Aston Villa v Liverpool - rescheduled match after the death of Matthew Beard
FT: Villa 3-0 Liverpool
Daly scores two for Villa
Liverpool remain winless in the WSL this season
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Image source, Getty ImagesRight, that's it for this live text.
You can read Emily Salley's run down of Villa's first home win of the season on the 'report' tab at the top of the page.
Thanks for joining us, we'll see you in a couple of days for the final Women's Super League weekend of 2025.
T'ra for now!
Coverage of Man Utd v Tottenham on Sunday begins at 14:15 GMT
This weekend all 12 clubs are in action before they sign off for the winter break.
Here's the fixtures coming your way:
Saturday
Sunday
FT: Aston Villa 3-0 Liverpool
More from Liverpool boss Gareth Taylor, speaking to Sky Sports abouthow much pressure his team is under: "I don’t know. I think there is a real reality check here. I think this team needs help. I need help. I think that is really clear. We have given it everything. We are trying to coach the players. The players are really honest. I think there’s no doubt that we have regressed as a team for sure, more than is expected of a club like Liverpool. The reality is we are aware of it, and I think sometimes you can be really exposed, and that’s what has happened tonight."
On whether Sunday's game against West Ham feels big: "It does. I said to the players then, I’ve not said anything here that I haven’t said to the players. We have to go and show a reaction because if we don’t, we know that West Ham have players that can capitalise on that, and they will. We have to make sure we get fight, we get reaction, we get fight, we get good body language, because if we don’t get that… that’s always going to be a real struggle for us because Liverpool can’t win games when we play like that."
FT: Aston Villa 3-0 Liverpool
Liverpool boss Gareth Taylor, speaking to Sky Sports: "I didn’t think we were at it all. I think we have more recently. I think when you look at the Chelsea game, even Arsenal and Brighton before that, we talk about sprinting, reacting. There was none of that tonight. First half was really, really poor. Second half was marginally better. But you can’t just do that at this level in WSL. The minimum is you have to do those things."
On how disappointed he is: Very. We are not in a place where we cannot do those things. We need to compete and try and win games. That must be the minimum"
On what went wrong: "Not sure. Whether they underestimate them. We gave away a really poor goal right at the start of the game, which is not ideal, but like so what, show some personality, show some reaction, show some energy and some competing in the challenges, and we didn’t. We made it really easy for Villa. When we did step up in the second half, we had a portion of the game where we had some moments, but by that time the game was away from us. I think that’s the really disappointing thing."
FT: Aston Villa 3-0 Liverpool
It really is starting to look like a dire situation for Liverpool.
That match up against fellow strugglers West Ham on Sunday is surely now a must-win?
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say
I'm sorry but Taylor needs to go. Why start not two but THREE strikers away from home? Why hasn't Lundgaard been in the side when she is one of our strongest midfielders? He's TRYING to get us relegated. Gone from Mighty Reds to Taylor's Tragedies in a few months. YNWA
Ben, Chester
FT: Aston Villa 3-0 Liverpool
More from Aston Villa boss Natalia Arroyo speaking to Sky Sports about the way that the goals were scored: "We were talking [before] about why we were so nervous sometimes in the game. We were creating chances and starting the games well but maybe not scoring. So the first goal from Rachel helped us feel like ok a little bit of the journey is done.
"We talked about combining a bit more, playing a bit more central and we tried today and the outcome was some good combinations to make goals. Also if we have spaces running in behind, using the pace of Chasity, so I am really happy."
On Daly's performance: "I am especially happy for our captain. She was struggling in terms of goals and she help us today with out of possession work and goals. Good win for a lot of reasons.
"She had a few chances against Tottenham and sometimes she is too hard on herself. So we had just an informal chat about during some actions being a little bit more positive. Not joking I just said: 'You will score today'. Sometimes I'm right, sometimes not.
"It's not impressive because she has done it hundreds of times and scored hundreds of goals but I am especially proud of how much work she brought to us. We were a little bit tired at the end but she was leading us."
