Lucy Graham’s long-range strike seals all three points, as Everton take the spoils in front of 23,000 noisy fans for this historic 13th women’s Merseyside derby.

Today, Anfield became the venue for a women’s football match for the very first time. Walking out to ‘You’ll never walk alone’ a chance isn’t there every day and every one of those players hoped to seize on this rare opportunity.

However, there was an upset on the cards, as Kirk’s Blues travelled across Stanley Park to take the win, Graham netting the only goal of the contest late in the first period.

“In the first-half, I never thought we were at our best. However, in the second, I thought we at our best in terms of character and defending our area,” said Willie Kirk as he praised his side’s resilience to grind out the win.

“When you have 11 Liverpool players running at you in front of the Kop, it was always going to be a daunting 45-minutes, but we held on and tried to get that second goal to kill it but I think that win means an awful lot to everybody involved today.”

While, Liverpool manager, Vicky Jepson, believes that her side was by far the better side but it just wasn’t meant to be.

“Defensively we were outstanding, our game-plan was flawless, even catching them on counter-attacks and playing through the thirds, we were brilliant today.

“So, I am absolutely devastated and so are the players, just because we conceded the way we have.”

In another historic weekend for women’s football, both teams looked to seize this golden opportunity and as predicted, it was the hosts who started the brighter.

20-year-old, Niamh Charles, causing all sorts of problems down Liverpool’s left-hand side, as she picked out Mel Lawley, who stung the palms of Korfela in the Everton goal.

Then, moments later, Charles had a golden opportunity of her own. Nearly finishing off her own move as she failed to connect with Becky Jane’s cross.

But it wasn’t just the hosts who were having all the early chances, as the Blues began to grab a foothold in the game. Esme Morgan fizzing her shot into Liverpool defence, before Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah dragged her effort wide.

Nevertheless, it was the Reds who had the first real chance of the contest. After pinball in the box, the ball popped up perfectly for Rhiannon Roberts, who forced an unbelievable stop from Korfela.

However, with just seconds remaining, a catastrophic error by the Liverpool keeper gave the Blues a last-gasp first-half lead.

Everton captain, Lucy Graham, finding some space 30-yards out, where she saw her shot whistle through the air and the hands of Preuss in the Liverpool goal, as Blues gained a surprise one-goal advantage.

That goal just before the break seemed to open the contest up, as for the opening 10 minutes of the second period, it was end-to-end. Liverpool forward, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk failed to test the Blues’ keeper, before goal-scorer Graham saw her low drive well blocked.

With the home fans behind them, Liverpool continued to carve out chances. Charles once again failed to capitalise on another opportunity after her turn and hit went wide. While substitute, Rinsola Babajide, started to cause a tired Everton defence all sorts of the problems down the right-hand side, as more chances went begging.

Molly Pike came inches away from sealing the win, but las, after a back to the wall second-half performance, Willie Kirk’s side held on for an important victory.

This win now moves the Blues up to fourth in the WSL, while another defeat for Liverpool leaves them at the foot of the table.

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