Arsenal 0-1 Liverpool: Miri Taylor scores winner in Women’s Super League shock

Miri Taylor’s second-half strike gave Liverpool a shock victory away at Arsenal in front of a record Women’s Super League crowd at Emirates Stadium.

The Reds finished in seventh last season, four places and 24 points behind their opponents, but secured a surprise opening day victory for the second year in a row after beating eventual champions Chelsea at the start of 2022-23.

The 54,115-strong crowd was the biggest in the history of the Women’s Super League.

Arsenal applied almost all of the pressure in the first half, but Reds goalkeeper Rachael Laws clawed out Lotte Wubben-Moy’s header with an impressive reflex stop as they doggedly under the animated guidance of manager Matt Beard, repelling wave after wave of crosses into the box.

Liverpool captain Taylor Hinds almost scored during her side’s best spell of the opening period as the Reds grew in confidence, but Jen Beattie produced a vital block after goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger spilled a cross.

Kearns then curled an eye-catching free-kicking narrowly wide to worry Zinsberger again soon afterwards.

Arsenal recovered and went close when Frida Maanum’s powerful strike was beaten over the crossbar by Laws, and substitute Victoria Pelova’s close-range strike was alertly blocked by Gemma Bonner.

England forward Alessia Russo endured a frustrating afternoon, managing only one attempt at goal and three touches inside the penalty area, before being replaced during the second half as her side toiled for an equaliser.

Arsenal are expected to challenge for the WSL title this season and will be bitterly disappointed to have started with an unexpected defeat.

The Gunners are next in action when they visit Manchester United on Friday, while Liverpool play their first home game of the campaign against Aston Villa on Sunday.