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Reds register first point

Liverpool squandered a two goal lead against Chelsea at Staines today, but withstood late pressure to register their first point of the season.

Goals from Kelly Jones and Hannah Keryakoplis capped a sparkling first half hour from the Reds, but the home side were able to draw level in awful conditions in South London.

Liverpool made three changes to the side that lost heavily to Bristol last time out, with Nicky Davies making her first start of the season in goal in place of Aroon Clansey, with Cheryl Foster and Nicki Harding also dropping to the bench, being replaced by Keryakoplis and Lynda Shepherd.

The corresponding fixture produced Liverpool's only WSL victory of last season, and Robbie Johnson's side looked bright from the off this time around.

Katie Brusell's half volley was an early warning sign for the Chelsea defence, and Chloe Jones also went close to putting Liverpool ahead in spectacular circumstances ten minutes later.

She saw her 35 yard free-kick tipped onto the bar by Carly Telford, but the Chelsea goalkeeper was beaten on 15 minutes.

Vicky Jones swung in a fantastic cross from the right wing, with the clearing header striking Katie Sherwood on the hand. Kelly Jones stepped up to take the penalty and coolly despatched a powerful shot high past Telford.

Liverpool's confidence grew, and a wonderful passing move saw them double their lead six minutes later.

Great link-up play between Brusell and Kelly Jones resulted in the latter feeding Keryakoplis, who slotted home from 15 yards to put the visitors firmly in control.

Another impressive move saw Ruesha Littlejohn again test Telford, before a swift counter attack saw Chelsea pull one back on 34 minutes.

Keryakoplis went within inches of scoring Liverpool's third when her header was stopped by Telford, and a quick breakaway then saw Helen Lander spring the Liverpool offside trap before she expertly lobbed Davies to halve the deficit.

Chelsea then missed a great chance to pull level five minutes before half-time - Claire Rafferty's cross caused confusion in the Reds defence, but Ashlee Hincks could only lift her shot over.

Half-time: Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool

The teams came out to torrential rain at the start of the second half, and Liverpool made a switch with Sophie Jones coming on in place of Brusell.

The Reds were on the back foot straight away, with Davies producing a smart save to block an effort from former Liverpool player Su Lappin.

On 51 minutes, Hincks was played through, with Evans resorting to a desperate tackle to bring her down. The Reds player was booked, and, from the resulting free-kick, Dani Buet curled a fantastic effort into the top corner to equalise.

The game then entered a scrappy phase, with Chelsea just about holding the upper hand.

With twenty minutes left, Lappin was again denied by Davies, as the Liverpool goalkeeper made a plunging save to stop the Scot's header.

Liverpool then made their second change of the afternoon as Cheryl Foster came on in place of Chloe Jones.

As the rain continued to fall, Chelsea's Buet came to close to her second spectacular strike of the afternoon, as she crashed a 25 yard effort wide.

Both teams then went close to edging in front with ten minutes remaining. Firstly, Nicky Twohig did well to hook Helen Bleazard's header off the line, before Liverpool broke forward and Telford was forced to punch Evans' cross clear under pressure from Sophie Jones.

Davies was then forced into an inspired piece of goalkeeping as the clock ticked towards the ninety minute mark, as she had to dive at the feet of Lander after the Chelsea forward was played through.

As the home side went in search of the winner, the best late chance fell to Liverpool, but, after cutting inside her defender, Keryakoplis could only shoot into the arms of Telford and the Reds had to settle for a point.

Full-time: Chelsea 2-2 Liverpool

Carly Baldwin