The hoodoo is over

Six matches. Six defeats. That was the weight Liverpool Women carried into Sunday's Merseyside derby at Anfield, a record so grim it had become the elephant in the room every time these two sides met on L4 turf. Everton had feasted on that ground, including a brutal 4-1 opening-day dismantling last season in which Ornella Vignola helped herself to a hat-trick. The memory of that afternoon alone would have been enough to keep the home supporters anxious from the first whistle.

Not this time. Gareth Taylor's side got their noses in front almost immediately, Beata Olsson powering a header from a corner past Courtney Brosnan inside five minutes. That early goal changed the entire complexion of the afternoon, and Liverpool never relinquished control of the match. When Cornelia Kapocs slotted home late on to make it 2-0, turning sharply on a loose ball in the Everton box, the relief around Anfield was palpable. A historic first WSL home derby win, finally, emphatically done.

Chances missed, nerves tested, but Liverpool deserved it

The final scoreline flatters the occasion somewhat. Liverpool were the dominant side for long stretches, particularly after the break, and should arguably have put the match to bed well before Kapocs made it safe. Natalia Ramos was denied by a crucial Ruby Mace block, then cleared off the line with the goal at her mercy. Ramos also fired over from 16 yards. Vivien Endermann struck the crossbar. Brosnan, to her credit, was sharp throughout and kept the visitors in it with important stops from Hannah Silcock's header and an Endermann effort just before the interval.

The hosts' inability to kill the game off was a source of genuine frustration among the home crowd, and it nearly cost them. Holly McNamara went close at the near post late on as Everton pushed for an equaliser that would have made for a very different afternoon entirely. Khiara Keating stood firm to deny her, and moments later Kapocs had the ball in the net to end any lingering doubt. It was a nervy finish that could have been avoided, but on the balance of the ninety minutes, Liverpool were good value for the three points.

What this means for the Reds

Everton's Mace was arguably their standout performer, curling a first-half effort at Keating and marshalling the backline as best she could under sustained pressure. Scott Phelan's side offered enough in patches during the first half, with Clare Wheeler, Rosa van Gool and Zara Kramzar all involved in some bright build-up play, but they rarely threatened in the second period and ultimately ran out of ideas when it mattered most.

For Liverpool, the victory does more than just settle a long-standing score. The win lifts Gareth Taylor's side above Everton in the WSL standings, moving them up to fifth in the table. After years of watching cross-city rivals celebrate at Anfield, the Reds have finally flipped the script in the WSL era, and with a derby win under their belt and momentum building, the question now is just how far up that table Liverpool Women can climb.