Brighton forward Rosa Kafaji’s stoppage-time goal denied Women’s Super League strugglers Liverpool their first win of the season.
A spell of late pressure from the away side eventually told as Kafaji swept home Nadine Noordam’s cutback to claim a share of the spoils at St Helens Stadium and end Brighton’s three-game losing run in the league.
Liverpool had gone in front on 26 minutes, when Beata Olsson netted her second goal in as many games. The Swede slid in at the front post to divert Lily Woodham’s low cross past Brighton keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, who was unable to stop it trickling over the line.
It had already been an ebb-and-flow contest, with Liverpool winger Mia Enderby shooting wide at the back post inside two minutes, before Carla Camacho’s header bounced off the crossbar at the other end.
There continued to be chances at both ends, with Liverpool midfielder Sam Kerr firing wide from distance before keeper Faye Kirby had to produce a smart stop to keep out namesake Fran after some sloppy passing from the hosts in their own area.
As the interval approached, the hosts rallied once more, but Fuka Nagano’s long-range drive was turned onto the crossbar by Nnadozie before Kerr curled a shot against the bar moments later.
Brighton came out with renewed purpose in the second half, with substitute Madison Haley thwarted by Kirby at a corner, before Risa Shimizu cleared an effort off the line from Brighton’s Kirby.
With time ticking away, second-half substitute Kafaji remained composed in the box to fire the visitors level and deny Liverpool a first success under Gareth Taylor.
The draw did at least mean they have a point on the board, with Taylor avoiding equalling the third-worst start to a managerial tenure in WSL history.
Brighton, meanwhile, moved within two points of seventh-placed Aston Villa.