Everton Women 1 – 1 Liverpool Women

Liverpool were denied back-to-back WSL wins after Leighanne Robe’s second-half strike was confusingly ruled out by referee Lauren Impey during Friday night’s Merseyside derby, which ended 1-1.

Gabby George opened the scoring with a cross-cum-shot that looped fortunatley over the outstretched arm of Reds goalkeeper Rachael Laws (27) before Katie Stengel responded with a well-taken equaliser (40).

Controversy arrived after the break when Robe applied the telling touch to a wonderfully creative corner routine, side-footing a cute front-post flick from Yana Daniels beyond Courtney Brosnan, which referee Impey disallowed for a supposed foul on Brosnan by Ceri Holland.

Liverpool had further chances to win it, while Everton’s Jess Park also had a strike chalked off, meaning spoils were shared in front of a record crowd for a women’s game at Goodison Park.

“We should have won the game – I’ve just seen the disallowed goal and I can’t believe it to be perfectly honest,” Liverpool manager Matt Beard commented at full-time. “It’s crazy,” he added, “that’s another decision that has cost us three points.”

What’s next?

Everton Women face Tottenham on Sunday April 2 at 1pm in the WSL while Liverpool Women are away to West Ham in the same competition at 5pm on the same day.