Olsson leads Liverpool response
Liverpool Women ended a five-match winless run in the Women’s Super League with a composed and forceful 3-0 victory away to Brighton. The result lifted Gareth Taylor’s side to eighth place on 11 points, moving them above Brighton on goal difference and providing a much-needed response after a difficult sequence of results.
The visitors made an immediate impact. Beata Olsson opened the scoring inside four minutes, meeting a delivery from Vivien Endemann and directing it in at the near post. It was Olsson’s fourth league goal of the season and set the tone for a Liverpool performance built less around prolonged possession and more around quick, direct attacks into space.
That approach represented a deliberate change from Liverpool’s usual possession-based style. Brighton had more of the ball during the opening half, but the home side struggled to turn that control into clear chances. Liverpool, by contrast, looked dangerous when they moved forward at speed and created the better opportunities before the interval.
Brighton fail to capitalise
Mao Itamura came close to extending Liverpool’s advantage after turning Maisie Symonds inside the area, but she could not finish from close range. Endemann then broke into the penalty area and chose to shoot, with Brighton goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie making the save. The move also offered Liverpool other options, with Olsson and Cornelia Kapocs available to receive the ball.
Brighton improved as half-time approached and appealed for a penalty after Samantha Kerr appeared to foul Olaug Tvedten in front of goal. The claim was rejected, leaving Liverpool with their narrow lead intact despite the hosts’ late pressure. Brighton also had to wait until the closing stages of the half to register their first shot.
Kapocs and Olsson secure the points
Any momentum Brighton had built disappeared shortly after the restart. Less than three minutes into the second half, Symonds’ misplaced pass travelled across her own penalty area. Kapocs reacted quickest and finished into an unguarded net, giving Liverpool a two-goal cushion and turning a potentially tense contest into one the visitors could manage on their terms.
Olsson completed the scoring 12 minutes from the end. Nnadozie initially kept out her attempt, but the Liverpool forward followed up to put away the rebound and confirm her second goal of the afternoon. The finish completed a decisive individual contribution and ensured Brighton would have no route back into the match.
| Match detail | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Fixture | Brighton v Liverpool |
| Score | Brighton 0-3 Liverpool |
| Liverpool scorers | Olsson, Kapocs, Olsson |
| League position | Eighth, 11 points |
The victory is especially significant given Liverpool’s recent away record. Before this match, they had won only two of their previous 16 WSL fixtures on the road. Taylor’s side therefore produced not simply a result but a performance tailored to the circumstances: Brighton controlled possession for long periods, yet Liverpool were sharper in the decisive moments and more effective in transition.
- Olsson scored twice and now has four league goals this season.
- Liverpool scored in the opening four minutes and added a second soon after half-time.
- The win moved Liverpool above Brighton into eighth on goal difference.
For Liverpool, the final score also brings an emphatic end to a run in which victories had proved difficult to secure. The side’s ability to absorb Brighton’s possession, exploit errors and finish its opportunities gave the visitors a clear margin by the final whistle. With the two teams level on points, Liverpool’s superior goal difference now places them ahead in the table.
