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In the opening game of the Toulouse International Cup reigning UEFA Champions League winners Olympique Lyon defeated Liverpool Ladies 6-0.

Following an hour-long delay due to missing oxygen – that led to incredible scenes of a man running the oxygen canister into the stadium for it to be carried in held aloft by tournament official – there were early flashes of Lyon’s predatory instincts in front of goal once the game got underway.

Ada Hegerberg, who by her standards had had a quiet European Championships for Norway earlier in the summer, stalking Reds captain Gemma Bonner as the skipper safely seen a through ball into the arms of Siobhan Chamberlain.

When Liverpool were able to string a series of passes together they looked to build on their confidence, Laura Coombs a stand out in the middle fighting for every ball and constantly looking for opportunities to drive the ball forward.

One such run from the number-eight was halted in it’s tracks by France captain Wendie Renard while a long, threatening ball forward intended for Natasha Harding was instead won by Sarah Bouhaddi.

Alex Greenwood was also getting forward up the left flank; winning a header inside the Liverpool half that Jess Clarke was able to steer back into her path as she bombed up the wing yet her cross was headed away before it could reach a red shirt.

Lyon took the lead inside ten minutes and from the first set piece of the tie, a move that was initially cleared off the goal line by Ashley Hodson yet Hegerberg fired Lyon ahead after Camille Abily swung the ball back into the area.

Liverpool continued to enjoy flashes of possession however the half would turn into an array of ‘almost chances’ for the Reds; a long throw from Kate Longhurst knocked on by Clarke for Harding to give chase, another Longhurst throw nearly culminating in Weir picking out Hodson and Bonner a millimetre away from beating Renard to a Greenwood corner.

Harding and Weir also combined to offer Clarke a shot at goal – one caught by Bouhaddi – while Weir saw a free kick sail over the crossbar.

Meanwhile at the opposite end of the pitch Lyon looked more and more likely to double their lead, Mylaine Tarrieu skipping in from the left and looking to slip the ball to Hegerberg but Chamberlain off her line to gather.

Hegerberg would make it two at the midway point of the half, converting a cross that had been sent in from the right.

From there Liverpool had to defend resolutely to ensure it remained two going in for the break. Coombs twice cleared up as the Reds came under pressure at the back from sustained attacks and Chamberlain holding onto Eugenie Le Sommer’s stinging volley on the stroke of half-time.

Liverpool manager Scott Rogers, heading into his second full season as Reds boss, made one change for the second half with Niamh Charles in for Ashley Hodson in a straight swap.

Charles was immediately involved in the thick of the action, turning away from her marker to battle past a number of Lyon shirts and the England youth international was unlucky not to find Weir after her hard work.

With the first clear cut chance of the second half Lyon extended their lead to three. UEFA Women’s Footballer of the Year nominee Dzsenifer Marozsan had been flown in by helicopter from Monaco following the awards yesterday and made her first impression on the game minutes after being introduced by setting up Le Sommer, who side footed the ball into the back of the net.

The French side continued to look hungry for more goals, Le Sommer looking for Hegerberg who at this point was after a hat trick but would thrice be denied by Bonner.

On sixty minutes Marozsan and Le Sommer made for a deadly combination once more as the German played in the French forward for Lyon’s fourth goal, and Le Sommer teed up Melvine Mallard for the fifth.

A welcome introduction came with eight minutes remaining as the Reds European Champion Shanice van de Sanden took to the pitch, the Dutch winger announcing her return with a shot at goal as she wriggled away from the central defender yet Bouhaddi held onto her strike.

There was time for one more Lyon goal, Marozsan herself getting amongst the scorers with an unstoppable free kick in the eighty-seventh minute.

In Lyon the Reds came up against tough opponents, yet it must be noted that for Liverpool this was just their third game of pre-season following wins over Fylde and Watford. 

The Reds were beaten by a worthy victor earlier this evening – a side widely considered to be the best in women’s football – and as such it is a result that is not worth obsessing over, however one that will provide, as Siobhan Chamberlain tweeted, lessons worth learning for Liverpool’s young squad. 

LIVERPOOL LADIES: Chamberlain, Longhurst (Johnson), Bonner (C), Stoney (Fletcher), Greenwood, Ingle, Coombs, Weir, Clarke (van de Sanden), Hodson (Charles (Rathburn)), Harding

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Laura Coombs

Hello, welcome to my blog on the UEFA Women’s Euros final between Netherlands and Denmark. I was there to support the Netherlands and the properly boss Mandy van den Berg and Shanice van de Sanden and it was the best.

