The Reds took the lead in Sunday’s game at St Helens Stadium as Beata Olsson emphatically converted a penalty kick.

Freya Godfrey and Kadidiatou Diani were on target before the interval, however, to turn around the score for the visitors.

Liverpool dominated much of the second half and finally had a leveller to show for their efforts when Jana Fernandez conceded an own goal with 92 on the clock.

Kirsty Maclean had a shot on goal inside 15 seconds that was straight at the goalkeeper, but London City then went much closer twice.

First, a floated delivery from the right evaded the head of Jenna Clark and found Godfrey, who was perhaps not expecting it and could only bobble the ball into the gloves of Khiara Keating on the line.

Then Keating’s pass out was intercepted by Diani, who teed up Danielle van de Donk. The attacker stalled slightly and Clark recovered crucially to block her eventual shot.

Liverpool grabbed a lead from a penalty on 19 minutes.

The referee observed Maria Leon dragging down Clark from a Reds corner and pointed to the spot, from where Olsson thumped a brilliant kick high into the net.

It would prove to be a short-lived advantage, however.

Godfrey pressed Keating as she paused on possession while searching for an option to play to, stealing the ball from the Liverpool ’keeper and being left with a simple finish.

The home side resettled themselves and Elene Lete had to be alert to get gloves on a fierce effort from Olsson after she spun on Cornelia Kapocs’ pass near the ‘D’.

Liverpool had a fine chance to regain the lead two minutes before the break, too.

Alice Bergstrom’s cross from deep on the right flank floated all the way to the far post and Alejandra Bernabe was free – but she could not keep her half-volley down.

That disappointment was compounded within seconds as Bernabe’s attempt to guide a header back to Keating fell short; Van de Donk seized it and squared for Diani to convert.

The Reds began the second half well and Clark was close, but off target to the left, with a downward header when found by a corner kick.

Olsson was then unable to connect cleanly with her header to redirect Vivien Endemann’s clipped pass into the area.

Liverpool’s ascendancy was encouraging, though London City’s defensive organisation was largely denying clear chances.

It took a particularly slick series of passes between Natalia Ramos, Fuka Nagano and Kapocs to create room for the former to aim at goal, which curled into the grip of Lete.

A Kapocs cross from the wing swirled into the wind and bounced off the left upright as Gareth Taylor’s team continued to have the upper hand.

Into the final minutes, substitute Lily Woodham deftly chopped in from the right-hand side and slid a low diagonal that was saved.

And just as it seemed the Reds’ endeavours would go without any return, Kapocs’ delivery from right to left reached the back stick and Fernandez turned the ball into her own net as Olsson tried to pounce.

Team

Liverpool: Keating, Bergstrom, Clark, Fisk, Bernabe (Woodham, 79), Nagano, Maclean, Ramos (Höbinger, 83), Endemann (Itamura, 74), Kapocs, Olsson.

Unused subs: Kirby, Parry, Enderby, Agrez, Ward, Trueman.

Next up

The Reds’ next fixture takes them to West Ham United in the WSL on Sunday November 1.

Kick-off at Chigwell Construction Stadium will be 2pm GMT. View ticket and travel details here.