Sophie Román Haug header earns Liverpool WSL draw at Tottenham

Sophie Román Haug was the villain at Brisbane Road, the Norwegian forward heading in as Liverpool came from behind against Tottenham to secure a draw that denied the north London side a chance to climb to second in the league.

Román Haug’s compatriot Celin Bizet had given Spurs a deserved lead in the first half, but Matt Beard’s Liverpool ensured they both stay on 11 points apiece with Spurs ahead on goal difference.

Tottenham are a different beast under their manager, Robert Vilahamn. Last season the England forward Beth England was the hero scoring 13 goals in 14 games, becoming the club’s all-time top-scorer, after her recruitment in January, helping the north London side to avoid the drop. Rehanne Skinner was sacked as manager after nine successive defeats in March and the assistant Vicky Jepson was tasked with navigating the relegation battle. They secured five wins that season, including against relegation rivals Leicester immediately after Skinner’s exit, before losing just one of their final five games of the season to claw themselves up to ninth.

This season Spurs are fighting at the top, such is the transformation under Vilahamn. Against Liverpool they could not quite seal a fourth win of the season but they did move to 11 points, just seven away from their tally of 18 secured across the 2022-23 campaign.

There was one change to Tottenham’s starting XI that drew 1-1 with Everton last weekend, Drew Spence absent and Kit Graham coming in. Matt Beard returned Ceri Holland to the starting lineup for the first time since she picked up a calf injury on international duty and Mia Enderby also came in, with Missy Bo Kearns on the bench and Jas Matthews left out of the matchday squad.

Against a similarly resurgent Liverpool, who have stuttered a little after a blistering start to their campaign, the home team were dominant and patient and they were rewarded just shy of the half-hour. Bizet collected the ball inside her own half after Liverpool lost possession and ran and ran, with red shirts backing off her, before shifting to the right and firing low past Rachael Laws. It was a marvellous solo effort, aided by Martha Thomas drawing away defenders anticipating a pass.

They should have had more for their efforts with, most notably, Angharad James’s shot deflected over the bar by the foot of Jenna Clark and an unmarked Román Haug blasting over from close range before the goal.

They were made to pay for their profligacy after the break. Román Haug shifted away from James and powerfully headed in Yana Daniëls’s cross in the 65th minute to level.

Spurs searched for the reply and almost caught Liverpool on the break within minutes, the substitute Jessica Naz released through the middle before forcing a low save from Laws.

It was Liverpool that would look the more likely to score the winner as the clock ticked down, but Spurs clung on to ensure the point.