Led by Ornella Vignola’s stunning hat-trick, Everton Women hammered Liverpool 4-1 at Anfield in their opening match of the Women’s Super League 2025/26. Manager Brian Sorensen is still undefeated as a manager against Liverpool and has made it six wins from six at Anfield.
Vignola, who arrived from Granada this summer, has become the first Everton player, men’s or women’s, to score a hat-trick against Liverpool since the legendary Dixie Dean in 1931.
“Maybe not three,” Sorensen laughed when asked about the expectation from his summer signing. “I expected her to score; that’s why I started her. She was superb … I said to her that this is the benchmark for what I want to see.”
Despite the Toffees’ overall dominance, it was Liverpool who began the match on a positive note. The hosts opened the scoring inside 11 minutes through Cornelia Kapocs, who grabbed the Reds’ first-ever goal against Everton at Anfield.
Brian Sorensen’s side took little time to respond. Vignola’s stunning solo effort levelled proceedings after 24 minutes while Katja Snoeijs headed home from Maz Pacheco’s cross at the stroke of half-time to secure the go-ahead goal. It was Snoejis’ third Merseyside derby goal in as many games.
Everton made three changes at half-time, bringing on Karen Holmgaard and Clare Wheeler, while Ruby Mace came off the bench to make her debut. These changes led to the side controlling proceedings and dominating possession.
Vignola stole the headlines with two goals in the space of two minutes to secure game, set, match for Everton. Her first was a powerful header off another Pacheco cross before firing home with a deflected low finish.
“I thought we were terrible the first 30, almost 40 minutes,” Sorensen told Sky Sports after the match.
“Everything was just off. I don’t know why. Then in the final 10 minutes [of the first half], we started to look more like ourselves. We made the three subs [at half‑time] … and it paid off. I’m so happy for the girls.”
Reader Comments (22)
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2 Posted 08/09/2025 at 12:16:23
3 Posted 08/09/2025 at 12:21:25
4 Posted 08/09/2025 at 12:35:37
5 Posted 08/09/2025 at 13:25:15
6 Posted 08/09/2025 at 14:33:28
7 Posted 08/09/2025 at 15:15:28
8 Posted 08/09/2025 at 16:10:54
9 Posted 08/09/2025 at 16:19:08
10 Posted 08/09/2025 at 16:59:17
11 Posted 08/09/2025 at 21:57:58
Clearly there are still a lot of men who like to diss the women's game rather than just accept it as an alternative.
It was a fantastic win - one which cements a solid record against Liverpool in the WSL. TFG have recruited wisely to support the women's team and our young Spaniard, Vignola, looks like a star in the making. The last goal was fluky, but the others were superb.
I'm looking forward to seeing an improved league position for the women - as well as the men.
12 Posted 08/09/2025 at 22:32:00
Good to see a healthy competitive in-house challenge.
13 Posted 08/09/2025 at 22:37:39
The last goal may have been fluky but I like the way Vignola first looked across at her team mate who was in a better position and thought, 'Nah, this is mine' and took a chance. I laughed when it went in off the deflection.
14 Posted 09/09/2025 at 02:49:49
Second half, we were a completely different team, played some great joined-up football and could have scored more.
More generally, Women's football is growing massively and Everton need to be at the forefront.
15 Posted 09/09/2025 at 06:32:49
16 Posted 09/09/2025 at 14:50:47
It's the defender's job to get a block in. Don't want attackers to hesitate from pulling the trigger just because a defender may be close enough to get a piece of it.
I take the view that, if the original direction was on target, then it doesn't need qualifying in that way. If the shot was off target and needs the deflection just to be on target, then that is worth highlighting.
17 Posted 09/09/2025 at 17:56:25
Well done, ladies, keep up the good work. COYB
18 Posted 09/09/2025 at 17:57:28
Great to see all parts of the club improving.
If the guys play a couple of behind-the-scenes games against the women's team as lead-up, and the women's manager takes the helm, I can see mass exodus from those fans at their sad old ground to catch their train out of Liverpool.
Headlines? "Reds unlucky as Everton score 6."
I can see fun to be had!
19 Posted 09/09/2025 at 21:54:42
20 Posted 09/09/2025 at 22:35:28
21 Posted 10/09/2025 at 00:48:37
NSNO
22 Posted 10/09/2025 at 02:12:35
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1 Posted 08/09/2025 at 11:31:29