Arsenal: Van Domselaar; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Cooney-Cross, Mariona; Mead, Maanum, Foord; Russo
Substitutes: Zinsberger, Wubben-Moy, Codina, Wienroither, Kühl, Little, Kafaji, Hurtig, Blackstenius
Alessia Russo’s 20th minute goal was enough, as Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0 in the final WSL game of the calendar year. The result keeps Arsenal in third, a point behind Manchester City in second, and seven points behind Chelsea.
Having rotated midweek, Renée Slegers named the same starting eleven that dispatched Aston Villa last weekend, while Kim Little returned to the bench.
First Half
Liverpool wanted a penalty after Gemma Bonner ran into Katie McCabe and her own teammate after a Liverpool set piece, but the referee was correctly unmoved.
On 12 minutes Liverpool had the first chance of the game. McCabe, with two Liverpool players around her, got a head to Taylor Hinds’ cross but the ball bounced to Smith, who shot over.
Arsenal had taken some time to get going, but on 18 minutes Cooney-Cross set up Maanum, who almost played a one-two with Russo to create a tap-in, with only the intervention of Grace Fisk preventing Arsenal taking the lead.
2 minutes later, though, Arsenal would take the lead. McCabe’s corner was low and skipped past Foord and Tegan Micah. Bonner, on the line, desperately tried to clear, but her clearance went straight to Russo, who slammed the ball into the net. 0-1.
Cooney-Cross’ crossfield switch allowed McCabe to play forward to Mead, who drove forward on the left, but her cross was cut out.
On 26 minutes, Russo won a penalty. Foord’s cross found Russo, who controlled the ball, an was then tripped by Bonner. Mariona stepped to the spot but hit the post, having sent Micah the wrong way.
Hinds won the ball high up the pitch, and shot from distance, but it was an easy save for Van Domselaar.
Foord was quite productive on the right on Thursday, and she was being found in space on the right again with some frequency. She set up a chance for Maanum on 35 minutes, but the shot was wide of the near post.
Holland beat Williamson and dug out a cross. Bizarrely, McCabe jumped highest like she was trying to score, and nearly headed into her own goal, but luckily, the ball bounced off the post and into Van Domselaar’s arms.
Second Half
Arsenal should’ve doubled the lead in the 50th minute. Mead and McCabe combined on the left to play in Russo, but she was tackled. The loose ball came to Mead, who took a shot that deflected off of Holland onto the post. Russo collected the rebound and set up Maanum in the middle, who skied her shot.
Arsenal made a double switch on 58 minutes. Kim Little replaced Frida Maanum, while Stina Blackstenius replaced Beth Mead.
From a corner, Foord headed across from the backpost, but her header hit the back of Catley’s head. Zara Shaw then handled the ball in the melee, but the referee didn’t see it and play continued.
Van Domselaar then kicked the ball straight at Olivia Smith, but was able to grab it before Smith could react.
On 75 minutes, McCabe took another low corner. She regained possession from the clearance, beat her defender and drove across the byline before shooting at Micah, who parried behind.
From the corner, McCabe’s delivery was deeper, Micah didn’t come, and Williamson headed over from close range.
In between the two corners, Lina Hurtig replaced Caitlin Foord, with Alessia Russo moving to the right and Mariona continuing through the middle.
From another corner, Little picked up the clearance at the top of the box. She worked the ball onto her left and shot, with her shot deflected behind for another corner. Cooney-Cross’ delivery was deep, and from the back post Hurtig headed over.
Mariona was booked in the 82nd minute for dragging down Smith in midfield after she’d lost the ball to the Canadian.
Daniels glanced a header wide as the match entered 5 minutes of stoppage time.
In the second minute of stoppage time, Lotte Wubben-Moy came on for Mariona, with Arsenal moving to a back 5.
Blackstenius linked play well and found Russo, who fired a hopeful shot from distance that Micah easily saved.
Liverpool looked to build one final attack, but McCabe won the ball back for Arsenal, carried it down the left, and that was enough to seal the game as the referee blew for full time.
