Everton secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the Merseyside derby, thanks to a controversial penalty awarded in the first half. The decision, which saw a penalty given for a foul on Everton’s Japan midfielder Honoka Hayashi, left Liverpool’s manager, Matt Beard, fuming. Replays showed that the foul occurred outside the box, yet the referee pointed to the spot, and Katja Snoeijs converted the penalty in the 41st minute to give Everton the lead.
The decision was the turning point of the match, and Beard was visibly frustrated by the outcome. He criticized the officiating, claiming the penalty decision was “completely wrong” and that it changed the entire dynamic of the game. According to Beard, Everton had created little in the way of attacking threat but were “gifted an opportunity” by the officials. He expressed his disbelief that the officials, who had clear views of the incident, failed to recognize that the foul took place outside the box.
Beard was also angered by the decision not to award Liverpool a penalty for a potential push on Ceri Holland by Everton’s Sara Holmgaard in the second half. According to Beard, the explanation he received from the referee for the non-call was that Holland’s arm was in an unnatural position, which he felt was an irrelevant factor in this context. While Beard refrained from demanding the introduction of VAR in the Women’s Super League, he questioned whether the refereeing standard could be improved, as he felt key mistakes like the foul throw calls were not being addressed either.
Despite these frustrations, Beard acknowledged that his team could not blame the refereeing decisions alone for the defeat. He admitted that Liverpool had several chances to score but failed to capitalize on them. In particular, Liverpool’s Fuka Nagano had an excellent opportunity in the second half, but Everton goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan made a remarkable double save to deny her.
Everton’s manager, Brian Sørensen, praised Brosnan’s performance, describing the goalkeeper as world-class. Sørensen had urged her to bring her best to the derby, and she delivered with several crucial saves throughout the match. The victory was significant for Everton, not just because it secured their first win of the season, but also because it provided a much-needed boost as they climbed off the bottom of the table. Sørensen celebrated the result with obvious joy, especially given the historical importance of Goodison Park as a venue for women’s football. This was the final WSL Merseyside derby to be played at the ground, marking the end of an era.
Liverpool continued to apply pressure in the second half but failed to find an equalizer. Deep into stoppage time, they had a golden chance to salvage a point when Gemma Bonner fired a shot straight at Brosnan. That miss summed up Liverpool’s frustrations, as they remained winless in away games against Everton since September 2017.
While Everton celebrated their hard-fought win, Sørensen acknowledged that his team had endured significant challenges throughout the season, including injuries to key players and the difficulty of not being able to field the same lineup in consecutive weeks. He was determined to focus on performances rather than the league table, expressing confidence that his team was heading in the right direction.
The victory was Everton’s third consecutive season in which their first league win had come against Liverpool, with the previous two coming at Anfield. Sørensen’s celebration was one of extra pride, as he admitted that victories over Liverpool held a special meaning for him and his team. As Everton’s players gathered to celebrate, it was clear that this win meant far more than just three points it was a statement of resilience and belief, marking a turning point in their season.
