Sunderland 2 - Liverpool 1: Beth Mead stars as champions rocked on opening night

THE Women’s Super League started with a bang as Beth Mead inspired newly promoted Sunderland to a shock opening night victory over champions Liverpool.

Beth MeadGETTY

Beth Mead inspired Sunderland's victory over Liverpool

The England under-23 striker scored and won a penalty – which was converted by Brooke Chaplen after Mead went off with a bloodied nose – before Satara Murray’s consolation strike.

Sunderland – who won WSL 2 last season – were given the daunting task of kicking off the campaign with a trip to Widnes to face back-to-back champions Liverpool.

But Mead headed in her 60th goal for the club in the first game of her third season in the 27th minute before some wasteful finishing from Liverpool.

New signing Asisat Oshoala missed a host of chances and Natasha Dowie hit the bar twice in one scramble before Mead was brought down by Murray up the other end.

Chaplen fired in from the spot with 13 minutes remaining and despite Murray’s late goal Liverpool’s charge couldn’t come up with an equaliser.

“We were determined to try and come out here and prove a point, and I think we’ve done that,” Mead said afterwards on BT Sport.

“We said there was no pressure on us at all – they’re champions and we want to aspire to be like that, and we’ve come out today and I hope we’ve proved that.”

Liverpool manager Matt Beard admitted his side weren’t good enough in front of goal.

“We had plenty of possession but didn’t do enough with it or ask enough questions,” he said.

“Sometimes you need a bit of luck and we hit the bar twice on the spin, and they go up the other end and get the penalty.

“It’s a disappointing night for us but we have to stick together and bounce back.”

Beard guided Liverpool to the title on the final day of last season and admits with the split halfway through this campaign due to the World Cup in Canada, the early months are all about keeping pace with the top pack.

“The aim for the start of the season is to go into the break still in the mix with the clubs at the top of the table,” he added.

“And once we’ve done that we can kick on and have a good second half of the season.

“We’ve got to stay together more than anything else. 

“We haven’t lost many games over the last two years and I’m confident this group can still do well but it’s only the first game so it’s not all doom and gloom. We’ll stay positive.”

Sunderland boss Carlton Fairweather – who took charge of his first match tonight – was keen to stress his side wouldn’t lose sight of the task after just one game.

“I told them they’d worked really hard,” he said.

“It gives them an understanding of the bench mark they need to be at every week for the games to come. 

“But it’s only one game. We’ve got a long way to go and if we can keep that standard, that’s what we’re looking to do.

“It was about coming here, putting on a good performance, hopefully coming away with something, and the fact we’ve come away with three points is great. 

“We’ve got to continue doing that.”

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?