WSL roundup: Leicester rooted to bottom as Liverpool ease relegation fears | OneFootball

The relegation fears of the Women’s Super League’s bottom team, Leicester, worsened as they let a one-goal lead slip and lost 2-1 at home to an Aston Villa side who were inspired by their half-time substitute Ebony Salmon.

Leicester had looked on course to climb out of the relegation spot and above West Ham on goal difference, but Villa’s superb second-half fightback condemned Leicester to a 12th defeat from their 17 league games this season and left them three points from safety with five games remaining.

The visitors’ victory also surely eradicated any lingering worries for their own safety as Natalia Arroyo’s side climbed to eighth place, 11 points clear of danger, as they ended their four-game losing run in away WSL matches.

It had initially looked so encouraging for Rick Passmoor’s hosts and they were good value for their lead when Alisha Lehmann scored her first Leicester goal. The Switzerland winger slotted in with a first-time finish from Hannah Cain’s clever cutback.

Their advantage was wiped out shortly after the restart, though, as Anna Patten flicked in at the near post from a set piece in the 47th minute. Villa dominated thereafter, thanks largely to a lively performance from Salmon, and won the game through Kirsty Hanson, the league’s second-highest goal scorer this season.

Hanson raced on to Salmon’s terrific diagonal ball over the top and found a low finish through Janina Leitzig’s legs. It was Hanson’s 10th league goal of the campaign. That assist capped a fine performance from Salmon, who caused constant problems for the Leicester defence.

Brighton and Liverpool both went agonisingly close to snatching victory late on as they provided a tense finish to their goalless stalemate, but both sides had to settle for a draw that edged Liverpool further away from the relegation zone.

In a game that was low on final-third quality and where the highlights reel would probably begin in the 89th minute, the closest both sides came to winning it came in the final moments.

The Liverpool goalkeeper Jennifer Falk did very well to touch Manuela Vanegas’s late header on to the crossbar, then at the other end after a quick throw-in by the visitors, Aurélie Csillag’s low shot was saved by Chiamaka Nnadozie and trickled narrowly wide. From the resulting corner, Maelys Mpomé cleared the ball off the line to save the hosts.

The result extended Liverpool’s winless run on the road to 10 WSL matches – having not won away since a trip to Brighton last season – but their general upturn in form continued as they gained a valuable point, having won three of their previous five league games to move away from the foot of the table.

Brighton have failed to win any of their past eight WSL games against Liverpool, who are now five points clear of Leicester.

Meanwhile, the Tottenham defender Clare Hunt is to undergo surgery on her right knee, the club has confirmed, after she picked up the injury during the Women’s Asian Cup while representing Australia, who finished as the runners-up. It is not yet been revealed what type of knee injury the 27-year-old has suffered.

Header image: [Photograph: Molly Darlington/WSL Football/Getty Images]