Leicester come from behind to beat Liverpool and improve survival hopes

Leicester fought back to beat Liverpool 2-1 at the King Power Stadium and seal just their second Women’s Super League win of the season.

Olivia Smith gave Liverpool a fortuitous early lead, but Leicester responded through captain Janice Cayman and Missy Goodwin before the break and held on for a vital win that lifts them four points above bottom club Crystal Palace.

Amandine Miquel’s Foxes scored more than one goal in a match for the first time this season, while Liverpool slipped to their sixth league defeat.

Liverpool were gifted a third-minute lead when Leicester goalkeeper Janina Leitzig’s attempted clearance struck Smith and rebounded into the net.

The visitors threatened again soon after throughTaylor Hinds, whose shot was blocked after she had latched on to the marauding Smith’s cross from the left.

Leicester began to settle and after Sophie Howard had blazed their first effort on goal over the crossbar following a corner, Cayman fired the home side’s 17th-minute equaliser.

Liverpool failed to clear Ruby Mace’s free-kick into the box and the Belgium defender reacted quickest to force home the loose ball.

Leicester finished the first half on top and after another free-kick was headed into the side-netting by France defender Julie Thibaud, they went ahead five minutes before the interval.

Cayman and Sam Tierney combined to carve out the opening and although Goodwin lost her balance, her scuffed effort wrong-footed Liverpool goalkeeper Teagan Micah and crept over the line.

Leitzig saved well early in the second half to preserve Leicester’s lead, keeping out Hinds’ shot but then crashed another clearance straight at Smith, this time a goal kick, with the ball rebounding to safety.

Liverpool chased an equaliser in the closing stages. Smith’s shot was blocked by Thibaud and Marie Hobinger’s long-range effort was deflected wide.

But Leicester defended doggedly and the visitors’ were unable to create  clear-cut chances until Leanne Kiernan’s late angled effort struck the side-netting and the Foxes held on.