I’d like to begin this blog with a disclaimer by saying first and foremost I am a supporter of Liverpool and have documented over the years ambivalent feelings towards following the English national team. With friends from all over the country I’m convinced this is a ‘Liverpool’ thing, I have friends that support Liverpool that aren’t from Liverpool yet can get wholly behind England yet friends from Liverpool that support Liverpool predominantly aren’t too fussed either way.

In short: I am Liverpool through and through and like to see England do well. That would be the best description. 

Anyway with that out the way, I planned my trip to this summer’s European Championships based on what players I wanted to see; Liverpool players, ex-Liverpool players and Italy.

The first game was the opener, Netherlands v Norway in what was a truly unbelievable atmosphere, a great city and with incredible support. It was completely infectious. Next we went to see Italy, where there was a much smaller crowd yet still in with the Italians again I felt like I could get behind Italy trying to claw a victory back from Russia – particularly when Elena Linari was joined on the pitch by Cristiana Girelli and Barbara Bonansea.

Then it was England. And England were brilliant. A rampant 6-0 win over Scotland of all teams, a Jodie Taylor hat trick, a Lucy Bronze masterclass. 

The only Liverpool player to feature that day however – Caroline Weir – was on the receiving end of the 6-0 defeat and I felt more sorry and sad about that.

Following that and the England games and performances that came next, I couldn’t see past anyone but England winning – Germany, France, Norway then Sweden all out… surely it was England’s year!

So I wanted the Netherlands to do it. Having been there for two of their group games, watching Shanice van de Sanden week in and every other week out for Liverpool and knowing how genuine her and Mandy van den Berg are. I wanted them to win, I love the underdogs.

I tweeted as much – in my defence prior to the Netherlands knocking England out – “My dream is to watch Shanice & Mandy in the final and for Mandy to lift the trophy”.

Which brings me up to the final.

With the final on the other side of the Netherlands we had an absurdly early start, which wasn’t helped by my complete inability to sleep the night before due to excitement. 

My alarm rang at 2:30am and I was up, showered and out of the front door by 3:30am, headed for John Lennon Airport to start what would be one of the best days of my life. There’s no embellishment or exaggerating going on there, it was hands down top three (don’t forget I’ve seen Liverpool win the league twice).

At the airport I met up with Deb, Ley and Oonagh and had a vegetarian breakfast (my sister would be proud of me) yet swapped the fried eggs out for bacon (maybe not so proud).

The flight was delayed a little and I think the pilot came out at some point to explain way but at that stage I could barely keep my eyes open, I don’t even remember take off all I remember is waking up as we were coming down to land.

From Amsterdam we had a two-hour train journey to Hengelo, where we threw our bags in and headed straight for the fanzone in Enschede. I had been impressed by the fanzone in Utrecht but this was four times the size. An ocean of orange that filled two city centre squares and then some. 

We found some FC Twente supporters – a choir no less – and sang them our Shanice van de Sanden song, drawing a round of applause and I signed up to be a ‘Young Red’ because I collect football scarves and wanted a Twente scarf. If you were over 16 membership was €100, under 16 €20 so I told them I was 15 because I didn’t want a €100 scarf.

After meeting Ianthe myself and Deb went to do the fan walk from the fanzone to the stadium, it was a crazy 90 minutes of orange singing and dancing; resembling a pride march yet completely orange and with those epic Dutch dance along hits.

There’s a video Ley and Oonagh took from the train that shows a fraction of how long the orange parade was that I’ll link here, but it doesn’t do it justice it must have been at least a few miles long.

Every five minutes the bus leading the parade would stop and someone on a megaphone would shout out instructions that were obviously in Dutch so we just had to follow the crowd and hope for the best. Most of the time they just wanted us all to get down on the floor, count to ten and then all jump up and around. My favourite though was the dance were you literally just bounce from left to right, right to left and then jump around, it’s deliriously brilliant and fun.

As we walked the streets were also lined either side with people of all ages that had come out their houses to watch and wave flags, filming everything on their phones.

The atmosphere was like nothing I’ve ever experienced in my life, if you could bottle it and sell it you’d be the richest person on the planet.

