Liverpool have not won away at Everton since 2017 in the WSL
Everton beat local rivals Liverpool thanks to a controversial penalty from Katja Snoeijs to mark their final Women's Super League match at Goodison Park.
Referee Abigail Byrne awarded a penalty to Everton when Fuka Nagano clipped Honoka Hayashi in the first half but the foul appeared to be outside the area.
Snoeijs stepped up to take it with the 1,500 away supporters sitting nearby in the stands and she slotted it coolly past goalkeeper Teagan Micah.
It burst an underwhelming Merseyside derby into life after 41 minutes and gave Everton a much-needed first WSL win of the season, moving them off the bottom of the table in the process.
Liverpool's poor record in the derby continues as they have not won a WSL match at Everton since 2017 and this was another disappointing display.
Matt Beard's side, who finished fourth in the league last season, have won just two of their eight matches in the WSL this campaign.
For Everton, however, it was the perfect send-off at The Old Lady and could be the tonic they need to reinvigorate their season.
Historic win for Blues at Goodison
Financially-strapped and undergoing another injury crisis, it’s been a tough season for Brian Sorensen and his players - but this victory will be one to celebrate through the early hours.
The Toffees will have arrived at Goodison Park full of confidence despite sitting bottom of the table, having won four of their previous seven matches with Liverpool and taken points off their rivals in recent meetings at Anfield as well.
Supporters gathered in the fan zone before kick-off, reminiscing about the history of Goodison Park, with Everton set to move to their new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock next season.
Sorensen had said in his pre-match programme notes the significance of this derby was even greater given it was their last at Goodison and knowing they desperately needed to pick up points.
But when the action started, it was a typically cagey battle with neither team creating clear-cut chances in the first half.
Liverpool’s Marie Hobinger had a goal disallowed for a clear foul in the build-up and Everton’s Melissa Lawley, facing her former club, had an effort tipped just wide by goalkeeper Micah.
That was the only action of note until Nagano’s foul on Hayashi that sparked reaction from Liverpool’s bench as Snoeijs capitalised on Everton’s good fortunes to give their supporters something to cheer about.
It was the first time this season Everton led in the WSL and they were made to work to keep it safe in the second half.
Nagano was in the thick of the action again later when she forced two exceptional quick-fire saves from Toffees goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan and Liverpool had appeals for a penalty waved away after Justine Vanhaevermaet’s challenge on Ceri Holland in the box.
Hobinger again let fly from distance but the ball went over the bar before Brosnan’s heroics denied Gemma Bonner from close range.
Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Brosnan has been a stalwart in Everton’s defence under Sorensen and this was another display of her importance to the team on a crucial afternoon in Merseyside.
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