernabé twisting right and left the German’s effort on goal was blocked onto the cross bar. In an open start to the match Arsenal caught the home side in transition, breaking quickly Russo had the ball in the middle with Baum and Olivia Smith making smart runs ahead of her. Russo found Smith who’d been making the more central run, but the Canadian’s touch deserted her and her subsequent effort flew over the bar. However within the first ten minutes, Arsenal did have their lead. Smart running towards the bye-line from Fox concluded in the American rolling a sumptuous ball back into the box finding Russo who slammed it into the net. There was a hint of a foul in the build up as Smith appeared to hold back Jenna Clark as she stepped toward the ball, but nothing was given.
In response, Liverpool took their chance when it came as Natalia Ramos found Olsson on the edge of the box, she took a touch before finding the bottom corner. The home side almost took advantage of a seemingly stunned Arsenal side as Clark almost connected with a corner before the visitors were able to scramble the ball away. Liverpool were growing in confidence and after Steph Catley had given away a sloppy free kick just outside the box, Ramos sent a stinging effort from outside the box at Misa Rodríguez who tipped it over the bar. From the resulting corner Liverpool had the ball in the back of the net through Jenna Clark but it was flagged offside despite the ball seemingly touching an Arsenal boot last. Shortly after Russo set Caitlin Foord through charging at the Liverpool defence but her effort from the edge of the box zipped just wide. Foord was involved again driving to the bye-line nutmegging Clark on the way, she cut it back to Smith whose effort on goal was blocked. On the stroke of half time Arsenal re-took the lead, again the move evolved on the right side for the Gunners, Emily Fox found Lisa Baum who lofted the ball into the box first time, Russo nodded it home with a clinical finish.
Liverpool came flying out of the blocks in the second period, Cornelia Kapocs found space advancing into the box quickly, her ball found Ramos who connected with the ball but she was unable to re-direct it goalward. Arsenal grew into the half as the early minutes passed by, Georgia Stanway forced a save from her former team mate Khiara Keating from a tight angle on 52 minutes. With 20 minutes to play Russo should have completed her hat-trick, an excellent ball across the face of goal from Stanway was just intercepted by Clark who toe-poked the ball out for a corner. The home side began piling on the pressure in search of an equaliser, and substitute Mao Itamura was having an impressive impact on proceedings. The Japanese midfielder picked the ball up inside the box and clipped it to Kapocs, who, with the ball behind her was unable to direct it on target. Several goal-mouth scrambles followed for the home side, with Liverpool forcing Lotte Wubben-Moy into a goal-saving block late on as the Gunners held on, just.
Liverpool Player Ratings
GK: Khiara Keating – 7/10 – Not a huge amount that Keating could have done to stop either Arsenal goal after both found the bottom corner. Set Liverpool away on the counter with some expert distribution at times.
RB: Sam Kerr – 7.5/10 – Defended exceptionally well against the threat of Foord on the far side but it was an interesting duel with ebbs and flows in ascendency for both players.
RCB: Jenna Clark – 7.5/10 – Clark was unlucky not to get her name on the score-sheet after finding the net but the offside flag went up. Her goal saving interception against Russo was world class.
LCB: Grace Fisk – 8/10 – Held her ground well in periods of intense Arsenal pressure as balls flew into the box. Both Liverpool centre backs led the match for defensive contributions.
LB: Alejandra Bernabé – 6.5/10 –Bernabé was pushed off the ball too easily by Baum early on and overall Baum had the better of her, she’s had the best season of her career so far this term but today wasn’t her day.
CM: Fuka Nagano – 6.5/10 – The centre midfielders left their centre backs isolated too often but Nagano did well to make smart passes at times.
CM: Kirsty Maclean – 6.5/10 – A player who is reaching closer to her potential with every match, but like her midfield partner she needed to track back more.
CAM: Natalia Ramos – 7/10 – Played a more advanced role against Arsenal today, picked up the assist for Liverpool’s opener and almost scored an expert goal from a dead ball situation.
RW: Vivian Endemann – 6.5/10 – Looked a threat and found space in behind more than once, her 1-2-1 battle with Taylor Hinds was an intriguing one. None of her seven crosses found their target.
