Heartbreak For Liverpool! - Barclays WSL 25-26

Both these sides were only separated by three points last season. Today, Brighton arrive seven points ahead of their pointless rivals who only remain at the bottom of the table on goal difference as Liverpool look to kick-start their season this afternoon. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ANTHEM PLAYS ANTHEM CONTINUES Rule gives it away. Loose in the middle and it's picked up by Carla Camacho who comes deep to win it back. Now Brighton can swarm forward. Liverpool need to be careful when they do commit the bodies forward like they've just done. The quality needs to be better. Here's McLaughlin. Camacho! Not a bad strike at all. Straight to Faye Kirby. But it's a rather simple strike and a rather simple save in the end for the Liverpool goalkeeper. Expect that from Kirby there in those situations. As you say, at the minute she's having to do a lot of her work in her own half. And it's given away by Nagano. It might open up here! Oh, it's a brilliant effort from Cankovic. She really wound that one up. Plenty of power in it. Unfortunately, the Liverpool goalkeeper Faye Kirby was equal to it. She's got a fingertip on that, I think. Yeah, Cankovic does really well to win it in the midfield area. Gets her head up, the space just opens. Connects with it really, really well through the laces and the keeper does so, so well. Simmonds scoops the ball out to Oles Lagas. Goes direct, looking for Camacho. Run all the way through for Kiko Seika. And Kirby's in space if she can find her. Here's Kirby, into the penalty area she goes. Seika to the back post, Camacho! Off the frame of the goal and behind for a goal kick. But Brighton in the rain here are certainly playing some bright football. They really are, moving the ball so, so well. CK linking up this time with Frank Kirby. A little chop to lose Enderby. Return pass to Seika who finds Camacho at the back post. I think she does everything right there, she gets the power on it. Really well done and she slams off of the post. Now Grace Fiske. Fuku Nagano, Liverpool passing it around confidently here. That's a wonderful ball. Woodham, great cross in! And it somehow squeezes Bianca McIndosie. And Liverpool lead. A wonderful ball in. And just like last weekend, Beta Olsen is there to give Liverpool the lead. Liverpool 1-0 Brighton. Yeah, it was a great ball. Right on the left-hand side there. No touches needed, first time crossing to the box and Olsen had made the run. I think McIndosie had got down, got a hand to it. I think you'd expect her to do better there but Olsen finds a way and pokes it home. It was good build-up play here. I think it was Kerr spots the run of Woodham. I think he's timed it well. And it's first time ball into the box and Olsen does so, so well to get a touch on it. Defenders breathing down her neck. And then McIndosie goes with her feet, leads with her foot first. Makes a mess of it. Liverpool 1-0 up. Brighton behind on the road once again in the WSL. Holland. Kapoks. Back to Risa Shimizu. And there's movement ahead. Olsen has it. McIndosie's off her line. But a comeback here! And a flash way wide from Sam Kerr. Well, it's set up so nicely for her. And it just bounces like that. Sometimes you've just got to take a pop at goal. Yeah, it was. It was a good ball over the top. Olsen latches onto it, gets her head up. Almost thought she'd missed kicked it. But it falls so kindly into Kerr. Who attacks it with the inside of the boot. And it just curls wide. It's OK there. Just the wrong decision I think in that moment. Frank Kerr again. Kirby, sorry, had made the run from inside onto the outside. Oh, and there's a wobble at the back here. It'll fall for McLaughlin. Recovered by Kirby. And it'll be a free kick for Liverpool in their penalty area. But trying to play it out from the back. Liverpool almost, almost damaging themselves. But they recover through Faye Kirby. Just about. Wow, they've got away with one there, haven't they? Play it out from the back. Caught under pressure. Kirby there. Two fantastic saves to keep her team in it. Clark to Fisk. And that's a big challenge. Referee waves advantage as the shot comes in from Nagano. Oh, it's tipped onto the bar. And behind for a corner. Chamaka Ndozi at full stretch. Just about keeping the score at Liverpool 1-0 Brighton. But Nagano, what a hit. What an effort there. Kapos again back to goal. Does really well. Gets the challenge in. Play goes on. And Nagano, only one thought in her mind there. Hits it so, so well. And Ndozi, excellent. Really strong hands. As Cankovic's Brighton look to play out from the back once again. But they lose it once again. And the shot will come in. And hits the bar again. So close to a second for Liverpool. Can they make something happen with this one as Marisa Oleslagas will send this in with her left foot. Into the near post it goes. It's a big header. Really would them. Covered from that cramp to win the header. Oleslagas, quick feet into that near post it goes. Madison is there. Big save by Faye Kirby. It's not away yet, though. Fran Kirby leaves it for Maisie Simmons. Who sends it way over the bar. But the real opportunity there was for the substitute Madison Haley. Big, big save from Kirby. Good ball in from Oleslagas. On the right foot. And Hayes gets in front of this. Tees herself up. Gets the shot off at the near post. The angle is really tight. Oleslagas there, I think it was. Some space here for Brighton. Kirby goes out wide to Khafaji. Supports on the overlap. Khafaji to Cankovic. For Kirby. It's wonderful football. But what a block that is by Risa Shimizu. On the line to keep the score at Liverpool 1 Brighton 0. Shimizu so important there. Recovery run. Gets herself back on the line to protect the goal. Fantastic football. This time it's Liverpool that don't engage. Minami. Brighton running out of time. Seiko will attack. So will Jenna Clarke. Khafaji. Bounces into her path. So many red shirts back there. Kirby. Nordam. Khafaji! Injury time. Brighton and Hove Albion have their equaliser. Liverpool minutes away from their first three points of the season. But Khafaji off the bench in the final few minutes. Makes it Liverpool 1 Brighton 1. Excellent. Khafaji starts the move there. Loses the ball. Does well to keep hold of it. Frank Kirby just sprays it out wide. And it's into the path of Khafaji who hits it sweetly. Into the bottom corner. It's a sucker punch for Liverpool. There it is. The ball into the path. Gets her hips around it. Fires it home. And you've got a feel for Faye Kirby. Who's been excellent in goal for Liverpool today. Just squeezed through her legs. Nagano. He's the ball forward looking for the run of Kiernan. But blocking her. Ismin Ami. Using her body well. And that's the final action. Here at the Brudog Stadium. Liverpool in control of most of this second half. But not for the final few minutes. When it looked like they were going to pick up their first three points of the season. Rosa Khafaji. Spoilt the party. In the pouring rain here on Merseyside. As Brighton steal a point. Their first point on the road this season. Liverpool 1. Brighton and Hove Albion 1. And Jenna Scalacci. Liverpool will be kicking themselves.