Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 Liverpool: Reds win first WSL match since December

Captain Ceri Holland scored and was sent off as Liverpool secured their first Women's Super League win of 2024 with a narrow victory at Brighton.

Holland took advantage of a misplaced clearance by Brighton goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley to score the only goal at Broadfield Stadium.

Liverpool had the bulk of the chances, but were mostly held back by the hosts' well-organised defence.

Holland was dismissed in stoppage time for a second yellow card.

Liverpool stay fifth in the table, two points behind Manchester United in fourth.

Defeat was Brighton's second in a row in the league since manager Melissa Phillips was sacked.

They remain second from bottom, five points ahead of Bristol City, who lost 5-2 to Leicester City on Sunday.

Liverpool were the better side, albeit in a game which did not contain too much goalmouth excitement.

Sophie Roman Haug went close in the early exchanges, heading a corner wide and just missing a low Melissa Lawley cross.

Lawley provided much of Liverpool's attacking threat, but Marie Hobinger's set-pieces also proved dangerous as Roman Haug narrowly missed the target with other headers.

Poppy Pattinson's effort from a tight angle rattled the Liverpool crossbar shortly before half-time.

Liverpool broke the deadlock after Baggaley, closed down in the penalty area, passed straight to Holland.

Holland was booked for a late challenge on Julia Zigiotti and will be suspended for the WSL game against Aston Villa on 3 March.