Match ends, Bristol City Women 0, Liverpool Women 1.
Bristol City are on the cusp of relegation from the Women's Super League after suffering a narrow defeat by Liverpool.
The Vixens are seven points adrift of safety with three matches left.
They have played a game more than second-bottom West Ham, who will send them down if they beat Manchester City on Sunday.
Marie Hobinger scored the game's only goal on 13 minutes when she sent a low drive into the bottom corner.
The goal came after the Austria international picked up a mistimed clearance on the edge of the box.
On her side's WSL fate hanging on tomorrow's game, boss Lauren Smith told BBC Radio Bristol: "I'll keep me eye on it but you can't do a lot about it. It's completely in someone else's hands and that's where we've left it.
"There's nothing we can do, we've just got to react to what comes of that and go into training on Monday ready for Manchester City next week."
Liverpool move a point ahead of Manchester United and up to fourth with victory, although they will drop back down to fifth on Sunday if United avoid defeat against Tottenham.
The visitors had earlier come close to scoring when Bristol City managed to clear the ball off the line, after a Shae Yanez clearance rebounded off Sophie Roman Haug.
Liverpool nearly doubled their advantage when Haug tapped home after Yanez dropped a catch, but the referee deemed the Liverpool striker to have fouled Yanez.
Bristol City soon had a similar chance when Teagan Micah spilled the ball after being pushed by Rachel Furness, but City did not convert the chance anyway before the free-kick was awarded.
City were determined in attack as they tried to find a way back into a realistically must-win game, but they struggled to fashion any chances of real quality.
They were given freedom to run at the Liverpool defence but were unable to break them down, and did not test Micah until she parried away an Amalie Thestrup effort in the second half - when the striker intercepted a loose pass.
Hobinger nearly doubled Liverpool's lead but saw her long-range strike tipped on to the post by City keeper Yanez.
Bristol City's energy fizzled out and Liverpool took control of the game, with Mia Enderby and Missy Bo Kearns both forcing Yanez to make late saves.
Line-ups
Bristol City Women
Formation 5-4-1
- 30Yañez
- 15BullSubstituted forHarrisonat 90+3'minutes
- 5AspinBooked at 25mins
- 6Connolly
- 4LayzellSubstituted forJonesat 45'minutes
- 11Napier
- 24MorganSubstituted forEvansat 67'minutes
- 8Rodgers
- 16SymeSubstituted forWardat 86'minutes
- 10FurnessSubstituted forStratigakisat 45'minutes
- 17Thestrup
Substitutes
- 2Powell
- 3Struck
- 7Harrison
- 13Clark
- 18Stratigakis
- 22Evans
- 23Jones
- 29Ward
- 36Slocombe
Liverpool Women
Formation 4-5-1
- 16Micah
- 32ParrySubstituted forDanielsat 71'minutes
- 17Clark
- 4Fisk
- 12HindsSubstituted forKoivistoat 58'minutes
- 7KearnsBooked at 35mins
- 9KiernanSubstituted forBonnerat 45'minutes
- 14HöbingerSubstituted forHollandat 58'minutes
- 8Nagano
- 13EnderbySubstituted forLawleyat 71'minutes
- 10HaugBooked at 85mins
Substitutes
- 1Laws
- 2Koivisto
- 11Lawley
- 18Holland
- 20Daniels
- 23Bonner
- 57Leath
- Referee:
- Phoebe Cross
- Attendance:
- 4,780
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away3
- Corners
- Home5
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bristol City Women 0, Liverpool Women 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Abi Harrison (Bristol City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Sophie Haug (Liverpool Women).
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol City Women. Abi Harrison replaces Jasmine Bull.
Post update
Delay in match (Liverpool Women).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Amy Rodgers (Bristol City Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt saved. Carrie Jones (Bristol City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Jamie-Lee Napier.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Fuka Nagano (Liverpool Women).
Post update
Missy Kearns (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jamie-Lee Napier (Bristol City Women).
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol City Women. Mari Ward replaces Emily Syme.
Post update
Delay in match (Liverpool Women).
Booking
Sophie Haug (Liverpool Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Sophie Haug (Liverpool Women).
Post update
Amy Rodgers (Bristol City Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Comments
Join the conversation
I still think we be safe I can't see Bristol getting the points needed
But we need to improve alot next season
Hope they achieve their targets
Hard to comprehend there is a division below this where such a poor side was the best club last season and earned promotion to this one.
Did Liverpool drop down there too?