Leanne Kiernan gives Liverpool the win over West Ham for the second time in a week

Photo credit: Liverpool FC

It’s back-to-back victories for Liverpool against West Ham after beating them 1-0 at home in the WSL yesterday.  

The scoreline was a successful follow up to their huge 5-0 midweek victory in the FA Cup. Despite the big loss on Wednesday evening, West Ham were not prepared to be victims of another huge defeat and were determined to make it harder for the Reds, but it was Leanne Kiernan who broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute to take all three points.  

Teams 

Only two changes were made to Matt Beard’s side that played in the same fixture midweek. Yana Daniëls made way for Lucy Parry and the other change was who was standing in goal, Rachel Laws was replaced by Teagan Micah.  

Rehanne Skinner, however, made five changes to the team that started midweek. Following Amber Tysiak’s red card, Shelina Zadorsky started in defence for the Hammers, which came as no surprise to the fans. Kinga Szemik also regained her position between the sticks, as Megan Walsh returned to the bench. Eva Nyström made her West Ham debut after signing this window and alongside her, Verena Hanshaw and Seraina Piubel also started replacing Camila Sáez, Li Mengwen and Manuela Paví.  

First half  

It was the visitors who were close to opening the scoring first, when Martinez picked up the ball on the right side of the pitch and crossed it into the box, Viviane Asseyi was there with an acrobatic attempt on goal, but her effort landed on the roof of the goal instead.  

Liverpool were then given the chance to display their attacking threat for the first time, when West Ham failed to clear the ball. January loan signing, Sam Kerr, found the ball at her feet on the edge of the box but her shot had just a bit too much height and cleared the crossbar.  

Martinez showed her determination to score in consecutive WSL matches with yet another chance for the Hammers, Asseyi whipped the ball into the box to meet Martinez but the header went just wide.  

33 minutes in and Kiernan had broken the deadlock when she netted the ball from Ceri Holland’s low cross past the West Ham goalkeeper Szemik.  

The Reds were close to adding another to the scoresheet in the first half stoppage time, but Grace Fisk narrowly missed the goal from Marie Höbinger’s corner.  

Second half  

Neither team made substitutions at half time, and both sides came out continuing to apply pressure.  

Another chance for the Reds came not too long into the second half from a set piece. Anouk Denton conceded the corner that was awarded to the home side, Jenna Clark came close to putting the ball away but her effort was the wrong side of the post.  

The first substitution of the afternoon came and it was a West Ham change, Denton exited the field and Scottish defender Kirsty Smith replaced her.  

At 59 minutes, it was Liverpool’s turn to make a change, Höbinger made way for Júlia Bartel.  

An hour played and the score hadn’t changed from the first half, and with both teams still keeping the chances coming, maybe it was expected for there to be more than one goal in the game.  

Taylor Hinds was denied by the woodwork to double Liverpool’s lead, Lucy Parry’s delivery into the box was met by Hinds stretching at the back post, but her effort skimmed the crossbar.  

Two more substitutions were made for the home side at 64 minutes, Parry and goal scorer Kiernan made way for Yana Daniëls and Sophie Roman-Haug.

West Ham also made two substitutions at 68 minutes, Seraina Piubel and Dagny Brynjarsdóttir exited the field for Manuela Paví and Oona Siren to get some game time.  

The Reds made their final substitute of the night, welcoming Fuka Nagano for Kerr.  

10 minutes from the end, showed substitute Yana Daniëls attempt to find a second goal, but her effort was tipped over the bar by Szemik.  

The final change of the night came from West Ham, Viviane Asseyi left the pitch for Princess Ademiluyi to get her first minutes of the season. Making almost immediate impact, Ademiluyi came close to scoring, when she connected with Paví’s delivery but missed to the right of the goal.  

Rehanne Skinner’s side’s best chance of the night came from Riko Ueki, right at the end of the game but unfortunately she was unable to find the back of the net. Whilst they were not able to equalise, the Hammers drastically decreased the scoreline from midweek so are able to take some positives from the game.  

Stats  

Liverpool led the possession with 58% to 42%. The visitors had nine shots total but were not able to find the target for any of them, the home side had 13 shots total and two of them were on target.

Overall, 14 corners were given and they were shared equally between the sides. Liverpool committed 8 fouls throughout and were awarded two yellow cards as a result, one for Olivia Smith and the other for Grace Fisk. West Ham committed more fouls than Liverpool coming in at 12, however, they were only given one yellow card for Oona Siren.  

What’s next? 

Liverpool will next be in action away at Rugby Borough in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Sunday 9th February, kick off is at 12:30pm and the broadcast will be on the BBC. 

West Ham’s next game will be a London derby against Chelsea in the semi final of the League Cup away at Kingsmeadow on Wednesday night.