Everton 2-3 Liverpool: Holland stars in Merseyside derby win despite Fisk red

Liverpool recorded their first away win in the Women's Super League this season as they defeated Everton 3-2 in Saturday's Merseyside derby.

Ceri Holland was the star of the show at Goodison Park, scoring either side of Martina Fernandez's own goal in the first half, though the Toffees threatened a comeback after the break as Aurora Galli's free-kick and a red card to Liverpool captain Grace Fisk led to a nervy finish.

The Reds took the lead in the 11th minute from the penalty spot. Just six seconds after Jenna Clark's header hit the post, Inma Gabarro was penalised for handball in the box and Holland placed her spot-kick down the middle of the goal.

The visitors doubled their advantage nine minutes later when Alejandra Bernabe's cross was turned into her own net by Fernandez, while Holland completed the first-half scoring by curling into the top-right corner after an unchallenged run from the halfway line.

Things got worse for Everton early in the second period when Gabarro was forced off with a knee injury, but they revived their hopes of a draw when Galli's deflected free-kick wrong-footed Jennifer Falk just after the hour mark.

And directly from the restart, Liverpool skipper Fisk received a second yellow card after tripping Zara Kramzar off the ball, allowing Everton to pile on some late pressure.

The Reds almost added a fourth against the run of play, with Clark's header cleared off the line by Ruby Mace, and while Kramzar first hit the woodwork in the 86th minute, she then reduced the deficit to one in the first minute of stoppage time with a clinical finish.

Nevertheless, Gareth Taylor's Reds held on to move eight points clear of the relegation zone, though bottom side Leicester City still have two games in hand.

Data Debrief: Everton's slow start proves costly again

Everton produced 1.42 expected goals (xG) from 17 shots to Liverpool's 1.34 from nine attempts, with the Toffees on top for the majority of the second half, when they registered 15 of their shots.

The Toffees were once again undone by a poor first-half; Everton have conceded the joint-most goals in the first half of matches in the WSL this season (17, level with Leicester).

Holland's first-half performance for Liverpool proved crucial in the end. Overall, Holland created the most chances for her side (three), attempted the most dribbles (five), won possession most often (seven) and scored with both of her attempts.