The reverse against Charlton was Liverpool's 11th of the season and they now have just three games left to save themselves from an immediate return to the Northern Division.

John Williams' side currently lie two points above the drop zone but have played one game more than second-bottom Bristol City and two more than bottom side Doncaster Belles, leaving their fate hanging on a knife-edge.

Williams, who has openly questioned the commitment of his players in recent weeks, had been hoping to revive his side's flagging fortunes with the acquisition of Alonso - no relation to Liverpool's midfield maestro Xabi - and bolster his ailing squad, who have struggled to acclimatise to life in the National Division following last season's promotion-winning campaign.

But despite Alonso, 27, a sports scientist from Barcelona, impressing during a three-day trial, Liverpool's coaching staff decided not to sign the midfielder.

First team coach Craig Boyd said: "To be fair to Arantxa, she would not necessarily have given us anything that we didn't already have - she's a tidy enough player but we need a goalscorer.

"Therefore it would have been unfair on us to sign her on and have her move over to Liverpool for a year without her playing regular first-team football.

"But Arantxa fully understood the decision and we wish her all the very best for the future."

Following today's defeat by Charlton, Boyd drew several positives from the performance of his side, who battled gamely and were far more disciplined than the previous two weeks, when they capitulated to 5-1 and 6-0 defeats against Bristol Rovers and Birmingham respectively.

"We changed things around a bit and played Jade Thomas, normally a winger, as a striker and were much better organised and disciplined than we have been recently," explained Boyd, who saw his side condemned to defeat by Casey Stoney's first-half strike.

"Charlton are undoubtedly one of the best sides in this division and while we didn't create much ourselves, the commitment we showed throughout the 90 minutes has left the girls in a far more positive frame of mind for the rest of the season."

Elsewhere in the National Division, Arsenal, who remain the only unbeaten side in the National Division, kept the pressure on Charlton by beating Doncaster 3-0 courtesy of a stunning hat-trick by Scotland striker Julie Fleeting.

There was further misery for the blue half of Merseyside as long-time leaders Everton slumped to a 3-1 home defeat to Leeds.

Karen Burke and Sue Smith put Leeds 2-0 up before Kelly McDougall struck for the Toffees with 12 minutes remaining, but Karen Walker netted in the last minute to seal the points for the West Yorkshire club.

Birmingham added to Bristol City's relegation fears by beating them 4-0.

The Blues led 3-0 at the interval thanks to strikes from Jo Potter, Rachel Yankey and an own goal by Katie Little on the stroke of half-time.

Yankey's second shortly before the hour mark put the icing on the cake for Marcus Bignot's side.

Bristol Rovers beat Fulham 3-2 to leave the Cottagers on eight points and level with Liverpool.

Louise Hutton gave Rovers an early lead, but goals by Natasha Dowie and Kelly Baker in the last 10 minutes of the first half put the Cottagers ahead.

Anne-Mieke Griffioen equalised in the 72nd minute and Trudy Williams hit the spot-kick winner two minutes from time.

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