Everton and England pair Fara Williams and Natasha Dowie join the Reds from local rivals

Liverpool Ladies have signed England duo Fara Williams and Natasha Dowie from Merseyside rivals Everton.

With 107 international appearances to her name, Williams is the fourth highest capped England player of all time, behind Rachel Yankey, Gillian Coultard and Kelly Smith.

She spent eight years with the Toffees, winning The FA Women’s Premier League Cup in 2008 and The FA Women’s Cup in 2010.

Dowie, niece of former West Ham striker Iain, has featured three times for England and scored the extra-time winner for Everton in the 2010 Cup Final.

The Reds finished bottom of the league in each of the first two FA WSL seasons and they will be hoping this double swoop will alter their fortunes.

Liverpool boss Matt Beard added former Chelsea defender Gemma Bonner and USA international Whitney Engen to his squad last month.

Meanwhile, Everton have appointed Andy Spence as their new manager.