LW: Cornelia Kapocs – 7/10 – Fresh off the back of nabbing Liverpool’s October Player of the Month award, she had scored three in her last four matches at Anfield. Kapocs put in a battling if eventually fruitless performance, she had the most key passes of any player for Liverpool on the day.
ST: Beata Olsson – 7.5/10 – Took her chance when it came with expert precision, nutmegging Leah Williamson in the process.
SUBS
Alice Bergström – (62′ Endemann) – 7/10 – She is a positive runner with an excellent delivery and that showed off the bench for her side.
Mao Itamura – (62′ Ramos) – 8/10 – Had a huge impact on the game, her invention, vision and quality stood out.
Mari Ward – (66′ Bernabé) – 7/10 – Another player who played well after her introduction, her range of passing impressed.
Arsenal Player Ratings
GK: Misa Rodríguez – 6.5/10 – If Arsenal continue to concede goals despite not conceding a high volume of shots on target, eventually the keeper needs to be put under the microscope. The Spaniard made some good saves in the final minutes.
RB: Emily Fox – 8.5/10 – Fox was bright on the right hand side and seemed far more ready to swing balls into the box than usual and Arsenal were able to quickly capitalise on that. Within the first 20 minutes Fox already had made three key passes, two accurate crosses and one accurate long ball.
RCB: Leah Williamson – 8/10 – Williamson worked extremely hard to ensure that Arsenal came away with victory, showed her leadership putting her body on the line to ensure victory.
LCB: Steph Catley – 6/10 – Created her own problems at times but often solved them, a slightly chaotic showing from Catley who was withdrawn early in the second half.
LB: Taylor Hinds – 6.5/10 – Hinds has provided balance to the Arsenal defence of late, this wasn’t a highlight reel showing but it was also a solid one. Had to be withdrawn due to injury.
CM: Kim Little – 7/10 – Showed her class at times, picking up the ball and driving into the midfield and picking out visionary passes. Little did not provide Arsenal the defensive solidity her manager would have hoped for however.
CM: Georgia Stanway– 8/10 – Broke up play effectively as Liverpool looked to build in their own half and in Arsenal’s. She had the most tackles and interceptions this afternoon.
CAM: Alessia Russo – 9/10 – A brace from Russo who found space in the box to score both goals for her side, box crashing brilliance from Russo. Moved into the number 9 role once Maanum was introduced. Russo is the life-blood of this Arsenal team at the moment, she has scored each of Arsenal’s last seven goals.
RW: Lisa Baum – 8.5/10 – Demonstrated some excellent early physicality against her marker Bernabé to open up avenues for Arsenal, made a couple of brilliant back tracking tackles, a great assist for Arsenal’s second. Won seven duels which more than anyone else despite coming off in the 56th minute.
LW: Caitlin Foord – 8/10 – The Australian was excellent when running into space, a nutmeg and a big chance created in the first half were particular highlights. Had the joint most key passes and interceptions this afternoon.
ST: Olivia Smith – 5.5/10 – Against her former club she continued to struggle to get to grips with her new position up front, won two of her ten duels from that position, missed two big chances on the day. Looked far more natural when shifted out right following the introduction of Maanum off the bench.
SUBS
Frida Maanum (56′ Baum) – 7/10 – Her return from injury comes at an ideal time for Arsenal and she had a positive impact for her side in the final third.
Élisa De Almeida (56′ Catley) – 6.5/10 – De Almeida has provided welcome back up for Arsenal since joining in the summer.
Smilla Holmberg (77′ Smith) – 6.5/10 – Holmberg was introduced to play on the right wing rather than right full back, had some bright moments of intent moving forward.
Kyra Cooney-Cross (77′ Little) – 5.5/10 – A frustrating cameo from Cooney-Cross who is a player with so much talent, yet soon after coming on she won possession back in front of the Arsenal goal before giving it straight back to the opposition. As Liverpool pushed for a leveller, and Arsenal had a brief respite in midfield Cooney-Cross went for goal from the halfway line when her side needed her to keep the ball.
Lotte Wubben-Moy (87′ Hinds) – N/A –
