Match reportLiverpool score four in Subway Players Cup win over Sunderland
Liverpool FC Women secured a 4-2 victory over Sunderland in their opening fixture of the Subway Players Cup on Wednesday night.
Zara Shaw, Marie Höbinger (two) and Natalia Ramos were all on target as the Reds were forced to produce a comeback win after initially taking the lead at St Helens Stadium.
Gareth Taylor made nine alterations to his starting line-up for the change of competition, with midfielder Höbinger captaining the side.
Liverpool started on the front foot and forced three corners inside the opening six minutes of the contest.
Beata Olsson then enjoyed the first real opening of the game as she latched on to a ball through the defence from 16-year-old Maizie Trueman.
The striker drove forward and saw a driven shot beaten away by goalkeeper Noa Schumacher.
Sunderland’s stopper was then forced into further action after a ball over the top from Sara Agrez released Aurélie Csillag into the box.
This time Schumacher stretched her fingertips to the ball as the curling shot was kept out by the smallest of margins.
Liverpool’s early pressure finally told just past 20 minutes, with Shaw giving the hosts a deserved lead.
Lily Woodham’s corner kick caused problems for the Black Cats as they failed to clear, leaving Shaw to fire the loose ball home at the second phase of the set-piece.
Sunderland responded by forcing Faye Kirby into a punch inside her own box, while Mary Corbyn jumped to greet a corner, though her header was guided over the bar from in close.
Ahead of the half-time interval, however, the visitors turned the game around to score twice and earn a lead at the break.
Chloe Paxton first converted via a header from a flighted corner delivery, before Ella Parker fired into the net after a knockdown from a long ball into the area.
The Reds responded with a double substitution at the break as Cornelia Kapocs and Fuka Nagano were introduced.
The half was barely 90 seconds old following the restart before Liverpool were level via Höbinger, with the midfielder making the most of a loose pass by pressing Sunderland on the edge of their own box.
As a result, she won the ball and calmly lifted a shot past the retreating Schumacher to score and even the match once more.
And a short while later, the Reds put themselves back in front with two goals in just two minutes - making it three strikes in 10 - as the game continued its topsy-turvy pattern.
Ramos first produced a piece of individual brilliance, dancing into the area on her own to open up space and fire low into the net.
From the restart, Höbinger then struck her second and Liverpool’s fourth, shooting past Schumacher after strong hold-up play from Olsson allowed the midfielder time.
The Reds continued to pile on the pressure with momentum on their side as Ramos went close again, seeing a shot deflect over the bar.
Woodham also had a low effort saved well by the Sunderland goalkeeper, while Mia Enderby’s attempt from distance was easily halted.
Substitute Neve McDonald then flashed a shot inches past the far post, while another player from the bench in Sophie Roman Haug worked a final save from Schumacher from inside the box in the last of the action.
Team
Liverpool: Kirby, Bergstrom, Agrez, Shaw, Woodham, Trueman (Nagano, 46), Ramos (McDonald, 66), Olsson (Roman H., 60), Höbinger (Breen, 74), Enderby, Csillag (Kapocs, 46).
Unused subs: Laws, Bernabe, Endemann, Fisk.
Next up
Anfield awaits on Sunday as Liverpool host Everton in the Barclays Women’s Super League.
Kick-off is 2pm BST and tickets can be booked here.