Liverpool 4-1 Aston Villa
By Elliot Francis (10/2/26)
Above: Grace Fisk puts Liverpool 3-1 up late on Photo: Liverpool FC
Liverpool picked up a crucial win against Aston Villa, moving them off the bottom of the WSL table as they bid to avoid the relegation playoff. The 4-1 victory was a confidence booster, and builds on the momentum created by what was a busy January transfer window.
Liverpool started fast and their early pressure was rewarded inside 10 minutes. Alejandra Bernabe sent a well-timed through ball down the left flank, finding Ceri Holland, who left the Villa defence in her wake. She sent it across for Enderby, who made no mistake, leaving D’Angelo with no chance.
One goal wasn’t enough for Gareth Taylor’s side though, as they kept piling on pressure on Aston Villa’s goal. Their left-hand side combined again as a quick pass from Bernabe set Holland free down the left yet again. She played the ball across to new signing Martha Thomas, but it was a step behind her and instead fell to the feet of Deslandes, who’s sliced shot gave Martha Thomas the opportunity to stab the ball past the keeper.
Finally the home fans had something to cheer for, in a brutally tough season for the team. It could have been 3-0 a few moments later, as D’Angelo pushed over another cross from the left for a corner.
Aston Villa were given hope when Kirsty Hanson found herself on the right-hand side with the ball. The Scotland forward put the early cross in, flat-footing Natalia Arroyo’s defence, giving Miri Taylor the time to beat her marker and rocket a shot into the corner past Jennifer Falk.
Aston Villa came out the traps quickly in the second half as Hanson won the ball high up the pitch, taking on an early shot that forced Jennifer Falk into a good save down low on her left side. After all of Liverpool’s hard work, Aston Villa found themselves within touching distance of an equalizer in a crucial game for the Reds.
Liverpool put a corner deep into the box from the right-hand side with only 8 minutes left, looking to kill the game. After the ball found itself bouncing round the box with Aston Villa trying to clear the ball numerous times, it fell right into the stride of Liverpool’s captain Grace Fisk, who struck the ball home with venom.
As Aston Villa pushed late on the game looking for a way back into it, they were yet again exposed from wing play as Gemma Bonner played a pinpoint pass down the right-hand side, which saw Aurelie Csillag punish Aston Villa for the fourth time today as she sent away any doubt of the result with a strike into the roof of the net.
Liverpool came away with all three points in a crucial win for them, only their second win in the WSL this season. This sees them one point above 12th place with Leicester City dropping down as West Ham also won this weekend.
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