Liverpool slipped to defeat in their first game since Robbie Johnson's departure, losing 2-0 to Chelsea at Skelmersdale today.
Fresh from last week's 2-0 victory at Doncaster, new boss Andy Williams named an unchanged side to face a Chelsea team that had lost their previous four games. After a quiet opening, Liverpool created the first chance on five minutes, when good footwork from Cheryl Foster allowed her space to feed in a low cross, but Kelly Jones could only fire wide under pressure. At the other end, Chelsea almost converted a cross of their own when Helen Lander headed Sophie Ingle's centre narrowly over. They went close again moments later, but their captain Dunia Susi could only poke a tame shot at Nicky Davies after Liverpool had failed to deal with a free-kick. Davies then had to be quick off her line to deny Lander, before she was called into action again on twenty minutes - comfortably fielding Danni Buet's 30-yard free-kick. Chelsea were well on top by this point, and Susi had the best chance of the half just before the half hour, but the England international could only nod Kate Longhurst's cross over from close in. Late in the half, the visitors won a succession of corners, but were unable to force the breakthrough that their first half performance deserved. Half-time: Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea Liverpool started the second half brightly, and Hannah Keryakoplis had her first sight of goal on 48 minutes as she latched onto a through ball. Under pressure and with goalkeeper Sarah Quantrill advancing, the striker tried a lob but lifted her effort over the bar. Keryakoplis was again a thorn in the Chelsea side five minutes later, as she broke down the right before feeding Lynda Shepherd, who saw her spectacular long-range strike brilliantly tipped over by Quantrill. Liverpool kept the pressure on and should have taken the lead seconds later, when Chloe Jones drove into the box and squared for Kelly Jones, with the winger just unable to get a shot away under pressure from Katie Sherwood. Foster had the next opportunity on the hour mark, sending a 20-yard free-kick over Quantrill's bar. Despite being on the back foot since half-time, on 63 minutes, Chelsea showed the clinical edge that had deserted them in the first period. Lander made progress down the left wing before sending in a cross that Susi managed to hook past Davies and into the far corner. They could and should have doubled their lead on 75 minutes. Longhurst was played through by Susi, and after Davies saved her first attempt, the Chelsea forward saw her rebound well cleared off the line by Vicky Jones. The restbite didn't last long though, as, from the resulting Buet corner, Gemma Bonner headed home off the underside of the crossbar. Katie Brusell went close to halving the deficit moments later, before Kelly Jones' late header was well saved by Quantrill as the clocked ticked down. Substitute Emily Gielnik then squandered a great chance in the closing seconds, and Quantrill made sure of her clean sheet by pushing Brusell's 93rd minute shot around the post. Liverpool now have one game left before the mid-season break - they travel to Ashby Avenue to play Lincoln next weekend. Full-time: Liverpool 0-2 Chelsea Carly Baldwin Liverpool team: Davies, Chappell, V. Jones, Twohig, Brusell, Foster, K. Jones, Evans, Shepherd, C. Jones, Keryakoplis (Gielnik, 61) Subs not used: Clansey, Harding, Charlton
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