Russo on target again as double fires under-pressure Arsenal to vital WSL win at Liverpool

Alessia Russo scored twice in the first half as Arsenal won 2-1 at Anfield to ease the pressure on Renée Slegers Alessia Russo scored twice at Anfield to provide the under-pressure Arsenal head coach, Renée Slegers, with some brief respite but it was another unconvincing display from the north Londoners despite their much-needed 2-1 victory. The in-form Russo’s double took her recent tally to seven goals in her past four appearances and 10 in her past seven games for club and country, but Liverpool posed plenty of problems for the visitors and were unhappy about a disallowed goal.

Arsenal began the game brightly and nearly went ahead early on when Lisa Baum’s effort deflected on to the crossbar and Olivia Smith fired over from a tight angle after initially being slipped through by Russo. Their purposeful start was rewarded when a good move down their right flank led to Emily Fox’s cross being angled into the net by Russo’s incisive first-time finish. Liverpool were level just six minutes later, though, and from a defensive point of view it was a