Arsenal 0-1 Liverpool: Record crowd at Emirates as Reds walk away with a surprising opening win
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Miri Taylor celebrates Liverpool’s winning goal in the Emirates
It’s not the start of the new Women’s Super League season that the Emirates’ record fans were waiting for. Arsenal, the big players in the summer transfer window, are already playing catch-up after Miri Taylor silenced the WSL’s record crowd of 54,115 and got an organised and incredibly resilient Liverpool to a surprise victory.
What was supposed to be new striker Alessia Russo’s big performance suddenly turned into a setback on matchday one for Jonas Eidevall’s side when Taylor gave Liverpool the lead shortly after the break. The Gunners were expected to lead a bigger challenge against the champions. Chelsea in the name race this season, but England star Russo, after arriving from Manchester United on a sluggish transfer, the historic signing who struggled in his deyet. Collectively, Arsenal did not play with the same fluidity as usual and Liverpool survived the tension of the past. to claim a remarkable victory.
Perhaps Arsenal are hoping history repeats itself: Last season, Liverpool also stunned Chelsea on the opening weekend, but the champions bounced back to win a fourth straight title. But Liverpool themselves are hoping to start from there. It was the Reds’ greatest achievement. victory since beating Chelsea at home; The fact that Matt Beard’s team pulled off this heist away from home and in front of the biggest crowd in WSL history suggests they can do it, particularly on the back end of the last campaign.
Liverpool survived long periods of pressure from Arsenal and scored just two minutes into the second half, with Taylor converting a low cut from the lively Missy Bo Kearns. Arsenal’s defence, not for the first time, is questionable, with Taylor allowing time in the box to push Manuela Zinsberger to finish. Bo Kearns, Liverpool’s scouser, also threatened with a free-kick in the first half that went narrowly wide, but the rest of the game was one-sided.
Liverpool goalkeeper Rachael Laws made a series of clever saves, but the visitors also made the most of their chances, with Caitlin Foord’s cross deflected wide and kissing the most sensitive part of the crossbar amid several scuffles in the penalty area that did not go Arsenal’s way. . Russo, who had a quiet game, had no clear chances to open his account. Arsenal had spent much of the first half searching for the Lionesses’ star, but came closest when Frida Maanum’s ball in the face cut out before Russo could barely end up in an empty net.
Russo was silent on his WSL debut with Arsenal
The rules also had to be strict to save Lotte Wubben-Moy’s header, Maanum’s volley and Kim Little’s shot, but Liverpool made sure most of Arsenal’s attempts came from distance. In the 10 minutes of stoppage time, the hosts only controlled one blocked shot. Liverpool, who can only call up five players on the substitutes’ bench, kept their pitch and defence firm until the end.
It is, however, yet another blow for Arsenal. While Liverpool were already running with a reduced squad, the Gunners have upped their strength and intensity in the window and Eidevall could turn to new signings and World Cup stars such as Kyra Cooney-Cross and Amanda. Ilestedt from the bench, as well as Stina Blackstenius and Victoria. But Arsenal now have a first defeat to carry to their surprise and be eliminated from the qualifying rounds of the Women’s Champions League. The WSL’s comeback was meant to boost morale but, on a record-breaking day, Liverpool spoiled the party.
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Russo was silent on his WSL debut with Arsenal
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Miri Taylor celebrates Liverpool’s winning goal in the Emirates
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