It was insane and it just built and built and built, the closer you got to the ground and the more people that were milling around, it was insatiable and electric. We met back up with the others at the stadium and basically headed straight in, I was able to hang my flag up by tying it to some railings.

The teams did their thing warming up and then it was time for the closing ceremony, a woman representing each nation taking part in the tournament came out waving that nation’s flag and – it was fantastically entertaining – did ‘battle’ with the other nations. So for example Denmark and Germany’s flag wavers had a blag fight that ended with Germany running to the side and throwing her flag on the floor.

This continued until there were only two flags left standing, Netherlands and Denmark of course, and in fact I’ll have to state here that the only disappointment of the entire day came after the game when the two flag wavers came out once more yet no flags were thrown or battles fought!

Once the game began it was apparent that this was a Denmark team that were taking a wholly different approach to proceeding than the side that showed up in Rotterdam. Pernille Harder was whizzing about here, there and everywhere causing all kinds of trouble for the Dutch defence while at the other end the tried and trusted front three of Lieke Martens, Vivienne Miedema and Shanice van de Sanden were doing the same.

If you’ve followed me for a while you’ll know I have the tendency to get carried away and describe everything as the best, but as this game drew on it was hard not to get carried away by the level of attacking prowess that was on display. It was superb to watch. 

First as Denmark took the lead when Kika van Es stuck a rogue leg out and Nadia Nadim stepped up to smash the ball home from the penalty spot, to van de Sanden setting up Miedema for an equaliser and Martens creating a goal from nothing to put the Netherlands ahead before Harder struck to level the score once more.

Once the half time whistle went you could almost hear this collective ‘and breathe’ from everyone within the stadium, my heart was racing and it felt like my mind couldn’t quite keep up with what was unfolding in front of me.

I’ve even watched the game back since I’ve been home, Kelly Smith describing it on Channel 4 as the “best 45 minutes of football I’ve ever watched” and Eni Aluko calling the action on display “a great advert, not just for women’s football, but for football.” It’s hard to disagree with them.

The game, thankfully, appeared to slow a little in the second half although after Sherida Spitse netted from a free kick the Danes gave me multiple heart attacks with how close they went to getting another equaliser.

Just as we were readying for a tense final few minutes, and I was close to sitting on the floor as I had the second time the Reds won the league, Miedema popped up with goal number six of the afternoon, putting the Netherlands 4-2 up with 88 minutes on the clock.

The stadium went wild and continued to go wild until the final whistle, Miedema was in tears and there was even time for Mandy van den Berg to come from the bench and play the last few minutes of the final.

While waiting for the Dutch to be presented with the trophy we were treated to a playlist of Dutch classics, including Links Rechts which will be getting played at the Select Stadium next season and Auld Lang Syne (not a clue), to which both supporters in the stands and players on the pitch danced along to.

Then came the moment we’d all been waiting for, and the one I had dreamt of yet never thought I’d see – Mandy lifting the trophy alongside co-captain Spitse. What a moment.

Both teams did a lap of honour following the celebrations, the Danes deservedly receiving a great ovation from all supporters in the stands but the biggest cheer of the afternoon came as the trophy passed each section.

Following the game came a brief opportunity to congratulate Mandy through a sea of supporters and then it was almost as if the entire day had caught up on me. We stopped back briefly in Enschede to have some dinner by the fanzone – where the party was in full swing with even the Denmark supporters in attendance. The Danes attendance prompting the DJ to ask, “What is the biggest song from Denmark?” and resulting in the response “Barbie Girl” which turned into hundreds of people singing along to Barbie Girl after winning the Euros. It’s these moments you just don’t get from sitting back at home.

All in all it was an absolute honour to support the Netherlands in the final, from the opening game the people, supporters and players have been a credit to the tournament and the atmosphere is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life! As for Mandy and Shanice it was just incredible to see two people who you know to be genuine and so deserving of every success receive the adulation from the crowds and be crowned European Champions.

This has been a long, long post. I have others to fine-tune to post from the tournament that will be up over the course of the next week, to conclude this one however: I am Dutch, Mandy and Shanice are the best, I love football, Up the Reds.