FT: Aston Villa 3-0 Liverpool
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa Player of the match Rachel Daly speaking to Sky Sports: "You know what, this was a massive game. Because Liverpool have done really well. They have had some great performances. The message tonight was to be brave, and that was exactly what we were. We are delighted to get 3 points at home for the fans finally."
On if she's ever scored a goal that quick: "I don’t think so, no. no. I was walking out and Natalia said get a goal. I didn’t think I would do it in 30 seconds, but that’s alright! Happy to be on the scoresheet again. It’s been a while. A massive three points for us today."
On if she's relieved the goal drought is over: "You can tell me it is a drought! It bloody well is. I feel like today, as I was driving in, I said I just haven’t scored. It’s been doing my head in. It was nice to get on the scoresheet. I have not played striker as much this season, so put a lot of pressure on myself to score. But happy to get two tonight."
On if she's happy with how the team played: "Yeah. Huge three points for us. It’s a tough week with three games in one week. Really disappointed to lose against Spurs last week late on. We knew how big this game was. We have a massive game coming up thick and a fast against City, so yeah, just delighted to win today."
FT: Aston Villa 3-0 Liverpool
Aston Villa boss Natalia Arroyo speaking to Sky Sports: "The most important thing was to take the three points, but we are also always talking about not only winning but how we win. Today we showed patience and bravery with the ball. We had been lacking a bit of this composure in possession and we tried some good things.
"Out of possession today the game asked us to be a little bit more patient. I think we showed this hard work and I am especially proud of this type of performance and of course that fact that this allowed us to enjoy the first three points with our fans.
"I want to say thank you to them. It is not easy to come on a Thursday afternoon. They were supporting us and we were not winning for them. Today we can send them this gift before Christmas and hopefully it is a statement for us for next year."
FT: Aston Villa 3-0 Liverpool
Right, let's hear some reaction from Villa Park shall we?
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say
Well done, Villa, now keep it going to the next game.
Prit, Harpenden
FT: Aston Villa 3-0 Liverpool
Let's take a moment to praise Rachel Daly.
The Villa forward was here, there and everywhere for her side in a Player of the Match display.
Just look at those match stats, goals and grit. Talk about a captain's performance.
Image source, OptaFT: Aston Villa 3-0 Liverpool
Fran Kirby
Brighton and England forward on Sky Sports
I think it's been a tough night for Liverpool. Even though they've looked a bit comfortable in possession in some moments, they just haven't had enough.
There were just too many goals tonight that they could've prevented if there was communication or understanding of where you want to be.
They haven't had enough going forward.
FT: Aston Villa 3-0 Liverpool
Liverpool have now failed to score in 4 of their 10 games, only West Ham United (5) have failed to score more often in the Women's Super League this season.
FT: Aston Villa 3-0 Liverpool
Fran Kirby
Brighton and England forward on Sky Sports
Aston Villa defensively have been really, really solid in the way they have played.
They made it really difficult for Liverpool to play through the lines. And of course, getting a clean sheet is really important for them.
FT: Aston Villa 3-0 Liverpool
Villa remain in eighth place but that three points takes them to within one of Brighton.
Winless Liverpool remain rock bottom.
Image source, BBC SportAston Villa 3-0 Liverpool
The final whistle is greeted by loud cheers from the home fans. Aston Villa have finally won a home game this season at the fourth time of asking.
It's another defeat for Liverpool as they miss the chance to gain momentum ahead of their Sunday showdown with West Ham.
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa 3-0 Liverpool
Ceri Holland's chipped cross is cleared without incident.
Aston Villa 3-0 Liverpool
One final chance to register a shot on target for Liverpool.
Aston Villa 3-0 Liverpool
Ooof.
Substitute Lucy Staniforth is inches away from claiming Villa's fourth goal of the night as her looping set piece delivery evades Faye Kirby's save and cracks off the crossbar.
Daly's goal after just 27 seconds was the fastest goal in the Women's Super League this season
At a glance
Rachel Daly opens scoring after 27 seconds
Kirsty Hanson adds second for hosts
Daly scores Villa's third in 77th minute
Defeat keeps Liverpool rooted to bottom of WSL table
Rachel Daly scored her first two Women's Super League goals of the season as Aston Villa cruised to a 3-0 victory and extended Liverpool's winless run.
