Women’s Super League round-up: Liverpool still pointless under Gareth Taylor as London City Lionesses strike late, Tottenham rise to third

Reds boss Gareth Taylor must have thought his side had collected their first point of the campaign, having withstood heavy pressure, but when Rafaela Borggrafe collided with Nikita Parris inside the box, Linari stepped up to thunder her penalty into the net via the underside of the crossbar.

Taylor told BBC Sport: “Disappointment is a word that would come to mind. We controlled large parts of the first half, looked the team more likely but we gave up that control in the second half.

“That was probably due to a number of things, maybe the quality of London City’s players, maybe fatigue a little bit for us in the way we were pressing. At the moment we need to be putting in 90 minute performances. At the moment we’re seeing glimpses of some good things. The players are trying their very best, we’re all working tremendously hard but at the moment we’re suffering.

“Our fitness levels probably need to be looked at, we need to get a bit fitter.”

Both sides have struggled to find the net this season, but it is Liverpool whose relegation concerns are increasing on an afternoon they rarely troubled Elene Lete. By contrast, Jocelyn Precheur’s side recorded their first-ever clean sheet in the top flight – and Liverpool’s xG of 0.23 reflected their timid attacking output.

“I think every game this season, if you want to get the three points, it will be a fight from the first second until the last one. It was the case today,” Precheur said.

“We could’ve taken advantage earlier, in my opinion, especially in the second half, but this wasn’t the case and we have to keep pushing, believing in ourself, believing in our strengths. Sometimes unfortunately, you do not get the result for all you have fought on the pitch and a great performance, but fortunately for us today at the end we got this goal and we deserve this three points.”

The newly promoted Lionesses rise to seventh in the WSL table and were good value for their victory, with Liverpool managing just one shot on target during the game, and remaining only off the foot of the table on goal difference.

Following an opening half lacking in clear-cut opportunities, Issy Goodwin came closest to breaking the deadlock for the hosts when her low shot struck the base of the post, while London City record signing Grace Geyoro was then denied her first goal since joining from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer when her shot was blocked.

Goodwin also produced a poor shot straight at Borgraffe before heading onto the roof of the net – but just when Liverpool thought they had escaped with a point, London City brought up their first home win of the season through Linari’s spot kick.

Liverpool are second from bottom after West Ham slipped to a fifth loss in as many games, this time going down 2-0 at home to Aston Villa.

The Hammers failed to muster a single shot on target and fell behind to a superb strike from Kirsty Hanson before Lynn Wilms’ free-kick settled the score.

Goalscorer Wilms said: “It’s not a bad day. It wasn’t the best game, but I feel very happy with the goal. I had a couple of good free-kicks, so I am happy one went in. Three points are the most important thing. I felt like it was coming. I have been practising a lot.

“It was a bit difficult with the wind and the pitch. I heard it’s always hard to play here at West Ham. At the end of the day, we fought and we won, and three points are important to us.”

Meanwhile, Tottenham moved up to third, level on points with second-placed Manchester City – after Cathinka Tandberg’s first-half strike was enough to inflict a 1-0 defeat on Brighton.

Spurs boss Martin Ho has only lost on one occasion so far this season, and this fourth victory of the campaign arrived after Tandberg met Jessica Naz’s cross to finish.

Naz said: “We put in a big shift. In the first half, we played really well and created chances. We started (the season) really well, we’re playing really good football, and just being able to get a result is the main thing. Last season, we played well but couldn’t get results. We’ve got the balance.”

The spoils were shared on Filbert Way as ninth-placed Everton were held to a 1-1 draw at Leicester City courtesy of Noemie Mouchon’s brilliant mazy run and finish nine minutes from time.

The French international cancelled out Ornella Vignola’s brilliant individual strike with both teams locked on four points.