Natasha Harding |  6  |  vs Everton, Notts, Reading x 2, Arsenal, Sunderland

Liverpool Ladies 4 Reading Women 2

Arsenal Ladies 4 Liverpool Ladies 4

Birmingham City Ladies 0 Liverpool Ladies 2

Liverpool Ladies 4 Sunderland Ladies 0

Scoring four goals for the fourth time in five games and their second clean sheet in two, Liverpool turned out a near-perfect display against a Sunderland side that hadn’t yet conceded in the league.

Weir opened the scoring after bringing down Chamberlain’s long ball on the half way line to skip past a Sunderland shirt, swinging the ball into the back of the net from distance.

Confidence was pulsing through the side, the passing sure and steady with Liverpool sweeping the ball across the pitch with ease, comfortable to patiently build their attack.

Greenwood slipped Harding through to double the Reds lead and – after Johnson came from the bench to tee up Weir for the third – also set up Stoney. The fourth goal impressively Greenwood’s seventh assist of the year. That’s seven assists, in five games.

Bristol City Women 1 Liverpool Ladies 1

Following a promising run Liverpool came up against a well-drilled Bristol defence that were happy to sit back and invite them to attack.

Chelsea Ladies 7 Liverpool Ladies 0

Liverpool Ladies 1 Man City Women 3

The scoreline somewhat flatters Manchester City as Liverpool dominated long swathes of the game, their North West opponents simply converting their chances on the final day of the Spring Series.

City went in two-nil up at half-time with goals from Jill Scott and Melissa Lawley, then found themselves 3-0 ahead with Megan Campbell coming from the bench to net a free kick from an audacious angle.

Liverpool fought back; Clarke agonisingly close to a couple of crosses, Harding almost pressuring the City defence into a mistake and Bonner unable to direct a header on target following Coombs’ corner.

Weir ensured Liverpool would have the final say, scoring the final goal of the series to net a late consolation for the Reds as her left-footed effort crashed in off the post and over the line.

video via Kopzone (Instagram)

The sudden outburst a sign of delirium from the travelling supporters, ending a run of tough away games at Birmingham and watching the Reds and Bonner be absolutely boss and better than Birmingham in every way.

The FA Women’s Super League Spring Series came to an end on Saturday afternoon, Liverpool Ladies falling to a final day 3-1 defeat to Manchester City Women.

The FA Cup winners had took a 2-0 lead in at the break, Jill Scott and then Melissa Lawley putting the Blues in control. Megan Campbell then came from the bench to score a free kick from an audacious angle to further extend the lead, before Caroline Weir struck a late consolation for the Reds.

Perhaps buoyed by the knowledge title rivals – and eventual winners on goal difference – Chelsea had put seven past this Liverpool side the previous week, City came out all guns blazing.

Toni Duggan drifted wide and picked out Carli Lloyd, yet Katie Zelem was back in defence to block the USA captain’s attempt at a cross and the Reds cleared the resulting corner.

Gemma Bonner then beat Lloyd to a cross in the box and intercepted a through ball from Scott looking for Duggan, enabling centre-back partner Sophie Ingle to hook the ball away.

The Reds were defending well in the initial stages of the game, the memories of the heavy defeat at Chelsea fading away as Ingle and Bonner teamed up to prevent Lawley getting into the box. Siobhan Chamberlain also produced a strong hand to punch a Georgia Stanway effort wide.

Liverpool looked to be content to soak up the pressure from their visitors, waiting for the opportunity to break away and almost succeeding – Tash Harding’s pressing almost forcing City into an error at the back, Steph Houghton scrambling the ball away.

Harding has been a revelation for the Reds in 2017, enjoying a fine run of form and looking most likely here in the first half to make something happen.

The Welsh international went on a surging run down the left wing and tried to slip the ball back to Shanice Van De Sanden – this pass intercepted and so too another a minute later, this time Harding attempting to square the ball to Jess Clarke.

The first real chance of the game for either side came midway through the half, Lloyd finding Duggan with a cross and the no.9 turning to shoot inches wide.

Liverpool looked to be getting a handle on proceedings – Clarke spectacularly winning the ball from Jennifer Beattie to charge forward and cross towards Harding, who arrived a second too late to tap it home.

Van De Sanden’s cross was also headed by Laura Coombs to the feet of Weir, yet the Scottish midfielder was quickly closed down.

It was then that City took the lead, Duggan swinging in a corner that was flicked on by Beattie to Scott, who nodded the ball over her international team mate.

