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Liverpool Women's Manager Vicky Jepson with her players shows her dejection after the final whistle during the FA Women's Super League match at Anfield, Liverpool. ( Nick Potts/PA Wire/PA Images)
This Is Anfield  •  Liverpool FC News  •  LFC Women  •  

Liverpool FC Women squad to “cherish” Anfield bow forever

Liverpool FC Women were left with a “moment to cherish forever” at Anfield on Sunday despite their 1-0 defeat to Everton.

Vicky Jepson’s side welcomed the Toffees to Anfield for the stadium’s first-ever Women’s Super League fixture on Sunday, an historic occasion which saw dreams come true.

The Reds headed into the clash at the bottom of the table having picked up just one point from their preceding five games, while Everton were in fifth position.

The Sunday afternoon kickoff was welcomed by a 23,500-strong crowd who were vocal in their support from the off for the momentous outing.

Liverpool Women dominated proceedings throughout the entire fixture, with Niamh Charles and Rinsola Babajide providing the excitement factor down the wings in the first and second half respectively.

But, as has been the case throughout the season so far, goals continued to be hard to come by for the Reds who entered the clash with just one league goal to their name -and they paid the price.

A long-range effort from Everton skipper Lucy Graham was fumbled over the line by Anke Preuss on the cusp of half-time inflicted a deficit which the Reds were unable to recover from despite their best attempts.

After the game, defender Becky Jane told reporters of her joy at playing Anfield and that her side could take “confidence” from the game, and once the Reds hit the back of the net they will get on a roll.

“[We can] definitely [take confidence from the game]. As a back four we did not get carved open and we were quite solid at the back, the midfield got stuck in and we created a lot of chances it’s just taking them.

“It was incredible to walk out to You’ll Never Walk Alone and to see 23,000 people there was incredible and it shows there is support for the women’s game and hopefully they come back again.

“It most the biggest crowd I’ve played in front of and to hear the crowd roar was fantastic.

“We were the better team in both halves and now it’s just hitting the back of the net. Once we get that first goal it’ll create confidence around the team, but it will definitely come.”

Once they had time to digest the result and reflect on the occasion, the Liverpool Women squad took to social media to express their delight at the turnout.

Babajide and Melissa Lawley thanked the “23,000+ supporters” who came out in support as they both promised to “go again”:

Rhiannon Roberts, Charles and Ashley Hodson, meanwhile, were left “gutted” by the result but the chance to play at Anfield is something they’ll “cherish forever”:

It was a case of expressing pride for playing for Liverpool and celebrating the supporters who got behind the team for Kirsty Linnett and Courtney Sweetman-Kirk:

And Jepson was of the view that “the stronger team lost” as she too expressed her gratitude for the LFC family:

While the Reds ultimately fell to defeat, Jepson and Co. will take the positives out of the clash as they look to climb up the ladder.

And they will not have to wait long to get back out on the park as they travel to face Blackburn Rovers on Thursday evening in the group stages of League Cup, where Liverpool Women have picked up three of a possible nine points thus far.

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