Women's Super League
Liverpool 4 – 1 Aston Villa FT
Liverpool moved off the foot of the Women's Super League table as late goals from captain Grace Fisk and substitute Aurelie Csillag capped a dominant display against Aston Villa.
The visitors' defensive problems continued as Liverpool surged 2-0 ahead inside the opening 15 minutes.
Gareth Taylor's hosts took the lead when Ceri Holland sent the ball across the box into the path of Mia Enderby, who slotted past Villa goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo.
Liverpool's momentum continued as January loan signing Martha Thomas scored her second league goal of the season.
Holland again played the ball into the box as Thomas charged in alongside Villa's Miri Taylor.
Both stretched to reach the ball which flew into the air off Taylor's leg, and as it came down Thomas did well to poke past D'Angelo.
Natalia Arroyo's Villa side ended the half strongly and a second goal of the season for former Reds midfielder Taylor got them back into the contest. She met Kirsty Hanson's cross on the edge of the box and sent the ball flying past goalkeeper Jennifer Falk.
Villa were dealt a blow when D'Angelo was forced off in the opening minutes of the second half after colliding with Liverpool defender Alejandra Bernabe. Ellie Roebuck replaced her in goal.
The game opened up in the closing 15 minutes as chances came at both ends, with Villa's Hanson drawing a save from Falk as the away side sought an equaliser.
Fisk stepped up to put the game beyond Villa, volleying past Roebuck after a corner was only half cleared.
Csillag ran through to score Liverpool's fourth in added time, adding to Villa's misery as they lost a third consecutive league game.
Liverpool nudge up a spot to 11th place, leaving Leicester at the bottom of the pile, albeit with a game in hand on the Reds.
Analysis: Liverpool on the up as Villa struggle
Liverpool have now scored nine goals in their latest five WSL games, with Holland proving a creative influence.
The assist for Enderby's opener was her third of the season, before Holland played a part in the second goal too.
The Reds dominated the game's overall statistics, with five shots on target, four big chances and 10 shots attempted from inside the box.
For Aston Villa, it was a frustrating afternoon. Despite leading the pass count 448-408, they were found lacking in the final third. They had no big chances, three corners, three shots on target and just six shots inside the box.
Arroyo will also have to look at rectifying the fact that Villa continue to concede at a worrying rate. Only West Ham (34) have shipped more than Villa's 29 goals against so far this season.
They also let in four against Manchester United a fortnight ago, and six against Manchester City in December.
Villa's most recent clean sheet came in a 3-0 home win against Liverpool two months ago, but this rematch was a distinctly different story.
What's next for these teams?
Next up for Liverpool is a tough trip to face reigning champions Chelsea on Sunday, 15 February (12:00 GMT).
Aston Villa face Tottenham Hotspur on the same day (12:00 GMT).
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