The response from the Reds was to create an opportunity of their own via a corner, Harding and Clarke combining to earn the set piece from which Bonner fired agonisingly wide.

Two minutes into injury time City struck again, Lawley had already been denied by Bonner but there was no stopping the next strike. Lawley spinning just outside the area and curling a wonderful strike into the far top corner to double the lead.

Liverpool came out fighting for the second half, looking more and more likely to score as time went on; Coombs’ strike over the crossbar, Clarke’s cross skimming in front of both Weir and Harding and Bonner unable to direct her header on target from a corner.

City were defending well as the Reds dominated possession, the wall doing it’s job to stop Weir’s free kick reaching the goal goal and Marie Hourihan beating Clarke to the ball after Weir and Van De Sanden had exchanged passes out wide.

However it was the Blues that would score next, substitute Megan Campbell curling in a free kick that thwarted Chamberlain from a tight angle.

Credit to this Liverpool side who wouldn’t let their heads drop; Clarke heading a Coombs set piece wide after Niamh Charles had won the free kick for the Reds near the byline, and the number nine also unable to reach a cross in from Harding.

Liverpool boss Scott Rogers made a triple substitution with five minutes to go, Van De Sanden, Charles and Zelem replaced by Ali Johnson, Kate Longhurst and Amy Rodgers.

As the fourth official indicated there would be six minutes added at the end of the second half, Weir struck a left-footed effort from wide of the 18-yard box – the strike going across the face of goal and in off the post to bag a late consolation for the Reds.

LIVERPOOL LADIES: Chamberlain, Hodson, Bonner (C), Ingle, Charles (Longhurst), Coombs, Zelem (Rodgers), Weir, Van De Sanden (Johnson), Clarke, Harding

Liverpool Ladies impressive unbeaten run came to an end on Sunday afternoon as they suffered a heavy 7-0 defeat on the road at Chelsea Ladies.

Chelsea took the lead in the second minute through Gilly Flaherty, while Fran Kirby and Ji So-Yun both scored on the stroke of half-time to extend the lead.

Any hopes Liverpool held of a comeback ended when Maren Mjelde scored at the start of the second half, and Karen Carney, Erin Cuthbert and Drew Spence finished off the rout.

The hosts – playing their final game at Staines Town F.C. before their move to Kingsmeadow – first found the back of the net as Flaherty converted Carney’s corner. The set piece swung in and Flaherty got the slightest of touches on the ball, nodding it between Siobhan Chamberlain and Casey Stoney.

Despite the final scoreline being lopsided, the tie had seemed perfectly balanced in the approach to the midway stage – Chelsea holding the 1-0 lead yet Liverpool knocking on the door.

Ellie Fletcher, who was making her first start for the first team since captaining the reserves to the league title, breaking up play from left-back. The youngster picking out Sophie Ingle and her cross towards Caroline Weir in the area intercepted.

Weir herself then sent a dangerous free kick into the Chelsea box, Millie Bright able to clear this before it could reach a Red shirt. The Chelsea and England centre-back also heading away a cross from Weir minutes later.

Liverpool were looking more and more likely to grab an equaliser, Weir almost finding the run of Natasha Harding and the Welsh international trying to return the favour – Deanna Cooper there to intercept.

Meanwhile at the back Ashley Hodson did enough to put Crystal Dunn of her cross which flew behind the touchline, and Chamberlain gathered a ball from former Liverpool winger Gemma Davison that was searching for Kirby.

A sign of more goals to come however came when Liverpool were again under threat from a set piece. Stoney thrice getting the ball clear, only to see it come back each time and the Reds only let off when Bright’s header was ruled out for offside.

The reprieve wouldn’t last long, ten minutes later Kirby racing onto Carney’s pass and firing the ball past Chamberlain.

Then it was three, Davison’s fierce cross whizzing across the face of goal to land at the feet of So-Yun – the South Korean making no mistakes from a yard out.

Out for the second half there was no letting up from the Chelsea attack, Mjelde extending the lead to four nil only three minutes in.

Liverpool still had their chances to get back into the game, Niamh Charles brought down by Katie Chapman and Coombs’ free kick sent out for a corner. 

Bright then beat Harding to a cross in from Shanice Van De Sanden. While Harding also squared the ball to Sophie Ingle in an advanced position, Ingle looking for Van De Sanden yet goalkeeper Carly Telford getting there first.

