There is a tightrope to be trodden between loyal conviction and blind optimism. This game featured moments that made you want to both tear your hair out and applaud in equal measure. Get ready, because you may not agree with what follows – the good, the bad, and the ugly.

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For a full recap of the match action courtesy of Neil Moxley head over to the Albion website: HERE
Match highlights are available on the official WSL YouTube channel: HERE

Brighton & Hove Albion

• The way this match unfolded very much depends on your perspective. Brighton haven’t got a good record against Liverpool in the WSL, in fact they haven’t taken a point off them since November of 2022. Equally the Reds haven’t scored a point in the WSL since April, and their last win came against, you guessed it, Brighton, during the same month. This is not last year’s Liverpool, or even the one before that. There’s no Olivia Smith or Taylor Hinds, who both moved down South to join Arsenal, whilst Marie Hobinger and Sophie Roman Haug both have long-term ACL injuries. To what then a draw? In the 92nd minute at 1-0 down you’d be a fool not take it, but on current form, and for where Brighton should be right now, it’s hard to see it as anything other than two points dropped. In the women’s game too many missed opportunities can soon see you plummeting down the table. Brighton already sit eighth and if Villa win their game in hand they could be cut adrift to the point where beating both Leicester and London City won’t be enough to lift them out of the bottom pack.
• Is it time to panic then? Absolutely categorically not. Everybody knows the situation with relegation this season and Brighton will be nowhere near the battle for 12th. That knowledge should allow them to play with more freedom, even if it comes at the cost of privately accepting that 4th or 5th place might not be within reach. Any major changes now would surely be to the detriment of the team and all the supporters are 100% behind them as they try to build and develop.
• The defence did well for the most part and restricted Liverpool to very few clear cut chances, despite the fact that they scored and hit the woodwork twice. There were a couple of errors passing out from the back and they did look vulnerable again from balls into the box from the flanks, but the work rate couldn’t be faulted.
• It is a concern that once again Brighton conceded to a low cross from the left-hand side in what was essentially a carbon copy of the goal Spurs scored against the Albion just over a month ago. On this occasion Chiamaka Nnadozie really should have saved the shot though, as a rather weak finish from Beata Olsson squirmed away from her and into the net. The Seagulls keeper more than redeemed herself with a couple of excellent saves, but she won’t want to see a replay of that goal in the morning.
• Going forward was a different story, Brighton created a few excellent opportunities, but it wasn’t often enough to really display any sort of attacking dominance. Jelena Cankovic’s shot from range tested Faye Kirby, Carla Camacho had a header which cannoned off the outside of the post, and an almost open goal didn’t lead to an actual goal, all of which happened in a ten minute window mid-way through the first half. In the second Fran Kirby hit the target with another excellent chance, only to see it cleared off the line by Risa Shimizu. Ultimately though it took 93 minutes to score against a team with absolutely zero points to their name this season. A draw doesn’t seem all that bad, and it was deserved for sure, but it was so close to a loss that you cannot discount the rest of the game simply because of a last gasp equaliser.
• On the plus side Madison Haley made her return from injury and with several others on the treatment table, what a welcome sight that was to see. Obviously she is on managed minutes at the moment and likely won’t feature against Charlton in mid-week, but she adds a presence that Brighton don’t have in the forward line right now. Two other substitutes, Nadine Noordam and Rosa Kafaji combined for the equaliser so from that perspective Dario Vidosic will be pleased with the contribution from players who didn’t start the game. Manuela Vanegas also made a brief cameo late on to put an end to her spell on the sidelines.
• It is a perfectly acceptable stance to say that the Albion were unlucky against Liverpool, the question is how long they can continue to be unlucky before it starts to become something more concerning. The next two games against Leicester and London City are barometers for where this team is this season. Win both and get back into top half contention, lose both and sink to the depths of a double digit position, or somewhere in between?

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Liverpool

• If there’s an area Liverpool are still relatively strong in, it would be defence. Despite their poor form they have only once allowed an xG over 2.0 and it was always going to be tough to come back if they had a lead to protect and dug in even more – and so it proved.
• To a certain extent Liverpool were the architects of their own downfall. They were too content to sit on a 1-0 lead and employ the usual time wasting tactics to wind down the clock. Thankfully these ‘dark arts’ meant five minutes of stoppage time was awarded, and Brighton scored within that period – so it doesn’t always work!
• Fuka Nagano is right up there as one of the best midfield playmakers in the women’s game right now. Arguably only second in the WSL to her compatriot Yui Hasegawa. everything Liverpool did well flowed through her for the most part.

Other Business

• Not seen a ton of referee Phoebe Cross, as it looks like she isn’t a permanent fixture in the WSL/PGMO official pool. That said, she didn’t have a lot to do and largely went unnoticed, which is always a positive. The usual inconsistencies were present, particularly in the first half, but overall a good job done by the officiating crew.
• A coach of faithful fans started their journey at 4am and travelled up for the game alongside a few others who made the trip under their own steam. A massive thank you to those who represented the club so far away from home, you were loud proud and very visible on TV!

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The SheGulls Podcast will be recorded tonight and released shortly thereafter. So for more analysis of this game and a preview of Charlton at the Broadfield (Subway Cup) and Leicester at the Amex (WSL) – do give it a listen.

See you all soon as always!