Liverpool's bid for a first WSL win of the campaign got off to the worst of starts, with Daly grabbing a goal inside just 27 seconds after a mix-up between Gemma Evans and goalkeeper Faye Kirby.
An in-form Kirsty Hanson added a second for Villa before the break, thumping home a low cross from Chasity Grant.
Natalia Arroyo's side maintained control after the break, with Maya Hijikata striking the woodwork before Daly doubled her tally by pouncing on a rebound in the 77th minute.
The defeat leaves Liverpool boss Gareth Taylor under increasing pressure with his side two points adrift at the bottom of the WSL table.
The Merseyside club have picked up just four points from their opening 10 games.
They become just the fourth team since the introduction of a 12-team league in 2019-20 to fail to win any of their opening 10 matches of a campaign.
Villa, meanwhile, have established themselves in the middle of the pack and remain eighth, but the win moves them five points clear of Everton in ninth.
The mid-week game at Villa Park was originally scheduled for 21 September but was postponed following the death of former Liverpool manager Matt Beard.
Villa defeat 'reality check' for struggling Liverpool
It was an early Christmas present for Daly.
The 2022-23 Golden Boot winner has generally been deployed in a deeper role by Natalia Arroyo and, as a result, been unable to replicate the same goalscoring form from seasons past.
But the ex-England international was provided a gift of an opportunity when Evans and Kirby failed to clear their lines, leaving an empty net for Daly to slot in.
She was also instrumental in Villa's second goal, a well-timed dummy unlocking Liverpool's defence and setting Grant on her way.
And Daly capped off her perfect evening when she determinedly stabbed home the rebound after Kirby could only push away Ebony Salmon's long-range drive.
Arroyo will be pleased to see Daly get off the mark in the WSL, but the Villa boss will be even more encouraged by her team's vibrant attacking display as they secured their first league win of the season at Villa Park.
The hosts piled on the pressure and forced mistakes from a Liverpool side who were determined to play out from the back, with crisp passing and superb through balls providing a positive blueprint for future performances.
Arsenal required two moments of individual brilliance to break a resilient Liverpool in north London on Sunday.
But Taylor's side lacked the same defensive discipline on Thursday evening, and a miscommunication between Evans and Kirby inside the first minute proved costly as Daly put the hosts ahead and set the tone for what followed.
Even after conceding a calamitous opener, Kirby was nearly punished again when her stray pass landed at the feet of Hijikata, although the Japanese international was unable to steer the ball into an empty net.
Liverpool looked nervy as they tried to play through Villa's high press by passing out from the back, while they lacked a threat going forward.
Taylor will be disappointed his side failed to trouble Villa keeper Sabrina D'Angelo, ending the game without a single shot on target.
The Reds will be boosted by the return of Ceri Holland and Gemma Bonner from injury, but with a crucial clash against fellow strugglers West Ham on the horizon, securing three points has never felt more important to give fans a much-needed morale boost.
It's a short turnaround for both sides, with Aston Villa facing league leaders Manchester City on Sunday at 11:55 GMT, while Liverpool face 11th-placed West Ham at the same time.
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Manchester City | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 9 | 17 | 27 |
|
2 Chelsea | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 21 |
|
3 Manchester United | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 20 |
|
4 Arsenal | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 20 | 9 | 11 | 19 |
|
5 Tottenham Hotspur | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 19 |
|
6 London City Lionesses | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 20 | -6 | 15 |
|
7 Brighton & Hove Albion | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 14 |
|
8 Aston Villa | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 13 |
|
9 Everton | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 19 | -6 | 8 |
|
10 Leicester City | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 20 | -14 | 6 |
|
11 West Ham United | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 22 | -15 | 4 |
|
12 Liverpool | 10 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 19 | -13 | 2 |
|
Manager:Natalia Arroyo
Formation:3 - 4 - 1 - 2
Manager:Gareth Taylor
Formation:4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager:Natalia Arroyo
Formation:3 - 4 - 1 - 2
Manager:Gareth Taylor
Formation:4 - 2 - 3 - 1
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