One of the Reds biggest chances came in the 64th minute, Van De Sanden fizzing a cross across the face of goal but Weir arriving a second too late and unable to connect.

Scott Rogers made a trio of changes over the course of the second half, Jess Clarke on for Fletcher and Katie Zelem on for Weir – Ali Johnson entering the action later on for Harding. 

The first two subs came either side of Carney’s strike, the England midfielder skipping out of the way of a challenge from Stoney to score Chelsea’s fifth.

Chelsea also made substitutions of their own, Mjelde replaced by Erin Cuthbert, Ramona Bachmann replacing Kirby and Drew Spence on in place of Davison.

In spite of being five-nil up and cruising, the Londoners refused to take their foot off the pedal and scored twice more in quick succession. Both Cuthbert and Spence piling on the misery for the Reds to ensure a heavy defeat for the league leaders.

A glimmer of hope came when Laura Coombs looked to have volleyed the ball home for a late consolation – Telford producing a brilliant save to tip the effort over the crossbar and sending Liverpool back North empty handed.

An uncharacteristic performance from Scott Rogers’ side, who will review the game before taking on Manchester City at the Select Security Stadium on Saturday afternoon – 3:30pm kick-off.

LIVERPOOL LADIES: Chamberlain, Hodson, Bonner (C), Stoney, E.Fletcher (Clarke), Ingle, Coombs, Weir (Zelem), Van De Sanden, Charles, Harding (Johnson)

Vick Jepson’s Liverpool Ladies Development Squad were crowned winners of the FAWSL Northern Development League on Sunday afternoon; coming from a goal down to beat Durham WFC Development Squad 4-1.

Durham had taken a 1-0 lead in at half time only for Cassia Pike to net an equaliser minutes into the second half. Pike added a second fifteen minutes later before setting Lizzie Earle up to extend the lead.

With the title won, Meg Taylor arrived to tap home the fourth and final goal in the closing stages of the game.

Durham’s first attempt – from which they scored – came after Levi Rathburn had shown great strength in the middle to shrug off her marker. Rathburn then switched the ball across to Paige Cole who won the Reds a corner – Lou Ainscow heading this inches wide.

From the resulting goal kick the well-organised Durham side were quick to move the ball up the pitch, their forward slotted the ball over the line with four minutes on the clock.

The Reds kept pushing forward yet were being kept out by the Durham goalkeeper. The ‘keeper getting just enough on Cole’s cross from deep to stop it reaching Elmore and also beat Ainscow to the ball after good work by Meg Taylor and Serena Fletcher.

A clever ball over the top from Earle was also intercepted and S.Fletcher’s shot from outside the box punched away, Pike unable to reach the rebound.

In defence Ellie Fletcher blocked a long range effort from Durham, allowing S.Fletcher to clear up the pitch, and Shannon Beckwith became a real driving force as the half drew on; urging her team mates on and constantly looking to move the ball.

E.Fletcher recently made her debut for the Reds first team and captained the side here, twice going close to scoring from Earle’s set pieces.

With five minutes left in the first half, Beckwith came under pressure at the back yet calmly flicked the ball across herself to play it out with ease.

Out for the second half after a quick pep talk from club captain Gemma Bonner who was there to support the team, the Reds quickly found an equaliser.

Jepson had made one change at the break, bringing  another recent first team debutant Amy Rodgers on for Ainscow – this allowing Earle to move further forward and Rathburn drifting further wide.

It was Pike who fired home the leveller, arriving at the back back to convert Elmore’s cross in from the left.

Buoyed by the goal, Liverpool began creating chance after chance. S.Fletcher and Pike both with efforts blocked and Pike almost finding Earle with an audacious back heel.

Two goals then followed in two minutes, Pike scoring here second of the afternoon from a tight angle and then setting up Earle who produced a fine finish to extend the lead to 3-1.

Durham went looking for a way back into the game, Becky Flaherty though switched on and quick off her line to gather a long ball sent over the top.

The Reds second substitution of the afternoon seen Pike replaced by Annabel Blanchard, who quickly found herself thrown into the action – turning well in the middle to pick out the run of Ainscow, her cross out for a goal kick.

Blanchard was then involved as Liverpool scored their fourth, flicking on Rathburn’s cross which was tapped back to Taylor by Elmore. Taylor making no mistakes from yards out and ensuring the Reds ran out 4-1 winners to secure the league title.

