Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal: Vivianne Miedema's first WSL goal since ACL injury gives Gunners victory

Vivianne Miedema scored her first Women's Super League goal after returning from a long-term knee injury as Arsenal battled for victory against Liverpool.

After an uneventful first half, Miedema moved forward after the hour mark, her magnificent 20-yard shot heading home after a deflection from Liverpool centre-back Gemma Bonner.

Nine minutes later, Arsenal doubled their lead with Beth Mead diving into the right channel and Caitlin Ford scoring from close range.

With little threat from Liverpool, it was enough for the Gunners to win in Jonas Aidevall's 100th game and move them back within three points of leaders Chelsea.

The visiting team dominated possession throughout, but the first 45 minutes were a fruitless one with neither team achieving much.

That changed in stoppage time at the end of the first half, when Liverpool launched a quick counter-attack. Melissa Rowley powered down from the left and put in a provocative cross, but Yana Daniels, who was well positioned in the middle, put her shot over the bar under pressure from Arsenal captain Katie McCabe. I skipped it.

Arsenal hit back immediately, with a folded cutback from Bayeri's line that swung past Liverpool goalkeeper Rachel Laws, only to be hacked on the line by defender Niamh Fahey.

The game continued to play out in a similar fashion after the break, but a lucky ricochet gave Arsenal the breakthrough and Miedema scored his first special goal in more than a year since his last goal.

After Ford scored twice, substitute Stina Blackstenius had a number of chances, but was unable to convert them, hitting the post in stoppage time.

Meanwhile, England captain Leah Williamson did not play as she is nearing her recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Patience is a virtue for Arsenal

It was a very turbulent first half, with Liverpool so stubbornly denying Arsenal that at times it felt like they might not even get a chance, let alone a goal.

But while Aydevall might have liked to have seen sharper passing and a little more incisive movement around the penalty area, he must have been encouraged by the way they carried out their duties so faithfully.

Liverpool defended well, but had few chances to break out of their defensive third, and Arsenal calmly passed, looked for openings, and when they lost the ball they moved quickly to win it back.

They didn't seem to be panicking, and their long shot shot out of frustration was rewarded in the second half.

There was an element of luck in Miedema's goal, which the 27-year-old would have felt comfortable scoring given her extreme misfortune last season, but Liverpool were already showing signs of fatigue.

The way Arsenal, level on points with second-placed Manchester City, overcame the home side in the final 20 minutes was testament to that.

They are now seeking revenge for their opening game defeat to Liverpool, and the best hope for them to continue their title challenge was the certainty of doing so.

Keeping it that way might be the best 41st birthday present Ideval could ever ask for.