Everton Ladies delivered a purposeful, ambitious performance against Arsenal on Sunday but were edged out 2-1 by the WSL leaders.
Willie Kirk’s team had their work cut out to force a way back into the game after Louise Quinn had put the Gunners in front after just five minutes.
Striker Vivianne Miedema doubled the home team’s advantage midway through the first half, but Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah reduced the arrears just past the hour.
And in the closing stages the Blue Girls gave as good as they got against the title favourites.
The visitors made one change to the starting line-up from the midweek defeat by Birmingham City, with Hannah Cain replacing Emma Brownlie.