Arsenal left Anfield with three points because Alessia Russo finished the two moments that mattered most, and Liverpool could not quite turn late pressure into a second goal.
Sky Sports reported that Russo put Renée Slegers’ side ahead after eight minutes, taking Emily Fox’s pass and finishing cleanly. Liverpool answered quickly. Beata Olsson got away from Leah Williamson and levelled the match seven minutes later, which changed the afternoon from an Arsenal sprint into a contest of nerve and recovery.
Russo restored the lead before the break, arriving at the back post to head in Lisa Baum’s delivery. That was the decisive action, but not the end of the strain. Arsenal created openings after half-time and Russo went close to completing a hat-trick, yet the match stayed narrow enough for Liverpool to believe one clean contact could alter it again.
That is the uncomfortable scoreline for the team in front: 2-1 asks for control, concentration and a little mercy from the opposition. Liverpool nearly found their route back when Cornelia Kapocs could not make the right connection with a dangerous ball into the box late on. Arsenal survived that moment and, according to Sky Sports, held on with Russo named player of the match.
The result matters beyond a pleasing away win because Arsenal did not drift after being pegged back. They conceded an equaliser almost as soon as they had taken command, then rebuilt the lead before the interval and protected it through a second half that offered chances at both ends. Good sides are not measured only by how brightly they start; they are measured by what they do when a match refuses to stay simple.
For Liverpool, the frustration is plain enough. They recovered from the early mistake and stayed in the game long enough to make Arsenal defend their lead properly. The last touch was missing. Russo’s was not.
Marcus Azzopardi 
Gabriel Fenech 
Dua Mifsud