Wilson's wonder goal not enough for Palace as they lose to Liverpool 2-1

Liverpool 2-1 Crystal Palace

by Football Reporter

Liverpool returned to winning ways after a 2-1 victory at home to Crystal Palace at Prenton Park.

The game got off to a flyer with a goal inside the first two minutes.

One pass from Melissa Lawley cut open Crystal Palace’s defence and slip through Taylor Hinds, who was able to keep her cool and composure to finish into the far corner.

The hosts kept a strong defence, limiting Palace's goal attempts and almost doubling the lead after 15 minutes when Leanne Kiernan beat the goalkeeper after a cross from the byline, but the crossbar saved the visitors from going two behind.

Soon after, there was a big chance for Palace to level the score after a misplaced back pass to the goalkeeper allowed Millie Farrow to go through one-on-one but her shot was brilliantly saved by Rachael Laws.

The follow up from Molly Sharpe was also kept out by Laws with excellent reflexes.

Just after the half-hour mark, the visitors were level.

Siobhan Wilson’s cross from the corner of the area turned out to be an effort out of the very top draw which flew into the far top corner of the net.

There was almost an instant reply from Liverpool as the visitors were yet again caught out at the back as Ashley Hodson was able to slip the ball past the goalkeeper who was wrong footed to restore the lead.

Liverpool brought to life a quiet second half ten minutes from the end. Hinds almost scored her second only to be denied by superb defending from the away side, after her shot was blocked inside the area, but the game ended 2-1.

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Crystal Palace defender Annabel Johnson said: "We are disappointed with the two goals that we have conceded today, but I thought overall we are happy with our performance. We passed the ball well and it is a shame we didn’t get the three points.

"We are building a process - last season we lost 4-0 away to Liverpool and this season we have been still in the game at the last minute. We have had good possession in the second half particularly, so there is good progress, we just need to turn performances into results.

"There is a good feeling in the camp, we know what we need to work on. There is great work rate from the girls - we have had a bit of a tough week with injuries and illness so I thought they all came out and worked their socks off today.

"It was a great team goal for us. It would have been nice to go in drawing at half time, but we come out in the second half and tried to take the game back to Liverpool, the resilience was good from us and we have to take credit for that."

Liverpool manager Matt Beard said: "I thought first half we were excellent, and we could have been out of sight with the opportunities we had.

"Palace competed and created chances, so I was pleased with the way we saw the game out. That is three games now unbeaten and hopefully we can tick that one off and push on.

"We looked at trying to play from the back, and in the second half they made that difficult for us as they pushed the wingbacks back.

"I think it is a process, we said before the game we wanted to dominate possession, but we also wanted to defend in the same way, setting traps for them to fall into, and I thought we did that today."

Liverpool: (3-4-3): Rachael Laws; Charlotte Wardlaw, Taylor Hinds, Leighanne Robe, Jasmine Matthews (c); Missy Bo Kearns, Meikayla Moore, Melissa Lawley; Leanne Kiernan, Cheri Hollan, Ashley Hodson

Substitutes: Carla Humphrey for Hodson 63', Jade Bailey for Bo Kearns 87', Georgia Walters for Kiernan 90+2'

Substitutes not used: Ryle Foster, Rhiannon Roberts, Lucy Parry, Rachel Furness, Hannah Silcock, Yana Daniels, Georgia Walters

Goals: Taylor Hinds 2', Ashley Hudson 37'

Bookings: Ashley Hodson 47'

Crystal Palace: (3-4-2-1): Emily Ormon; Annabel Johnson, Leanne Cowan, Aimee Everett; Siobhan Wilson, Gracie Pearse, Grace Coombs, Charley Clifford; Molly-Mae Sharpe, Millie Farrow; Coral-Jade Haines

Substitutes: Kirsty Barton for Coombes 72', Sophie McLean for Farrow 72'

Substitutes not used: Chloe Morgan, Leigh Nicol, Hannah Churchill

Goals: Siobhan Wilson 33'

Bookings: Millie Farrow 34'