Everton 1-1 Liverpool – WSL: Player ratings as Merseyside rivals share spoils

Women’s Football Weekend kicked off with a stalemate in the Merseyside derby after Everton and Liverpool played out a 1-1 draw.

A record crowd of 22,161 turned out at Goodison Park to watch an evenly-contested match as two of the WSL’s mid-table sides went toe-to-toe.

The Reds responded well after falling behind, with both sides having second-half goals disallowed as the points were shared.

Everton controlled the opening stages and thought they were through on goal when Agnes Beever-Jones robbed Megan Campbell of possession, but her eagerly aggressive challenge was deemed as illegal and Liverpool were awarded a free-kick before the teenager could pull the trigger.

Campbell went down the other end and showed her offensive presence with a long throw which caused carnage in the Everton box, with Missy Bo Kearns having a fierce shot blocked and cleared.

The hosts took the lead midway through the first half. Captain Gabby George cut inside from the left and put in a curling cross which managed to sneak into the top corner, with goalkeeper Rachael Laws unable to palm the ball to safety.

Brian Sorensen’s side, who had now ended a WSL goal drought which lasted over five hours, thought they had a second soon after. George’s cross went right the way through the Liverpool box and fell to Megan Finnigan, but her fierce half-volley was blocked off the line by Gemma Bonner.

Liverpool’s first real chances of the first half came within a minute of each other. Firstly, Yana Daniels knock down a long ball for Kearns, who dragged a shot from 20 yards well wide.

Soon after, Daniels was again the provider as she teed up the advancing Emma Koivisto who had made a surging run into the Everton box, and with her outreached toe she poked an effort agonisingly beyond the post.

But that pressure soon paid off with an equaliser. Missy Hinds’ shot was taken in stride by Katie Stengel, who managed to side-step a heavy challenge from Rikke Sevecke and fire into the bottom corner.

Sevecke sought to make amends with a goal of her own when Laws flapped at a corner from Nicoline Sorensen, but the Denmark defender’s shot on the turn flew just over the crossbar.