Match reportLFC Women lose to Aston Villa in Gareth Taylor's first game in charge

Gareth Taylor’s opening match in charge of the Reds ended in defeat on Saturday as Villa ran out comfortable winners at Bodymoor Heath.

Twenty-two Liverpool players got valuable match minutes under their belts, though, as Taylor’s squad build up to the new Barclays Women’s Super League campaign, which gets under way in four weeks’ time.

Liverpool opened the scoring early on against Villa as Marie Höbinger placed home from an indirect free-kick that was teed up by Lily Woodham.

But Villa levelled quickly, Kirsty Hanson finishing after being found inside the area by Georgia Mullett.

The hosts then went ahead through a Rachel Daly penalty and, after Höbinger and Ceri Holland had nearly combined to create a chance for an equaliser, it was 3-1 as Mullett netted from close range.

Villa extended their advantage further when Jill Baijings scored their fourth of the afternoon.

And it finished 5-1 as Sarah Mayling was on hand to convert the loose ball after Faye Kirby had made a superb save in tipping Ebony Salmon’s shot onto the crossbar.

The Reds’ next friendly is a meeting with Durham at the AXA Melwood Training Centre on Sunday August 17.

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