Arsenal boost slim title hopes with narrow victory at Liverpool | OneFootball

Arsenal gave their slim Barclays Women’s Super League title hopes a boost as they secured a 1-0 win against injury-hit Liverpool at The Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens this afternoon.

With Chelsea and Manchester City dropping points this weekend, The Gunners took advantage as they closed the gap between themselves and the league summit to seven points.

Arsenal netted the game’s only goal in the 20th minute through Alessia Russo. Katie McCabe delivered the ball into the box from a corner kick and she found the boot of Russo who slammed it into the back of the net.

The Gunners won a penalty seven minutes later when Russo was tripped by Gemma Bonner. Summer signing Mariona Caldentey stepped up to take the penalty but missed; her effort hitting the post.

McCabe then almost got her name on the scoresheet, albeit for the wrong team. Ceri Holland put the ball into the box and in an attempt to head it away, McCabe hit her own post. It was a close call for the North Londoners.

Liverpool fought hard for an equaliser and they had two half-chances in quick succession. Holland took a free kick which landed straight into the arms of visiting keeper Daphne van Domselaar before Olivia Smith couldn’t capitalise on an error between the Dutch keeper and Leah Williamson.

Williamson went close to adding to Arsenal’s lead when she got on the end of a corner but she failed to hit the target as the game ended 1-0 in The Gunners’ favour.

After this afternoon’s result, Liverpool now enter the winter break while Arsenal complete their 2024 schedule with a UEFA Women’s Champions League fixture against Bayern Munich at the Mangata Pay UK Stadium Meadow Park on Wednesday evening.