Newcastle United Women 1 Liverpool Women 6 | OneFootball

The Reds raced into a commanding lead early on with goals from Zara Shaw and Mia Enderby before 12 minutes had been played.

Olivia Smith and Cornelia Kapocs got in on the act before half time to hand Matt Beard's team a comfortable 4-0 lead at the break.

United made it a much more competitive second half after Enderby’s second of the game. Becky Langley's side looked to impose themselves, which they finally did in the 88th minute through Amy Andrews, but that was followed by a Leanne Kiernan strike in added time.

Despite making just her second competitive appearance of the season, Hannah Hawkins was ready from the very first minute when she made a double save before 30 seconds.

Some quick feet from Smith allowed her to engineer some space in the box before picking out Shaw, who Hawkins denied, before United's goalkeeper set herself again to keep out Enderby's close-range effort.

Newcastle were penned in their own half early on by Liverpool, who looked to have opened the scoring through Kapocs after just three minutes, but the attacker had strayed into an offside position before slotting home.

The Reds' early pressure eventually paid off when a quick free kick in United's half found its way to Shaw, who took a touch to set herself before bending a 25-yard strike into the top corner.

Just two minutes later Newcastle found themselves 2-0 down as a Liverpool counter-attack ended up with Enderby beating the offside trap and running through on goal before calmly slotting underneath Hawkins.

The Lasses almost found a way back into the game via their own counter-attack when Andrews' pace saw her get in behind the Liverpool backline and she teed up Katie Barker to cross, but her whipped ball in just evaded the head of an unmarked Isabella Sibley.

With 32 minutes on the clock, Andrews pounced on a mistake in midfield and had the goal in her sights, but a great recovery run and tickle from Gemma Evans saved the Reds.

From the resulting corner, United played it short and after some pinball, it fell to Demi Stokes at an acute angle, but her half-volley fizzed narrowly wide of Teagan Micah's near post.

However, only four minutes later the visitors added a third through Smith, who managed to evade the United defence before dinking the ball over an onrushing Hawkins.

Liverpool managed to score a fourth right on the stroke of half time when Enderby broke down the right before picking out Kapocs, who volleyed home from inside the six-yard box.

As United looked to remain competitive in the second half, Enderby reacted quickest to Kiernan's blocked effort to stroke home from just inside the area, leaving Hawkins with no chance.

On her 101st appearance for the club, substitute Georgia Gibson found space inside the 18-yard box after a nice touch to turn her defender, but could only drag her strike wide of the near post.

Newcastle refused to lie down despite the scoreline and they were duly rewarded in the 88th minute. A deep free-kick caused uncertainty in the Liverpool box, and Andrews pounced on a loose ball to fire home first-time into the far corner.

However, Liverpool restored their five-goal advantage in the 93rd minute when Kiernan managed to squirm an effort beyond Hawkins.

Newcastle United Women: Hannah Hawkins, Lois Joel, Hannah Greenwood, Liv Watt (Jasmine McQuade 48), Demi Stokes, Elysia Boddy (Shania Hayles 63), Emma Kelly (Kacie Elson 63), Sophie Haywood (Amber-Keegan Stobbs 33), Katie Barker, Isabella Sibley (Georgia Gibson 63), Amy Andrews

Subs not used: Grace Donnelly, Claudia Moan, Ava Chapman, Ella Baker