Liverpool 0-2 Everton
By Alyce Collett (4/5/25)
Everton have kept their stranglehold on the Merseyside Derby well and truly alive after recording an impressive 2-0 win over crosstown rivals Liverpool at Anfield.
Goals to Katja Snoeijs and Karen Holmgaard helped Everton get the win, but a mightily impressive performance from the Toffees’ defensive group was the true match winning factor, keeping out wave after wave of Liverpool attack to help give the visitors the win.
Everton made some promising attacking moves, with Snoeijs in particular proving very dangerous.
She was rewarded for the danger she was creating not even seven minutes in, when she snuck the ball into the bottom corner of the Liverpool net past Rachel Laws to give the Toffees the early lead.
Liverpool certainly had plenty of chances to attack the Everton goal– with the likes of Sophie Roman Haug and Olivia Smith driving much of it– but a resolute Everton defence led by Elise Stenevik ensured that the danger posed by any potential Liverpool shots on goal was quickly neutralised.
As the half progressed though, Liverpool continued to pepper the Everton goal, but a tight and at times constricting defensive job from the visitors meant that all those shots on goal amounted to nothing for the home side.
Liverpool almost found an equaliser through a Taylor Hinds long bomb within the last five minutes of the half, but the shot was ultimately inches too high.
In the end Snoeijs’ goal proved to be the only one of the first half, and Everton took the upper hand into the break.
There were a few very telling first half stats.
Although Liverpool had 20% more of the possession in the first half and made 100 more passes than Everton did, Liverpool only managed to get two of their nine shots on target, compared to Everton’s one of two shots being on target.
Liverpool came out after half time on the front foot, continuing to attack the Everton net just like they had towards the end of the first half. Smith in particular, but also players like Marie Höbinger, were certainly keeping the Everton defenders on their toes, but a well organised Everton defence and another stellar performance from Courtney Brosnan denied their crosstown rivals again and again.
Brosnan was a star in the net, making save after save after save, but the Everton defence also played a huge part in keeping Liverpool out, completely outnumbering the Liverpool attackers and positioning themselves in a way that did not overcrowd the defensive area.
Despite the Liverpool dominance in the second half, Everton managed to find a second goal completely against the run of play with just over 20 minutes to go, when Holmgaard’s shot was not dealt with on the line by the Liverpool defence.
The contrasts in defensive confidence was clear for all to see. While Brosnan and the Everton defence were rock solid up one end, Laws and the Liverpool defence were far from confident clearing their line, so shaky in fact that they almost cost themselves a third goal.
However even with only 10 minutes to go, another twist was added to the match when Sara Holmgaard was sent off after picking up a second yellow card in the match for a dangerous tackle. But in the end even having an extra player on the field could not help Liverpool, as Everton held on for one of their most impressive wins of the season.
In perhaps the most telling stat of them all, Liverpool finished the game having had 62% of possession, over 200 more passes than Everton and had a whopping 18 shots on goal in the second half, but only three of them were on target. In contrast, during the second half, Everton had four shots on goal, two of which were on target.
TEAMS: Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Laws, Fisk, Clark, Bonner, Hinds, Kerr, Nagano, Hobinger, Holland, Roman Haug, Smith. Substitutes: Micah, Kirby, Evans, Fahey, Matthews, Kapocs, Enderby, Bartel, Daniels.
Everton (4-1-3-2): Brosnan, Fernandez, Hayashi, Wheeler, Vanhaevermaet, S.Holmgaard, Snoeijs, K.Holmgaard, Gago, Olesen. Substitutes: Ramsey, Hobson, T.Payne, Watson, Sarri, Galli, Weir, Madsen, Thomas.
Scorers: Snoeijs 7’, K.Holmgaard 69’
Referee: Lisa Benn
Attendance: 15,376
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