Liverpool 2-1 Leicester City: Marie-Therese Hobinger secures win over Leicester
Marie Hobinger's late goal earned Liverpool a hard-fought Women's Super League victory over Leicester at Prenton Park.
Melissa Lawley's sumptuous strike had put Liverpool ahead just after the break when Grace Fisk threaded a pass through for the forward, who weaved towards the byeline before hammering her shot into the roof of the net.
Missy Goodwin levelled for the Foxes just 10 minutes later with a stunning left-footed shot from a tight angle just inside the area.
But Hobinger finished into the bottom corner from Mia Enderby's cut-back to restore the home side's lead with six minutes left.
Deanne Rose's cross from the byeline looked like it had almost sneaked past Rachael Laws in the Liverpool goal as Leicester pushed for a second equaliser in a frantic finish, but the hosts held on to earn their first win in three matches.
The two sides met for the first time in the WSL last season with Leicester coming out on top on both occasions.
But it was Liverpool who controlled much of this encounter with 18 attempts to Leicester's five and they move into fourth in the league, leapfrogging Arsenal who beat Manchester City earlier on Sunday.
Reds' impressive season continues
What was a fixture between two sides fighting relegation last season has become a mid-table tussle in the early stages of this campaign.
Manchester City brought Leicester's remarkable undefeated start to the season to an end before the international break, while Liverpool have recorded impressive wins over Arsenal and Aston Villa.
A cagey first half of limited chances saw Liverpool just edge the better of them.
But the Reds really turned up the intensity in the second period, dominating possession and keeping Foxes keeper Janina Leitzig busy before Lawley broke the deadlock in the 48th minute with her first goal since Liverpool returned to the WSL last season.
Lawley had a chance to double her tally moments later but lost her footing as she closed down on Leitzig.
Leicester's 57th-minute equaliser came against the run of play, Goodwin firing home out of nothing after the visitors created few chances.
Liverpool continued to dominate even after the equaliser.
Summer signing Sophie Roman Haug thought her wait for a first WSL goal had ended when she rose highest to meet an in-swinging corner, but headed inches over.
Lawley twice teed up Haug, with the Norwegian forward heading one chance wide and then forcing a brilliant full-stretch save from German Leitzig.
Fisk also impressed, continually finding space on the right-hand side.
Hobinger also hit another 25-yard effort, producing another superb save from Leitzig, before slotting home to give her side their sixth victory in eight home matches and celebrate manager Matt Beard's 150th game as a WSL manager.
The Foxes were unbeaten in their last three away matches, having won just one of 14 previous league matches on the road.
