Substitute Stina Blackstenius scored a late winner against Liverpool to send Arsenal back into the top three of the Women's Super League.

The Sweden forward broke free of a tired Liverpool defence to latch on to a through ball before cutting on to her left foot and arrowing a finish into the top right corner at Emirates Stadium.

Liverpool remain winless after nine league games. This was their seventh defeat under manager Gareth Taylor.

Arsenal started the game strongly and were denied a first-minute Frida Maanum opener by a sprawling stop from goalkeeper Faye Kirby, before Lotte Wubben-Moy headed against a post and Mariona Caldentey was denied by another Kirby save.

Olivia Smith broke the deadlock for Arsenal, dazzling her former Liverpool team-mates with a jinking run inside from the left before arrowing a long-range shot into the bottom left corner.

Having offered little in the face of a heavy attacking storm from Arsenal, Liverpool levelled with their first shot on target.

Beata Olsson's cool, low finish meant she set a WSL record of scoring in her first four starts since a summer move from Kristianstads.

The attack-versus-defence battle continued after the interval, with Arsenal bringing on Caitlin Foord and joint top scorer Blackstenius.

Blackstenius came close after latching on to a poor backpass from Gemma Evans to round Kirby, before Evans atoned with a last-ditch interception.

Eventually the Gunners' pressure told as Blackstenius struck to earn the three points that lift them above Manchester United in the table.

Saturday's game followed a familiar recent pattern for head coach Renee Slegers and her side as they struggled to make the most of their chances.

While it should be taken into account that Liverpool held champions Chelsea to a 1-1 draw last time out, the Gunners enjoyed the lion's share of possession (60%) and shots (19 to 3) in this game, yet they had to rely on two standout individual moments to secure victory.

The first came from Smith, who was maybe destined to mark her first appearance against her old team with a meaningful contribution. Although the Canadian did not celebrate her opener, relief on her face and around the Emirates was palpable when the ball arrowed in for her second league goal of the campaign.

Chance after chance went begging as Sleger's side failed to make the game safe when in the ascendancy, before they were pegged back by Olsson's neat leveller before half-time.

Yet again Slegers was made to use her 'get out of jail free' card in Blackstenius.

The hero of the Champions League final in May came off the bench to score her fifth goal of the season to rescue victory and keep Arsenal's slim title hopes alive.

Blackstenius could even have had two or three goals, but for some superb last-ditch Liverpool interceptions and an incorrect offside flag in stoppage time.

Arsenal made sure there was no way back for Liverpool for a second time, but Slegers, having had to rely on a late flash of inspiration, will have growing concerns about her team's continuing struggles to put games to bed. Next time they might not be so lucky.

Injury-hit Liverpool did manager Taylor proud with another battling display. Unlike last time out in the league against Chelsea, however, their efforts went unrewarded.

With skipper Grace Fisk and midfield lynchpin Sam Kerr the latest players to be ruled out with knocks over the international break, Taylor was only able to name a five-player bench that included 16-year-old Maizie Trueman.

Their woes were compounded when Smith scored the opener for Arsenal, a timely reminder of the star quality the Reds now lack.

She left Liverpool in a world-record deal in July, becoming the first £1m player in the women's game, and her burst of pace and impressive finish lived up to that billing.

What the visitors lacked in numbers, they more than made up for in fight on the pitch, with 32 defensive clearances, six saves from Kirby and a wonderful finish from Olsson putting them on the cusp of another valuable point before hopes were dashed late on.

The outcome means that Liverpool have lost by a single-goal margin five times this season. Such results are tough to take, but running Arsenal close should be a cause for optimism given their many absentees.

A second consecutive solid performance against a top-four side is a further sign of what Liverpool could still achieve under Taylor this season.

The first thing they will hope to do is get the injuries under control, while in January there may be a chance to strengthen. Investing some of the Smith transfer fee could do wonders to bolster a squad that is looking increasingly thin and tired as the winter break approaches.

Arsenal are in European action in midweek, hosting Dutch side FC Twente at Meadow Park on Tuesday 9 December (20:00 GMT) before a trip to Everton in the WSL next Saturday, 13 December (12:00 GMT).

Liverpool have two WSL away games in the coming week, at Aston Villa on Thursday, 10 December (19:00 GMT) and at West Ham on Sunday, 14 December (11:55 GMT).

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