Everton Women | REPORT| Liverpool Women 1-4 Everton Women

Ornella Vignola shone on her Everton debut with a terrific hat-trick as the visitors thrashed Liverpool 4-1 at Anfield in the first WSL Merseyside Derby of the season.

The hosts opened the scoring early on as Cornelia Kapocs netted to hand the Blues an early set back.

However, it wasn’t long before Vignola sparked the Toffees to life with a superb solo goal, levelling the score in the 23^rd minute.

Everton dominated from there, with Katja Snoeijs getting her customary derby day goal late in the first half, before the Blues’ standout performer struck twice more in the second half to complete her hat-trick and secure the bragging rights once more.

Liverpool started the afternoon on the front foot, taking the lead through Kapocs, who cut inside from the left wing and powered a thumping strike in off the underside of the crossbar in the 11^th minute.

The pressure sustained, with Gemma Bonner close to doubling the Reds’ tally five minutes later, as her stretching effort rattled the crossbar.

Vignola hit back soon after with a spectacular solo effort following a fast break for the Blues. The summer signing dazzled her marker before unleashing a lethal curling effort into the top left corner.

The hosts fought to regain the lead as Ceri Holland created a big chance for her teammates, delivering a threatening ball across the face of the goal. Marie-Therese Höbinger came closest, but Everton’s backline managed to clear the danger efficiently.

In the 34^th minute, Holland had a chance of her own, seeing her strike hit the woodwork once again and rebound off the frame of the goal.

With the first half drawing to a close, Snoeijs nodded the Blues ahead on the brink of halftime from Maz Pacheco’s lifted cross to keep her derby goal streak intact.

Brian Sorensen made three changes at the break, bringing on Karen Holmgaard, Clare Wheeler and record club signing Ruby Mace.

Everton doubled their advantage through Vignola in the 54^th minute, as Pacheco whipped in another dangerous ball, which the midfielder rose perfectly to meet.

Completing her dream debut, the Spanish youngster lit her name up in lights only two minutes later, firing into the bottom left corner following a Holmgaard assist, becoming the first player to score a hat-trick against Liverpool since the legendary Dixie Dean.

The victory set Everton off to a strong start in the WSL, propelling them to third in the league table, with Tottenham at Goodison Park their next contest.