Stats were overwhelmingly in Liverpool’s favour after a dominant first half in which they had more touches in the opposition box (23 to Everton’s six), more passes in the final third (68 to 27) and more possession, with 58%.
Kapocs gave them a deserved lead – their first goal at Anfield in a WSL Merseyside derby – but Everton, as they so often do against Liverpool, came back into the game out of nowhere.
A moment of individual magic from Vignola, as she raced past Ceri Holland and thumped the ball into the far corner, silenced a positive home crowd.
Snoeijs’ header rubbed further salt into Liverpool’s wounds and when they came back out for the second half clearly downhearted, they never recovered.
Vignola wrote her name into Everton’s history books, becoming the first Evertonian since Dixie Dean in 1931 to score a hat-trick against near-neighbours Liverpool, and she went off to a standing ovation with a beaming smile on her face midway through the second half.
She was one of nine players to join Everton during an ambitious transfer window and while this was not a performance that showed major strides, it is clear they have talent in abundance and will have an enjoyable season in the WSL.
Among the debutants, Maz Pacheco had struggled in the first half, unable to cope with Liverpool midfielder Holland’s driving runs out wide and her teasing deliveries.
But Pacheco showed her strengths at the other end, providing two assists, as Everton’s quality eventually shone through after a stumbling start.
Vignola was undoubtedly the pick of the bunch, showing her intelligence off the ball with smart runs in behind and her ruthlessness with three goals from three shots on target.
Liverpool will be bruised to lose in the manner in which they did, but there were positive signs for Taylor’s Reds given he has had just weeks to work with the players and they were playing catch-up in the transfer window.
Many expected this outcome in the end but Liverpool’s first-half display at least showed signs of improvement.