Interim manager Amber Whiteley got her first WSL win while in charge of the Reds as they did enough to get past the relegation-threatened Eagles.

Crystal Palace 0 – 1 Liverpool

Crystal Palace:

Liverpool: Matthews 10’

Pre-Match

The Liverpool FC Women return from the international break amidst internal turmoil. Matt Beard was sacked earlier in the week, leaving Amber Whiteley in charge as the interim manager for the second time in her career. The Reds travel to London to take on relegation candidate Crystal Palace. The Eagles are dealing with their own strife as Laura Kaminski was let go just a day after Matt Beard. Crystal Palace have named Leif Smerud as their new manager.

Amber Whiteley has made several tweaks to the lineup, sending out some more experienced players players in a 4-3-3 as only Leanne Kiernan and Hannah Silcock miss out through injury. Rachael Laws is given a turn in net while Gemma Bonner and Jasmine Matthews anchor the defense, with Matthews having just returned from injury. Sam Kerr is again preferred over Fuka Nagano in a holding role, and Cornelia Kapocs is given a nod up top alongside Sophie Roman Haug and Olivia Smith. Ceri Holland makes her 100th appearance for the club.

First Half

Liverpool get the attack going right off the whistle, with Taylor Hinds racing down the left wing before driving a cross into the box from the end line. The flag goes up saying the ball had gone across the line before the cross, but a positive early action nonetheless.

Marine Höbinger almost gets on the scoresheet in just the 4th minute after some great interplay down the right. Olivia Smith wins a ball and releases Ceri Holland in space down the right wing. The midfielder storms forward before driving a cross into the box. Höbinger makes the run to the back post and gets her head to the ball, but she puts it just wide of the post.

Cornelia Kapocs earns an early corner after some fancy footwork in the left corner. Höbinger delivers the ball in towards the front post, and Gemma Bonner gets a headed flick, but again it goes wide of the near post.

GOAL LIVERPOOL!!! It’s Jasmine Matthews of all people that sweeps the ball into the net. The Reds earn another corner kick after some quick and incisive passing sees a Taylor Hinds effort turned behind from close range. Höbinger sends another nice delivery into the box, and Crystal Palace struggle to clear their lines. Gemma Bonner drives the ball towards goal and it hits off Matthews. The defender she shows patience to let the ball drop just enough before slamming it home from close range in the 10th minute!

After struggling with generating consistent attacking output for most of the season, Liverpool have 7 shots through the opening 15 minutes. Crystal Palace have struggled with conceding chances much of the season, but this is still a very encouraging sign for Liverpool. Besides the goal, they have come close on several other chances.

Olivia Smith shows off great skill and grit in the middle of the pitch to win and keep hold of a ball before again releasing Ceri Holland down the right. The midfielder squares a ball across the middle of the box, but it is cut out. The clearance is poor and recovered by Sam Kerr, but her shot from distance goes wide of the post.

Another quick attack from the Reds, this time down the left. The ball is played into the box by Taylor Hinds, but Ceri Holland sees her shot charged down and blocked just in the nick of time.

Olivia Smith is hacked down just outside the Crystal Palace box after getting to a ball first. It’s a nasty challenge, but now card is given. Taylor Hinds tries to shoot it low under the wall, but it is deflected out for a throw in.

Crystal Palace get their first shot away in the 37th minute. It’s from near the top left corner of the box and Rachael Laws comfortably makes the save. Laws goes down after catching the ball, however, and needs treatment for a minute. She’s ok to continue.

Rachael Laws has not had much to do in this first half, but she is quick off her line to deny a good chance. Abbie Larkin is slipped through behind Liverpool’s back line and Laws has to slide in to block away the 1v1 opportunity.

Liverpool quickly hit back as we enter extra time in the first half, with an attack down the left. There are a couple of scrambles in the box, but the Reds cannot capitalize in the last action of the half.

Second Half

Amber Whiteley makes one change to start the second half. Goal scorer Jasmine Matthews, who has just returned from injury, makes way for Gemma Evans in central defense.

Liverpool loose the ball a couple of times in their own half and it leads to a speculative effort from distance for Crystal Palace. The shot skews high over the bar, however.

Olivia Smith is again hacked down with a late challenge outside the right corner of the Crystal Palace box after racing in to nick the ball away. This time the referee shows a yellow card to Lily Woodham. Marie Höbinger whips the free kick into the center of the box, but it is headed behind by Liverpool.

