There is still a few weeks left of preseason preparations ahead of Liverpool Women, with the Barclay’s Women’s Super League due to start on September 5th. The extra time feels like a good thing, too, as the club just installed Gareth Taylor as a new manager and have made a couple of signings that need to get bedded in before the grind of the WSL.
Those preparations included a friendly at Melwood on Sunday, in which Liverpool Women lost 1-0 to visiting Durham from the WSL 2 (previously the Championship league).
The club website reported on the match, with the deciding goal coming from a long range shot from Beth Hepple. The match was played in 3 30 minute increments due to the heat on Mersyside and Taylor made use of nearly the entire bench, with Ceri Holland and Hannah Silcock only the two Red Women to play the full 90 minutes.
Despite the final scoreline, it appears that the match was more a case of bad luck for the Liverpool Women than anything else. Cornelia Kapocs started an early effort to score, finding Ceri Holland, but Holland’s shot hit the post after driving in from the edge of the penalty area. Kapocs again would have a chance, this time picking up a back heeled pass from Marie Höbinger but the shot going skyward, and Mia Enderby had a shot go just wide.
Maddy Duffy, one of six academy players to feature for Liverpool, had her shot saved by the Durham ‘keeper, while Faye Kirby was able to keep Mariana Speckmaier from scoring at close range at the other end.
Liverpool’s next preseason friendly will be at the Leigh Sports Village on Wednesday night when they visit rivals Manchester United. Their league opener is Sunday September 7th at Anfield when they play none other than Everton Women.