The points were split as West ham travelled to Prenton Park to take on struggling Liverpool in Sunday’s Women’s Super League clash.
After an impressive victory last week against Manchester United, West Ham looked to gain some momentum and build on what has been an inconsistent start to the season.
Their fixture against bottom placed Liverpool, who had a single point and a single goal to their name all season the scene was set perfectly for them to do so.
West Ham Dominance
Matt Beard was forced to rotate his attacking options, giving starts to January signings Adriana Leon and Cho So-Hyun who started ahead of the suspended Leanne Kiernan and Alisha Lehmann who wasn’t included the squad.
It was the ideal start for the visiting team after Leon’s deflected shot rolled into the Liverpool net on her return to the starting line-up.
Right back, Cecilie Kvamme’s perfect cross from the right-hand side was finished by Leon in the fifth minute.
West Ham continued to press Liverpool throughout the first half, with most attacks coming down the right flank. The combination of Kvamme and Kenza Dali proved difficult to deal with early on.
The work rate of West Ham’s front three, made it very hard for Liverpool to get a foothold in the game as they struggled to produce any worthwhile attacking opportunities.
As half time dawned in Merseyside, Martha Thomas put the ball just wide from Katharina Baunach’s through ball for what could have been a crucial goal.
Lively Liverpool
In the dying moments of the half, Liverpool began to create chances, but couldn’t find the equaliser. The home side’s best chance fell to Ashley Hodson, whose finished lacked composure after Melissa Lawley did well on the wing to find the forward.
Moments later, Niamh Charles intercepted a pass from West Ham goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan, but no one got on the end of an inviting cross for the Reds.
Similarly to the first half, West Ham began the second half as the stronger side with Kenza Dali being the source of a lot of West Ham’s attacks. The French international’s strike on the edge of the box was acrobatically saved by Frances Kitching.
Reds’ Fightback
Twenty minutes into the second half, after a solid defensive spell, Liverpool got their opportunity to score from the penalty spot.
Laura Vetterlein brought down Rhiannon Roberts during a Liverpool corner, giving the home side a golden opportunity to equalise. Lawley fired the penalty low and wide preventing her side from levelling the match.
As the game progressed, Liverpool found another gear and started to pressure West Ham. A period of sustained attacks came to an end when Charles converted Lawley’s deflected cross, despite strong claims from West Ham defenders for an offside. The goal stood, doubling Liverpool’s tally for the season.
Return Of De Graaf
In what was a frustrating game for West Ham, a positive was the return of Esmee De Graaf. The Dutch forward made an appearance for the Irons for the first time in a year, after suffering an ACL injury against Brighton & Hove Albion in December 2018.
Prior to the game, De Graaf revealed her excitement to the club’s website on being back in the squad. “It’s been a long and hard journey. I worked for this for 12 months with my rehab and everything, so it means so much to be back.”
Both teams searched for the winner in the dying moments. Firstly, West Ham’s second half substitute, Jacynta Galabadaarachchi’s curling shot went just wide of Kitching’s far post before Liverpool’s Courtney Sweetman-Kirk’s close–range header was caught by Brosnan.
Despite not being the win they’d hoped for, West Ham have put together two consecutive unbeaten games for the first time this season, giving them a lot to build on for Wednesday’s league cup clash with Crystal Palace.
A win for the Irons would confirm their progression to the knockout stages of the tournament.
