Liverpool show class with League Cup thrashing of Newcastle United

Mia Enderby’s double helped Liverpool cruise to a thumping 6-1 win over second-tier Newcastle United at Kingston Park in the Women’s League Cup this afternoon.

Zara Shaw’s thunderbolt opened the scoring for the Merseysiders, with Enderby getting her first shortly after and both Olivia Smith and Cornelia Kapocs netting before half-time. Enderby’s second goal and Leanne Kiernan’s stoppage-time effort capped off a professional performance from the Barclays Women’s Super League side, despite a late consolation from Amy Andrews for the hosts.

Teenager Shaw opened the scoring for Liverpool after 10 minutes with a superb strike. Picking the ball up, she took aim from 25 yards and sent a swerving effort flying past home keeper Hannah Hawkins.

Enderby doubled the lead two minutes later after springing the offside trap, slotting the ball home in a one-on-one confrontation with Hawkins.

Club-record signing Smith made it three in the 35th minute, jinking past Lois Joel and poking the ball into the far corner, before Kapocs added another in first-half stoppage time after tapping in a right-wing cross.

Enderby grabbed her second goal for the rampant Reds 10 minutes into the second half with a snapshot from the edge of the box.

The hosts played with plenty of endeavour, but struggled to adapt to the step up in quality in what was a one-sided affair and they couldn’t stop their opponents earning their first win in this year’s competition. They were rewarded for their efforts with a consolation goal two minutes from time when Andrews pounced on a loose ball in the area and applied a deft finish with the outside of her boot, but Kiernan fired a low drive into the bottom corner in the third minute of time added to finish off the scoring for Liverpool.

Both sides complete the Women’s League Cup group stage on 11 December 2024. Newcastle United travel to Manchester United while Liverpool play host to Everton.