Liverpool Ladies Development Squad: Flaherty, S.Fletcher, Beckwith, E.Fletcher (C), Cole, Taylor, Rathburn, Earle, Elmore, Pike (Blanchard), Ainscow (Rodgers)

Unused Substitutes: Carberry, Boydell, Thomas

Scott Rogers’ Liverpool Ladies were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw away at Bristol City on Saturday evening.

Katie Zelem had come from the bench to fire the Reds ahead with ten minutes to play, yet Bristol equalised just minutes later through a substitute of their own – Lily Agg.

There was just one change to the side that beat Sunderland midweek as Shanice Van De Sanden returned to the starting eleven in place of Niamh Charles.

Chances were sparse during the first half, despite Liverpool showing plenty of promise on the ball – Laura Coombs in midfield a particular stand out, controlling and dictating the pace of the game.

While in defence, Casey Stoney stopped Bristol in their attempts to mount a counter attack and intercepted Chloe Arthur’s cross.

Liverpool also had an abundance of corners yet couldn’t capitalise as they had done in recent weeks, Gemma Bonner first beaten to a header by Jodie Brett and then heading one just wide moments before the break.

The second half followed the pattern of the first, Liverpool looking to build up the play patiently from the back and Bristol sitting back and soaking up the pressure.

The Reds did make an encouraging start with Van De Sanden first seeing her cross deflected away from goal, the Dutch winger getting back on the ball, looking for the run of Coombs only for the Bristol defence to clear.

A Coombs free kick then missed Stoney by inches while Liverpool’s Player of the Year Sophie Ingle shot wide from distance.

Katie Zelem came on for Caroline Weir with half an hour left on the clock, immediately introducing herself with a strike from 40-yard that sailed into the arms of Leach.

Shortly later Ali Johnson also took to the pitch in place of Clarke, while a challenge on Greenwood forced the England left-back off with Kate Longhurst replacing her. 

It was the substitutions that shook up the game, the aforementioned Zelem strike and Bristol substitute Lily Agg showing promise going forward for the hosts. Agg attempting to make a direct run into the Reds area but this matched all the way by Bonner, who was able to square the ball to Chamberlain.

Zelem then opened the scoring on 80 minutes, the midfielder has made a habit out of scoring from the bench, arriving in the right place at the right time to smash the ball into the back of the net. This after Van De Sanden had shook off her marker to cross along the 6-yard box, and flicked on by Harding into the path of Zelem.

Unfortunately for Liverpool, the lead was short lived. Claire Emslie’s cross ricochetting around the area before being converted by Agg.

In the games closing stages Longhurst received a dubious second yellow and Liverpool were reduced to ten players for the last few minutes.

Bonner went close for the Reds in injury time yet Bristol held on to hold Liverpool to a 1-1 draw.

LIVERPOOL LADIES: Chamberlain, Hodson, Bonner (C), Stoney, Greenwood (Longhurst), Ingle, Coombs, Weir (Zelem), Van De Sanden, Clarke (Johnson), Harding

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Laura Coombs

Liverpool Ladies produced an exemplary performance on Wednesday night as they defeated Sunderland Ladies by four goals to nil.

The visiting Black Cats had failed to concede in each of their three previous Spring Series games, yet Caroline Weir scored an audacious strike within the opening ten minutes to break their impressive record.

Tash Harding then scored her sixth goal of the year to double the Reds lead, Weir added another in the second half and Casey Stoney tapped home from a corner to round off the scoring.

Reds boss Scott Rogers had named an unchanged eleven to the side that beat Birmingham at St. Andrews, with new signing from Notts County Amy Turner not yet listed amongst the match day squad.

Alex Greenwood has been in outstanding form amongst a team high on confidence, her attacking flair on the left wing providing the Reds with plenty of opportunities going forward and no less than five assists in three games prior to this tie.

It was Greenwood playing high up the pitch and getting in amongst the Sunderland defence that was causing problems in the early stages of the game – Weir spotting the run of the left-back parallel to the 18-yard box and looking to slip her through.

On this occasion Greenwood was stopped at the edge of the area, yet a cross put in two minutes later bounced around the box before Jess Clarke caught the ball on the volley and her shot sailed over the crossbar.

