NewsWSL match report: Liverpool beaten away at Aston Villa
Rachel Daly scored inside the first minute for the hosts at Villa Park, with Kirsty Hanson adding a second just before the half-hour mark.
And Daly netted again in minute 77 to rubber-stamp victory for Villa.
Gareth Taylor’s side, therefore, remain at the foot of the table and still await their first league win of the season ahead of Sunday’s visit to second-bottom West Ham United, who sit two points above the Reds.
The task facing Liverpool was immediately made tougher as just 27 seconds had elapsed when Daly put Villa ahead.
The hosts retained possession from kick-off, with Hanson sliding a pass in behind the visitors’ backline for Daly to chase. Indecision between Faye Kirby and Gemma Evans followed, and Daly was presented with the chance to slot home into an empty net from the edge of the penalty area.
Though Taylor’s team were dominating possession, Villa were comfortable in allowing them to do so while waiting to strike in transition.
And their second goal arrived in minute 28 as Anna Patten’s pass freed Chasity Grant in the inside-right channel. Her ball across goal was weighted perfectly and Hanson was there to apply the finish.
Cornelia Kapocs saw a shot from distance deflect wide in the latter stages of the first half, but Villa’s two-goal lead was intact at the break.
Villa went close to making it 3-0 five minutes after the restart as Maya Hijikata struck the outside of the post at the end of an intricate move.
Taylor sought to change the flow of the game with a double substitution on the hour, with Ceri Holland and Sofie Lundgaard the players introduced.
A spell of pressure on Villa’s goal followed, with Liverpool winning a flurry of corners. From one deep Lily Woodham delivery, Kapocs saw a header blocked by former Red Miri Taylor.
But, 13 minutes from time, the home side ended any faint hope of a Liverpool comeback as Daly converted the rebound after Kirby had parried Ebony Salmon’s powerful hit.
Team
Liverpool: Kirby, Parry (Holland, 60), Clark, Evans, Woodham (Bernabe, 90), Nagano, Maclean (Lundgaard, 60), Kapocs, Kiernan, Olsson, Enderby.
Unused subs: Laws, Bonner, Silcock, Trueman.
Next up
Liverpool travel to West Ham in the WSL on Sunday, with kick off at Chigwell Construction Stadium set for 11.55am GMT.