Everton sink Liverpool thanks to penalty awarded for foul outside box

An exasperated Matt Beard claimed the match officials had cost his Liverpool team the Merseyside derby, after a controversial penalty enabled Everton to claim their first win of the Women’s Super League season and move off the bottom of the table.

Beard and his players could scarcely believe their eyes when the hosts were awarded a spot-kick for a foul on the Japan midfielder Honoka Hayashi that replays showed had taken place outside the box. Katja Snoeijs converted the penalty in the 41st minute.

Liverpool’s exasperation was added to in the second half when they were not awarded a penalty when they felt Sara Holmgaard had pushed the Wales international Ceri Holland. Beard slammed his arms against his body in disbelief and said: “Everton have created nothing all game and they’ve been gifted an opportunity to win the game.

“I just feel we’ve been let down by the officials today. Ultimately, those decisions have cost us either a point or potentially three points today.

“It [Everton’s] wasn’t a penalty. That’s it. It completely changes the complexity of the game. The [officials] have all got unblocked views. Even I saw the contact was about a yard outside the box. I just give up with it, to be honest with you, because it happens every week and not just with us. It’s cost us the game today, 100%.”

He said of Liverpool’s penalty claim: “I was told that because Ceri’s arm was in the air, that was an unnatural position. I don’t know what that’s got to do with anything, but that was the explanation I was given. It’s frustrating. My players didn’t deserve to be on the losing end.”

However, Beard stopped short of calling for VAR to be introduced to the WSL, saying: “The money is not there for VAR.

“We need to get the officials right. Look, I don’t know what the answer is, to be honest. I think every manager feels the same every week. Foul throws are being allowed. They didn’t need VAR to tell them that was outside the box. That’s crazy.”

Earlier in the second half, Liverpool’s Fuka Nagano was denied by a remarkable double save from Courtney Brosnan, as Everton claimed the bragging rights in the final WSL Merseyside derby to be staged at Goodison Park. Aside from any cup meetings later in this campaign, the two sides will not meet again on this ground, which holds huge historical importance in women’s football: after hosting one of the most iconic women’s matches when, on Boxing Day 1920, the trailblazing Dick, Kerr’s Ladies beat St Helens in front of a sold-out crowd.

Brian Sørensen, Everton’s manager, praised his goalkeeper’s impact: “I said to Courtney to bring her A-game and she certainly did that today. She’s world-class and I’ve known that for a very long time.”

Beard’s team applied significant late pressure but suffered their third defeat from their opening eight WSL games, staying sixth. They created a glorious chance deep into second-half stoppage time but Gemma Bonner fired at Brosnan.

Liverpool remain without an away victory over Everton since September 2017 and Beard acknowledged his team could not merely blame the officials. “We should have got something out of the game,” he said. “Yes, the referee had a really big impact on the game, but we’ve had some really good chances and we’ve not taken them, so that’s on us.”

Aston Villa picked up their first league win thanks to a 94th-minute goal from the England striker Ebony Salmon in a five-goal thriller against Crystal Palace at Villa Park.

Salmon fired into the top corner to give the Aston Villa manager, Robert de Pauw, his first WSL win at the eighth time of asking, shortly after Annabel Blanchard appeared to have earned Crystal Palace a point. The promoted visitors slipped to the foot of the table on goal difference but the bottom six are separated by only two points.

Leicester, now 10th, are out of the relegation zone on goal difference despite losing 2-0 at home to Manchester United. The Norway internationals Elisabeth Terland and Celin Bizet scored as Marc Skinner's team continued their unbeaten start before their game in hand at the leaders, Chelsea, next Sunday.

But United were dealt a blow after the England midfielder Ella Toone sustained an injury in training on Saturday: "She [Toone] was running and felt something in her calf," Skinner said. "She will miss the next two games – Everton [League Cup] and Chelsea and then we will see what the extent of the injury is after that. We are hopeful she will be available for England – we don’t know the extent yet." Tom Garry

It was the third season in a row in which Everton’s first league win had come against Liverpool, but the previous two had come at Anfield, and the joy for the hosts was clear as they celebrated at full-time. “I always celebrate a bit more when we beat Liverpool because it just means that little bit more,” said Sørensen, who had turned to his bench with two clenched fists on the full-time whistle. “It’s one we’ll look back on with joy.

“We knew we had to weather the storm in the first 15 and then I thought we started to take over a bit. In the second half, they threw everything at us and we stood tall and held them back. I’m so delighted for the girls. They really deserve it. It’s been challenging, every week – we can’t put the same lineup out two weeks in a row.

“I’m not looking at the table, I’m looking at the performances. And I know we are going in the right direction despite having key players out.”