The way Rogers has set his team up this season allows a certain amount of freedom up front for the trio of Harding, Niamh Charles and Clarke with Weir pulling the strings behind them. Sophie Ingle and Laura Coombs providing the foil ahead of the defence.

A lovely touch on the outside of her boot allowed Weir to evade a crowd of Sunderland players and find Charles. The young forward carried the ball up the pitch, picking out the run of Coombs from midfield. Coombs’ shot rebounded to Clarke and Black Cats goalkeeper Anke Preuss saved.

Sunderland were hardly getting s sniff of the ball when Weir opened the scoring, picking the ball up on the half way line, racing forward and taking one look up before curling the likely goal of the season past Preuss with her left foot.

The Black Cats looked for an immediate reaction however were spurned at every turn, Siobhan Chamberlain punching away Beverly Leon’s shot and Ashley Hodson preventing Abbey Joice connecting with a through ball.

Instead it looked Liverpool most likely to score the second; Weir deftly flicking Harding’s cross towards Clarke, Greenwood seeing a cross land in the arms of Preuss, and also watching a stinging effort rebound off the ‘keeper to the feet of Clarke. Pruess recovering well to deny Clarke at point blank range.

Just over ten minutes later and the Reds had the ball back in the net, a sixth assist of the season for Greenwood who slipped through Harding. Harding in turn slotting the ball low under Preuss to register her sixth goal of the campaign.

The confidence in this Liverpool side has never been more apparent than the following 20-minutes that led up to half-time. The passing, the runs, the staunch back line. Looking dangerous every time they headed forward, Sunderland were barely able to get a handle on the game.

Clarke went looking for her second in a red shirt, first with a curling effort and then rising to meet Hodson’s impressive cross from deep.

While Clarke was gunning for her second, Casey Stoney was unlucky not to have her first. Her header from a Greenwood corner an inch over the crossbar.

A lightning fast run from Harding on the left wing led the forward to the byline, from where she attempted to cut the ball back to Charles only for Victoria Williams to beat her to the ball.

Then Weir weaved her way past a couple of Sunderland shirts before hitting a second strike from outside the area – Preuss wise to this effort and collecting the ball.

At the end of the first half it was Liverpool that came under pressure at the back – shortly after Gemma Bonner went close to scoring at the other end – the Reds captain led her back line as they pushed everything away. Chamberlain producing a strong punch, allowing Liverpool to get out of their half and the referee to blow the whistle for the break.

The Black Cats made one change at the break, Stephanie Roche on for Joice – a substitution that seemed to give the visitors a bit more threat going forwards. In the beginning of the second half, Madelaine Hill seen a shot bounce off the outside of the past and Chamberlain pushed former Red Lucy Staniforth’s effort out for a corner.

Still though it looked like Liverpool would be more likely to extend their lead rather than concede.

Weir’s fierce hit landed to the wrong side of the post after the number ten was teed up by Charles and a quick Reds counter – after Chamberlain had again denied Staniforth – seen Clarke denied at the near post.

Ten minutes into the second half Rogers made his first substitution as Ali Johnson came on for Charles. The change immediately producing a goal as Johnson hooked Bonner’s looping cross into the path of Weir who made no mistake from 6-yards out.

Liverpool were 3-0 up and cruising, able to take their foot off the pedal a little while still showing attacking threat – a great save from Preuss stopping Bonner from scoring her fourth goal in five games and Johnson turning in the middle to play through Greenwood, her shot-cross over the bar.

The Reds made two further changes in the second half, Kate Longhurst on for goal scorer Harding and Ellie Fletcher making her first team debut in place of Weir.

Fletcher has had an impressive first year with the Reds Development Squad, captaining the side as they close in on the league title – needing just a point against Durham on Sunday to confirm the honours.

There was time for one more goal as the game entered it’s final stages – four the apparent lucky number for the Reds who have now scored four in four of their five Spring Series games – Stoney tapping home a Greenwood corner (seven assists!) at the far post.

Liverpool did almost made it five for the first time when Ingle’s header was met with an impressive save from Preuss, the Reds Player of the Year denied and the game ending 4-0.

LIVERPOOL LADIES: Chamberlain, Hodson, Bonner (C), Stoney, Greenwood, Ingle, Coombs,   Weir (Fletcher), Charles (Johnson), Clarke, Harding (Longhurst)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Caroline Weir