Albion pay for mistakes in heavy defeat

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Melissa Phillips' side went down 4-0 at Liverpool in the WSL on Sunday.

Richie Mills

2023-11-26T16:07:00Z

Elisabeth Terland bravely charges down Courtney Brosnan's clearance.

Albion fell to a disappointing 4-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Women's Super League at Prenton Park on Sunday.

After their 3-1 Conti Cup win over West Ham in midweek, the visitors were looking to build on their positive recent performances but despite having the better chances early on, that progress was checked by Gemma Borner’s opener in the 27th minute.

A mistake in midfield was then punished by the Reds as a quick counterattack saw Shanice Janice van de Sanden fire past Sophie Baggaley just before half-time.

Vicky Losada.

Melissa Phillips’ team, who had played so well in recent weeks against the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United, conceded a soft third through Ceri Holland, and Sophie Roman Haug rounded off the scoring to make it back-to-back WSL losses.

The game began in frantic fashion, with former Albion player Emma Koivisto going close for the hosts at one end and Pauline Bremer being brilliantly denied by a diving Teagan Micah at the other.

The visitors were looking particularly dangerous from Maisie Symonds’ set pieces, but Charlie Rule and Elisabeth Terland were unable to provide the necessary finish from close range.

Terland nearly caught out goalkeeper Micah when her cross-come shot nearly fizzed into the top corner from a tight angle, only for the Australian to make a fingertip save.

Emma Kullberg goes past her marker.

Shortly after Micah stopped Bonner from scoring an own goal with a superb reflex save, the Liverpool defender’s glancing header nestled in the corner for the opener.

That goal took the wind out of Albion’s sails and after Jorelyn Carabali failed to clear the danger in midfield, the Reds broke at speed and Van de Sanden's effort from six yards had too much power for Baggaley.

The away side perhaps should have been awarded a penalty late in the first half when Bremer was fouled, only for a free-kick to be given; leaving Albion with it all to do after the interval.

Terland fired a warning shot at Matt Beard’s side when her flicked header flew onto the roof of the net shortly after the break.

Melissa Phillips has left her role as women's head coach.

But the game was well and truly over when Guro Bergsvand’s error at the back was pounced upon by Roman Haug, whose dinked pull-back was headed home by Holland in the 63rd minute from inside the six-yard box.

Baggaley pulled off a terrific save to deny Van de Sanden when put through on goal as the Merseyside team dominated the second half. Frustration was creeping into Albion's ranks and Leanne Kiernan nearly made it 4-0 when her strike crashed off the crossbar.

Then, Roman Haug’s goal in second-half stoppage time completed an excellent day for the hosts and a forgettable one for Albion.

Phillips’ team, who lost 3-0 to Arsenal last weekend, head into the international break in eighth place and take on Leicester City on 10 December at Broadfield Stadium in their next game.

Albion: Baggaley; Rule, Thorisdottir, Bergsvand, Carabali (sub: Lee 46), Kullberg; Losada, Symonds (Zigiotti 68), Robinson (Sarri 67), Bremer (Pinto 68); Terland