Summer signing Ornella Vignola scored a hat trick on her Women’s Super League debut as Everton came from behind to romp to a 4-1 win over Merseyside rivals Liverpool at Anfield.
Liverpool, with new boss Gareth Taylor in charge, had taken a 12th-minute lead when Cornelia Kapocs broke down the left before cutting back into the penalty area and drilling the ball in off the underside off the crossbar.
Liverpool defender Gemma Bonner saw her effort at the back post from a free-kick pushed onto the bar by a fine reaction save from Everton keeper Courtney Brosnan.
In the 20th minute, both sets of fans applauded in memory of Diogo Jota, who was killed in a car crash last month along with his brother Andre Silva.
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Everton equalised in the 24th minute following a swift counter attack when Vignola — signed from Spanish side Granada — turned back into the right side of the Liverpool box before curling her shot into the far corner.
Liverpool spurned a golden chance to regain the lead before the break when Marie Hobinger rolled a loose ball wide of an empty net after Everton defender Hayley Ladd made a hash of her clearance when playing out from the back.
It proved a costly miss as Everton got themselves in front in stoppage time at the end of the first half when their captain Katja Snoeijs headed in a deep cross from Mayumi Pacheco.
Everton sent on record signing England midfielder Ruby Mace, who arrived on deadline day from Leicester, for the second half.
Vignola then headed in Everton’s third in the 54th minute from another fine cross by Pacheco and swiftly completed her treble with a low, left-foot shot which took a deflection on its way past Reds keeper Faye Kirby.
Dutch midfielder Rosa van Gool, another Everton debutant, saw her looping effort drop onto the top of the crossbar late on.
