- Albion are beaten 1-0 by Liverpool
- Rinsola Babajide scores the winner
- Danielle Buet comes close late on for Albion
- Albion are next in action away at Chelsea
Brighton & Hove Albion succumbed to their third consecutive 1-0 defeat at the start of the FA WSL season, after being beaten by Liverpool.
Rinsola Babajide’s 85th-minute strike was enough to give the Reds all three points, a result that was harsh on Albion, who more than held their own over the 90 minutes.
Hope Powell made one change to the side that lost 1-0 to Birmingham City, as Kayleigh Green replaced Ini Umotong in the starting line-up.
After a cagey opening quarter of an hour, Niamh Charles took aim from distance only to see her shot clear the crossbar.
Down the other end Kayleigh Green latched onto a loose ball inside the box, but the Wales international’s diving header went wide of the target.
Jessica Clarke managed to dispossess Victoria Williams in the Albion defence, however Lucy Gillett was on hand to make a comfortable save.
Danielle Buet was next to try her luck for the Seagulls and she saw her effort clear the far post.
But Albion’s defence were caught napping when Christine Murray was allowed to drift into the box from a short corner and saw her shot saved by Gillett.
The second half began in the same cautious manner as the first with little in the way of chances, before Kirsty Barton took aim with a speculative attempt from distance that was saved by Anke Preuss.
Christine Murray was next to take aim from distance for the visitors, but the shot did not trouble Gillett.
The Seagulls managed to work an opening down the left flank when Aileen Whelan found Green, and the latter’s angled attempt was saved by Anke Preuss.
Fliss Gibbons then did well to pick out Jodie Brett in a central position, but her tame effort was comfortably kept out by Preuss.
Despite Albion’s positive play Powell’s side were dealt a cruel blow when substitute Babajide fired in a strike from the edge of the box with just five minutes remaining.
Undeterred by the setback, a dangerous ball was delivered into the area down the other end and Green saw her header go over the bar.
Substitute Sophie Perry drifted a dangerous ball across the area late on, which Ini Umotong held up for Buet to strike, but the captain couldn’t make a decent connection and Liverpool claimed a 1-0 victory.
ALBION: Gillett; Barton, Rafferty, Williams, Gibbons; Brett, Buet, Natkiel; A. Whelan (Umotong 88), Green, Brazil (Perry 84).
SUBS NOT USED: Hartley (GK), Roe, F, Whelan, Peplow.