Arsenal Women v Liverpool

Wednesday 8th March 2023

Kick off 7:15pm 

Women’s Super League

Meadow Park

After scooping their first silverware of the Jonas Eidevall era with a 3-1 win over Chelsea in the Continental League Cup final, Arsenal Women return to league action up against Liverpool at Meadow Park.

Despite slipping to fourth place in the WSL and losing to Chelsea in the FA Cup a week earlier, the Gunners were able to complete a superb turnaround to beat Chelsea at Selhurst Park after conceding to a Sam Kerr header just two minutes in.

Stina Blackstenius equalised with a poacher’s finish in the sixteenth minute before Katie McCabe was fouled by Sophie Ingle to win a penalty, which was expertly converted by captain Kim Little.

Emma Hayes changed Chelsea’s shape and the Blues settled back into the game, but on the stroke of half time Rafaelle headed Catley’s pinpoint corner towards goal, and the ball was diverted into the net off Chelsea defender Niamh Charles to extend Arsenal’s lead.

Arsenal saw out the win with a dominant second half display, with Kim Little and Leah Williamson lifting the trophy, Arsenal’s first of any kind in almost four years.

With the Gunners’ title hopes fading fast, the League Cup success should spur Arsenal on to go again in the WSL in what is a crucial month of fixtures- Reading come to Meadow Park on Sunday night with a trip to Leyton Orient to face Tottenham not far away as well. And, the small matter of a Champions League quarter final against Bayern Munich.

Busy fixture schedules have not been the case for Liverpool manager Matt Beard, who’s side last played almost a month ago, a disappointing 1-0 defeat to bottom side Leicester on February 12.

Jonas Eidevall commented on the contrast between the two sides in Tuesday’s press conference. “No one knows what Liverpool have been doing for the last month, they haven’t been playing games.

“They have obviously had a lot of time to think about and prepare for this game but we need to focus on the key details in the way we play and be prepared for Liverpool. We know it’s going to be well organised and physical but we need to do the basics right”.

Despite the lack of fixtures, Liverpool are struggling with injuries to key players ahead of the trip to Meadow Park. January signing Tash Dowie is out with a hamstring injury and fellow striker Leanne Kiernan has been injured since the first game of the season. Liverpool will have at least five players missing for the clash with Arsenal according to Beard.

After promotion as Women’s Championship winners, finishing eleven points clear of London City Lionesses, Liverpool have recruited well to add to a side that already looked well-equipped for survival back at WSL level. The Reds sit in eighth place in the table, five points above the relegation zone with a couple of games in hand.

Liverpool stunned champions Chelsea with a 2-1 win at Prenton Park at the start of the season, meaning that the only two sides to have beaten Chelsea in domestic football go head to head at Meadow Park on Wednesday evening.

Arsenal won 2-0 in the reverse fixture with midfield maestros Frida Maanum and Lia Walti on the scoresheet.