Liverpool 1-1 Bristol City: Women's Super League strugglers battle to away draw

Bristol City missed the chance to earn a second Women's Super League win of the season after being pegged back by Liverpool at Prenton Park.

City led when Liverpool failed to fully clear a corner in the 50th minute, and Abi Harrison's scuffed shot was turned in by Amalie Thestrup from close range.

But the Reds drew level six minutes later, Sophie Roman Haug flicking home a near-post header.

A point does move City off the bottom of the WSL, however, overtaking West Ham who lost at home to Everton.

Liverpool sit fifth, four points outside the Champions League places.

Only leaders Chelsea have picked up more home points in the WSL this season than Liverpool, but manager Matt Beard's previously impressive Reds were frustrated by the disciplined visitors.

"I would say we were lucky," Beard told BBC Radio Merseyside. "I'm disappointed with the use of the ball today.

"You have got to credit Bristol City - defensively they were good - but when you are having two or three touches before you pass it the pictures [space] have gone."We are in a good moment and we didn't perform to our levels today. You do not have a divine right to win football matches."

The best chances of a low-quality first half both fell to City defender Naomi Layzell - she struck into the side netting and was then unable to control Amy Rodgers' ball into the box, allowing Grace Fisk to clear over her own bar.

City then took the lead through former Liverpool player Thestrup, following a succession of three corners in the space of four minutes.

It was Thestrup's fifth WSL goal of the season - accounting for half of City's total of 10 league strikes.

This, along with a change of personnel and shape from Beard, finally woke Liverpool up, with Roman Haug again providing the impetus. The Norwegian has now been involved in five of their last seven WSL goals, scoring three.

But they could not find a winner, and while City are still yet to keep a clean sheet in the league since their return to the WSL - severely hampering their efforts to avoid an immediate return to the Championship - they earned what could be a key point in their battle against the drop.

They almost snatched all three points, with home keeper Teagan Micah making a fine reaction save to deny Harrison, but were grateful in second half stoppage-time to their own goalkeeper Clark as she saved Missy Bo Kearns' 25-yard strike which was heading for the top corner.