Liverpool Ladies 2-1 Chelsea Ladies: Katie Stengel’s penalties seal shock win for Reds | Soccer Information

Two second-half penalties from Katie Stengel earned Liverpool a shock 2-1 win over title holders Chelsea on their WSL return in entrance of a record-breaking crowd at Prenton Park.

The champions seemed set for a routine night after they had been awarded the primary penalty of the sport inside two minutes. Gilly Flaherty’s clumsy problem on Guro Reiten noticed referee Emily Heaslip level to the spot. Euro 2022 winner Fran Kirby then transformed on her first look for Chelsea since February.

However the Blues had been responsible of not taking their probabilities, with Sam Kerr, particularly, chopping a annoyed determine up entrance, as supervisor Emma Hayes informed Sky Sports activities after the sport: “For us going ahead, I did not assume we may hit a barn door immediately.”

Liverpool stepped up their sport within the second half in entrance of three,006 followers – the very best ever attendance for a Liverpool Ladies’s match at Prenton Park.

Flaherty redeemed herself from the primary half when she helped win Liverpool’s first penalty. Her flick-on from a protracted Megan Campbell throw hit Millie Shiny on the arm and he or she was penalised for handball. Stengel – making her WSL debut – stepped up and simply dispatched previous Zecira Musovic.

Stengel then received the second penalty, fouled by Chelsea debutant Kadeisha Buchanan inside the realm. The American ahead saved her composure as soon as once more and it proved to be the winner, with the Blues unable to discover a reply to Liverpool’s spirited show.

Discussing her penalties, Stengel informed Sky Sports activities: “I informed myself, ‘Do not miss, please do not miss, all of those individuals will make enjoyable of me if I miss.’ I made a decision I needed to change it up and I acquired fortunate I suppose.

“After I step up for a penalty I’ve to resolve earlier than I take it which manner I am going, take a breath and if the goalkeeper strikes early I can regulate however in any other case simply follow what I made a decision to do.”

There have been jubilant scenes among the many Reds at full-time, inflicting Chelsea’s first defeat in 2022. The WSL title holders have now misplaced 4 of their final 5 season openers.

How Liverpool surprised Chelsea

Whereas Liverpool did have the nightmare begin on their WSL return, they rallied effectively and will have equalised mere minutes later. After some nice play from Ceri Holland, her shot was stopped however largely fumbled by Musovic. Reds debutant Emma Koivisto was ready, however fired her effort over from a number of yards out.

Chelsea ought to have doubled their lead within the twentieth minute. Kerr latched onto Kirby’s diagonal ball earlier than lashing previous Rachael Legal guidelines. However the offside flag was raised and the objective dominated out, regardless of replays displaying she was on.

The Blues continued to see probabilities fall their manner, regardless of some spectacular play from Liverpool. Erin Cuthbert’s half-volley simply dipped previous the submit with Kerr nodding one other effort broad in the direction of the tip of the primary half.

It was a quieter begin to the second interval, though Liverpool suffered one other blow when Leanne Kiernan was injured simply earlier than the hour. After a deal with from Buchanan, she landed awkwardly and ultimately hobbled off with assistance from two Liverpool physios. They helped her to maintain any weight off of her proper ankle as she was carried down the tunnel.

However a record-breaking Prenton Park ignited when Liverpool had been awarded the second penalty of the sport, which expertly dispatched by Stengel. Nevertheless, Chelsea may have gone again forward quickly after a poor contact from Koivisto noticed the ball at Reiten’s toes. However her eventual effort, having didn’t spherical Flaherty, was a weak shot straight at Legal guidelines.

Liverpool started to extend the tempo and the now well-worn penalty spot was in motion once more late on as Stengel was fouled by Buchanan, with the striker stepping up once more to finally win the sport for her aspect.

Chelsea may have snatched some extent late on as Kerr flicked the ball on for Bethany England, who was lurking within the six-yard field. Nevertheless, Liverpool captain Niamh Fahey was there to nip in and see the ball away because the Reds accomplished a surprising victory.

Hayes: I did not assume we may hit a barn door immediately

Chelsea supervisor Emma Hayes informed Sky Sports activities:

“They play a 4-5-1 and so they do not come out so you have to be affected person to interrupt them down. They scored from a throw-in that was a penalty and the second was a transition that was one other penalty. It is not like in open play they’ve had a number of pictures – they’ve simply maximised the conditions.

“For us going ahead, I did not assume we may hit a barn door immediately.

“I simply assume we performed poorly within the first half. I feel typically we need to win issues by larger margins once we ought to simply observe the method and preserve passing the soccer.

“I assumed within the second half it acquired slightly bit stretched for us. We have nonetheless acquired new gamers coming in and so they’re nonetheless studying the system. There’s massive obligations on them. However we simply chalk it off and we go once more.

“What’s to be fearful about in dropping a soccer match? I am not emotional about it. I feel we now have to replicate, watch it again and subsequent week’s a brand new week.”

Beard offers tactical perception to Liverpool win

Liverpool supervisor Matt Beard informed Sky Sports activities:

“It is simply the primary sport. I felt over the course of the sport we deserved it. Particularly with the tactical adjustments we made at half-time, we have began with three factors at residence.

“This was a fortress for us final season, and we have made it uncomfortable and tough for Chelsea immediately.

“Over pre-season we have examined ourselves towards good WSL sides, we have began slowly when it comes to not stepping out once we can and placing them underneath stress, and it simply took slightly little bit of time.

“We simply dropped Katie in on Sophie Ingle, to be slightly bit extra compact centrally, as a result of Chelsea wish to play via after which spherical.

“We stopped that occuring, and we knew we may damage them on the counter-attack. The targets they conceded final season had been both from a cross or a counter. We knew we may damage them, and fortunate sufficient for us immediately it paid off.

“At any time when we decide a group to play a sport, we have all the time acquired adjustments in thoughts. Once you seemed on the gamers who got here on, we had been bodily loads larger.

“Chelsea play with a excessive line and are fairly expansive, so we wished to go together with Leanne and Mel on the base. It did not fairly work for us, however we modified it and acquired our rewards for that.”

Pundits: Liverpool completely deserve it

Sky Sports activities’ Karen Carney:

“To come back again within the method they’ve, you all the time felt at half-time, the rating 1-0, the idea and the supervisor, there’s one thing about him.

“He all the time will get the very best out of his gamers, and within the second half they had been good. Chelsea had been nowhere close to adequate, particularly within the remaining third.

“Liverpool completely deserve it, there have been two good penalties however it’s all in regards to the supervisor. He is achieved one thing particular at that membership.”

Former Arsenal striker Kelly Smith on Sky Sports activities:

“They had been very good, organised, combative, they believed in one another.

“Furness, Daniels and Roberts got here on and had an actual affect with their power and work price to get again.

“It was all about teamwork tonight, getting collectively, believing in your self, and stifling Chelsea and so they did that within the second half.”

What’s subsequent?

Each groups have massive WSL matches subsequent weekend. Liverpool tackle Everton within the first Merseyside derby of the season at Anfield subsequent Sunday, reside on Sky Sports activities; kick-off 6.45pm. Chelsea additionally host Man Metropolis on the identical day; kick-off 4pm.