chance wide with time ticking away. Everton were efectively
reduced to a rearguard action as they sought to catch the Reds cold
with an occasional counter-attack.
In the end it was not to be for a Liverpool team searching for their
irst league win of the season but their legion of fans applauded the
team warmly at the inal whistle.
Many young fans saw their days made complete as the Liverpool
players wandered over to the pitch side track in front of the Sir Kenny
Dalglish stand to chat with supporters, sign autographs and pose for
selies.
After the game, Everton manager Willie Kirk admitted his side had
ridden their luck: “It is always good to get a win when you are not at
your best, and I don’t think we were at our best in terms of keeping
the ball. But in the second half we showed real character and
defended really well.
“It was daunting in the second half, with eleven Liverpool players
and the power of the Kop coming at you, but we held on. I’ve
thought for a while this season that Liverpool are in a false position
and I don’t think any diferently. Their front-four can be frightening
but we defended well.
“The atmosphere here was great and it actually felt closer to
50,000 in the crowd towards the end. But to get a crowd of 23,500
here is excellent and I think it moves the game in the right direction.”
One of the club’s guests at the game was Julie Griiths who had
captained Liverpool Ladies when they irst played a league game
at Anield back in 1997. The Reds also played an FA Cup semi-inal
against Arsenal in front of the Kop in 2013. However, the crowd for
this ixture dwarfed both of those previous games in L4.
Liverpool right-back Becky Jane also doubles up by coaching
youngsters at the club’s Regional Talent Centre. She said: “I thought
we were the better team. I think it was the best that we’ve played this
season. It’s gutting but we’re all behind Anke as we’re all human and
we all make mistakes.
“It’s the biggest crowd I have ever played in front of and it was
incredible having more than 23,000 here. Hopefully they will come
back to see us again. To hear the crowd roar was fantastic.”