Merseyside is Blue: Ornella Vignola-led Everton thrash Liverpool 4-1 at Anfield | OneFootball

Led by Ornella Vignola’s stunning hat-trick, Everton Women hammered Liverpool 4-1 at Anfield in their opening match of the Women’s Super League 2025/26. Manager Brian Sorensen is still undefeated as a manager against Liverpool and has made it six wins from six at Anfield.

Vignola, who arrived from Granada this summer, has become the first Everton player, men’s or women’s, to score a hat-trick against Liverpool since the legendary Dixie Dean in 1931.

“Maybe not three,” Sorensen laughed when asked about the expectation from his summer signing. “I expected her to score; that’s why I started her. She was superb … I said to her that this is the benchmark for what I want to see.”

Despite the Toffees’ overall dominance, it was Liverpool who began the match on a positive note. The hosts opened the scoring inside 11 minutes through Cornelia Kapocs, who grabbed the Reds’ first-ever goal against Everton at Anfield.

Brian Sorensen’s side took little time to respond. Vignola’s stunning solo effort levelled proceedings after 24 minutes while Katja Snoeijs headed home from Maz Pacheco’s cross at the stroke of half-time to secure the go-ahead goal. It was Snoejis’ third Merseyside derby goal in as many games.

Everton made three changes at half-time, bringing on Karen ­Holmgaard and Clare Wheeler, while Ruby Mace came off the bench to make her debut. These changes led to the side controlling proceedings and dominating possession.

Vignola stole the headlines with two goals in the space of two minutes to secure game, set, match for Everton. Her first was a powerful header off another Pacheco cross before firing home with a deflected low finish.

“I thought we were terrible the first 30, almost 40 minutes,” Sorensen told Sky Sports after the match.

“Everything was just off. I don’t know why. Then in the final 10 minutes [of the first half], we started to look more like ourselves. We made the three subs [at half‑time] … and it paid off. I’m so happy for the girls.”

Ian Wilkins 4 Posted 08/09/2025 at 12:35:37

Super show 2nd half. Pity they eased up at 4, could have had plenty more.