Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 Liverpool: Reds win first league game since December

Captain Ceri Holland scored and was sent off as Liverpool secured their first Women’s Super League win of 2024 with a narrow victory at Brighton.

Liverpool had the bulk of the chances, but were mostly held back by the hosts’ well-organised defence.

Holland was dismissed in stoppage time for a second yellow card.

Liverpool stay fifth in the table, two points behind Manchester United in fourth.

Defeat was Brighton’s second in a row since manager Melissa Phillips was sacked.

They remain second from bottom, five points ahead of Bristol City, who travel to Leicester City at 15:00 GMT on Sunday.

Liverpool were the better side, albeit in a game which did not provide too goalmouth excitement.

Sophie Roman Haug went close in the early exchanges, heading a corner wide and just missing a low Melissa Lawley cross.

Lawley provided much of Liverpool’s attacking threat, but Marie Hobinger’s set-piece deliveries also proved dangerous as Roman Haug narrowly missed the target with other headers.

Poppy Pattinson’s effort from a tight angle rattled the Liverpool crossbar shortly before half-time.

Liverpool broke the deadlock after Baggaley, closed down in the penalty area, passed straight to Holland’s feet.

Holland was booked for a late challenge on Julia Zigiotti and will be suspended for the WSL game against Aston Villa on 3 March.

Brighton have won only one of their four games since Mikey Harris took over as interim boss, beating third-tier Wolves in the FA Cup last weekend.