The Gunners reasserted some control when the second half got under way – and the Reds needed their goalkeeper again.
Alessia Russo had already flashed an attempt wide after working good space for herself with neat footwork inside the box.
The same player was then denied by the hands of Kirby having been found by Taylor Hinds’ low cross into a similar area.
Their one-on-one duel continued when Russo was picked out from a deep corner and prodded it at goal. Once more, Kirby was well placed to thwart.
As Liverpool dug in and defended stoutly, Arsenal were being frustrated.
Substitute Caitlin Foord thrashed her strike too high after Kirby parried out a firmly hit cross from Smith down the right-hand side.
Katie McCabe went close, meanwhile, with a first-time volley from a dropping ball that whistled over the bar.
Gemma Evans made a miraculous recovery to make amends for her own error nine minutes from the end.
Blackstenius had seized upon her loose pass back and rounded Kirby to set up a tap-in. But Evans raced back and slid in to send the final finish wide.
The Reds were undone on 87 minutes, though.
A knock over the top was brought down by Blackstenius and she turned on the ball to crash a clinical winner into the top right corner.
Team
Liverpool: Kirby, Parry (Lundgaard, 67), Silcock (Bernabe, 71), Clark, Evans, Woodham, Nagano, Maclean (Kiernan, 90+2), Enderby, Kapocs, Olsson.
Unused subs: Laws, Trueman.
Next up
Taylor’s side are on the road again next week, travelling to Aston Villa in the WSL.
Kick-off at Villa Park on Thursday (December 11) is 7pm GMT. Ticket and travel details here.
