It was an emphatic performance from Matt Beard’s side away at the Poundland Bescot Stadium as they comfortably dispatched of Carla Ward’s women in the Barclays Women’s Super League. Grace Fisk and Sophie Roman Haug put the visitors two goals ahead after 30 minutes, though Sarah Mayling would work half the advantage just minutes long before half-time.

Although Aston Villa looked rejuvenated heading into the second 45, the Reds’ quick passing and pilng pressure would prove too much for the home side to deal with, as Emma Koivisto would score her first and second of the season to take home the win for Liverpool.

The win means Liverpool remain in fifth and are now level on points with Manchester United who where held to a draw away at West Ham, whilst Villa still sit in eighth place.

AVL: van Domselaar, Mayling (Salmon 78′), Maritz, Patten, Pacheco (Gregory 78′), Nobbs, Corsie, Dali, Lehmann (Turner 61′), Magill (Mullet 61′), Hanson.

LIV: Laws, Bonner (Clark 46′), Fahey, Fisk, Koivisto, Hobinger (Daniels 84′), Nagano (Bo Kearns 69′), Lundgaard, Matthews, Enderby (Lawley 61′), Roman Haug (Kiernan 61′).

The opening minutes saw the away side launching plenty of balls into the Aston Villa box but nothing to really trouble the defence of the hosts.

The Villans looked to create chances of their own with Kenza Dali and Kirsty Hanson in particular driving their team forward on the break, but a few shots straight into the goalkeeper’s hands saw nothing materialise for the claret and blues.

It wouldn’t take long for the deadlock to be broken however, as Liverpool executed a free-kick routine straight from the training pitch. It would be Fuka Nagano who played a quick one-two with Marie Höbinger, setting Mia Enderby free as she whipped a low-driven ball into the box which was met by Fisk who netted her first goal in a Liverpool shirt. With less than 20 minutes played on the clock, the visitors claimed the advantage.

The women in white and green would look to capitalise and grab another as they executed a high press and committed many forward, with Ward’s side looking to exploit them on counter-attack. Though nothing would avail as the home side’s attack looked disjointed in the press.

Despite Villa having more chances after the goal, it would be Liverpool who struck again as Maz Pacheco was dispossessed by Emma Koivisto. The Merseyside outfit switched the play to swiftly move the ball out to Jasmine Matthews- who’s cross into the box was initially met by Daphne van Domselaar, with her punch of the ball only going as far as Roman Haug. The Liverpool striker made no mistake in execution, as she headed the ball in to an empty net to double the advantage just before the 30th minute.

After conceding a second, Villa started to improve as they began to string better quality attacks together, with Hanson spearheading them from the left hand side. An over the top ball would find her as she looked to peel away from Gemma Bonner, with the Liverpool defender bringing her down in the Reds’ penalty area. Mayling tucked her spot kick into the bottom left corner to reduce the deficit eight minutes before half-time.

The Villains would start the second-half with the same energy they ended the first with as they looked to get back on level terms, but the Reds’ resilient defence would ensure their lead remained intact.

With the game looking like it would see the teams drawing soon, Beard’s team would grab another just before the hour mark after a goal kick which bobbled off a few heads in the middle park would eventually land into Jasmin Matthews’ path, with the Liverpool number six hitting a tidy ball across the goal which found Koivisto at the back post as she scored her first of the season.

The goal would kill any momentum that the hosts tried to gather, as they failed penetrate the visitors defence. Though not for lack of trying, as Liverpool soaked up any pressure that the Villains applied.

Beard’s side would put the final nail in the coffin in the 82nd minute after the Villa captain Rachel Corsie could only clear the ball as far Leanne Kiernan. The subsitute delivered another dangerous ball from the left hand side as she picked out Koivisto, who’s looping header would give her a brace and secure Liverpool the win.

Villa now look ahead to Wednesday evening, as they go away to Arsenal in the semi-finals of the FA Continental League Tyres Cup. Meanwhile Liverpool turn their attention toward hosting Leicester City on Saturday, March 9 in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals.