Liverpool Women Up To Fourth Place After Victory Over Bristol City

Fourth place! Fourth place! Liverpool added insult to injury to the relegated Bristol City WFC on Saturday after when they took away yet another three points from the home team. Marie Höbinger’s strike sent the Reds up into fourth place after stagnating in fifth for most of the season. Even better, it meant they hopped right over Manchester United Women to get there, which is a nice little bonus.

In the WSL, the top three teams make the Champions League spots. Right now, it’s Manchester City and Chelsea battling at the top with Arsenal a few points below. Liverpool sit at 32 points while Arsenal are at 40 with three more games left to play in the season. It would take a miracle for them to make it into that group at this point.

However, consider it’s only their second season back in the top tier, making it within spitting distance of the European spots is a huge achievement.

Saturday’s game was won early on in the 13th minute. Missy Bo Kearns’ cross landed at Höbinger’s feet, and she beat goalkeeper Shae Yanez with a shot to the left corner.

Former Red Rachel Furness played well against her past teammates. She managed to stay onside and nearly found a clear chance on goal only a few moments after the Höbinger’s strike. Thankfully the Teagan Micah, Liverpool’s goalkeeper, got her angles right and forced Furness to shoot wide.

The clear upward trajectory of the Reds in the recent handful of years has been impressive, though it took them being relegated and the fans making their displeasure known to make it happen. Hopefully next year the Reds start to present the big three teams a real challenge for the Champions League spots. Then the next goal should be winning the league for the first time since 2014.