Ah, so close from Cornelia Kapocs! Some great work through midfield sees the ball lofted on a diagonal for Kapocs in the left channel. She has a defender with her as she enters the box, but the Swedish attacker cuts inside and gets and sees and sees an initial chance saved. She has a follow up from close range, but the bouncing ball is difficult to control and her shot goes over the bar.

Crystal Palace come back the other way and force a corner kick after a cross surprises everyone by sneaking back towards the near post. Laws has to get down and block it behind. The corner is cleared, and Liverpool attack down the left. Kapocs feeds Taylor Hinds, and the left back sees her cross also having to be dealt with at the near post by the goalkeeper as she crashes into her own post while catching the ball.

Liverpool make two changes in the 60th minute as they try to get control of the match again. Mia Enderby comes on for Sophie Roman Haug while Julia Bartel comes on for Marie Höbinger. Meanwhile, Rachael Laws is down again as the substitutions happen.

Olivia Smith makes her first foul of the match and is shown a yellow card. Didn’t seem to be much in that.

Liverpool are starting to concede possession and chances. The defense allows a cross in from the right and it finds and attacker in front of the near post, but the first time effort cannot be put on frame. Rachael Laws is incensed at her side for allowing the cross and the shot. With the Reds again failing to score a second goal despite a plethora of chances, they are on a knife’s edge.

How has the ball not gone in? Olivia Smith carries the ball forward and is fouled near the top of the box, but the ball runs to Mia Enderby as the referee allows play to continue. Enderby slides the ball across the face of goal with players racing in, and it comes off a defender but the ball has enough spin that it somehow turns to the post and deflects back to the goalmouth. Another defender attempts to clear it off the line and hits the original defender a foot out from goal, but again the ball somehow deflects off her knee and out of the goal.

Game is certainly stretched now with both sides trading chances on either end in transition. Liverpool really need another goal and to kill this game off with possession.

Mia Enderby is causing trouble on the dribble and earns a foul in the right channel about 30 yards from goal. Julia Bartel lofts the ball in, but it is easily cleared. Liverpool win the second ball and recycle possession, but nothing comes of it.

Another change for Liverpool with under 15 minutes left in regulation. Yana Daniels comes on for Cornelia Kapocs.

Wow, what an effort from Olivia Smith! The young attacker is hemmed in at the end line to the right of the goal, but she somehow finds her way through two defenders and unleashes a shot from a tight angle. The ball flashes across the face of goal and whistles just past the far post.

One last change for the Reds as Fuka Nagano comes on for Sam Kerr. Liverpool trying to see the match out with under 10 minutes left in regulation.

Liverpool with several bites at the apple again. Ceri Holland plays a ball into the box and it is won by Olivia Smith. She controls the ball and lays it off for Grace Fisk, but the defender sees her shot deflected behind for a corner. The ball in by Julia Bartel is caught by the goalkeeper in a crowd.

Fuka Nagano gets booted in the chest as she looks to head the ball. Just a foul according to the referee.

Eep! Crystal Palace storm forward and get several clean looks in the box. Rachael Laws comes up huge with a save to deny the equalizer and then Taylor Hinds flies across to block the follow up from close range.

Mia Enderby now races forward the other way and is pulled back to stop the attack. Yellow card shown for the professional foul. The ball in is deflected behind for a corner. Liverpool keep possession from there and are able to sustain control in the attacking half as five minutes of extra time are announced.

Liverpool doing just enough to regain possession despite some ill-advised passes and poor touches. Julia Bartel is played a ball at the top of the box by Yana Daniels and takes a shot rather than maintaining possession. The Reds hold on, however, and the final whistle is blown with Liverpool taking all three points!

Final Thoughts

In a pattern we have seen more than a few times this season, Liverpool were on top early and took a lead. Despite more than a few chances to build on the lead, the Reds failed to find the back of the net again and saw their composure slip in the second half. Thankfully, they did enough to keep Crystal Palace out of the net despite a few nervy moments to give Amber Whiteley and the Reds a win.

The three points takes Liverpool past Spurs in the table, moving up to the sixth spot. Liverpool face a tough run of fixture, however, starting with a another trip to London next Sunday to face Arsenal in the quarterfinals of the FA Women’s Cup. The Reds will then host Manchester United at Anfield before returning to Arsenal for a league match.