Beata Olsson's late goal rescued Liverpool by earning a priceless point at West Ham in the meeting of the Women's Super League bottom two at Chigwell Community Stadium.

The Reds appeared to be heading for a damaging defeat before the 87th minute, when Olsson capitalised on a defensive error by Amber Tysiak and tucked home.

Liverpool remain winless and will spend Christmas at the bottom of the WSL, two points behind West Ham.

But given the Reds were reduced to 10 players after 19 minutes when Gemma Bonner was sent off and would have been five points from safety had the Hammers held on to win, this will go down as a point gained for Gareth Taylor's side.

Ffion Morgan appeared to have won the game for West Ham after Liverpool's Mia Enderby had earlier cancelled out Riko Ueki's opener.

After an even opening, a critical moment came when Liverpool centre-back Bonner scythed down West Ham striker Ueki.

Liverpool may feel hard done by in regards to the red card which came when Bonner fouled Ueki as she chased a through ball. It appeared that Bonner's defensive partner Jenna Clark was covering but she was nevertheless given a straight red card by referee Abigail Byrne.

West Ham took control of the game with a breakthrough coming on 57 minutes as Ueki flicked an Viviane Asseyi corner past Liverpool keeper Faye Kirby.

The hosts switched off at the restart, allowing the Reds to equalise less than two minutes later. A long Kirby ball was flicked on by Olsson and Enderby cut a first-time left-footed finish into the far corner.

West Ham kept up the pressure and retook the lead following another corner. Liverpool half-cleared the set-piece and Morgan slammed home a deflected shot from the edge of the box.

Rehanne Skinner's side seemed set for a decisive victory in this relegation zone meeting - but that was before Olsson intervened.

This game saw the WSL's bottom two meet, both knowing the loser would spend Christmas in the relegation play-off place.

It has been a particularly difficult first part of the season for Liverpool manager Taylor, who has had major personnel issues to deal with alongside his team's poor form.

The return of veteran defender Bonner from injury on Sunday was initially very welcome but the 34-year-old's controversial early dismissal - her first in 156 WSL games - serves as yet another blow for the embattled Taylor.

In a game where Liverpool would have hoped to be competitive and potentially earn a first league win of the campaign, they failed to have a shot on target during a first half in which they were constantly on the back foot. This followed their 3-0 loss at Villa on Thursday when they also did not have an effort on goal.

However, in Olsson they have a constant get-out-of-jail card. The Swede now has five WSL goals this season and is a rare bright spark for the side in a dire campaign.

For West Ham, things are not much better. Liverpool's failings have helped mask the Hammers' abysmal WSL record after 11 games, with them collecting just five points.

The Hammers wasted the first-half chances they created after Bonner's early red - Ueki heading straight at Kirby from close range and the Reds keeper making a spreading stop from Asseyi.

And while they do have attacking talent, West Ham's defence is a major concern. They are shipping at a rate of more than two a match - 24 conceded in 11 games, the most conceded in the league.

Next year may be just as tough for these two sides as 2025 proved to be.

West Ham host Manchester City in the League Cup quarter-finals on Sunday, 21 December, while Liverpool host Chelsea - their final matches of 2025.

Both sides return to WSL action on 11 January, when the Reds host London City Lionesses and the Hammers visit Chelsea.

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