Match reportHöbinger and Flint goals give Liverpool win over Villa in WSL

Marie Höbinger marked her home debut for the Reds with a clinical breakthrough goal on 21 minutes, finding the top corner in memorable style.

And fellow summer signing Natasha Flint came off the bench to open her account with a composed effort in the second half, ensuring another victory for Matt Beard’s side.

• Get tickets for LFC Women v Everton Women at Anfield here - just £1 for U18s

With three points already under their belt from matchday one, Liverpool made a confident start to their first home fixture of the Barclays Women’s Super League season.

Twice Taylor Hinds carved out a chance with a cross from the left inside the first four minutes, with Missy Bo Kearns wide with an inventive flick and then Emma Koivisto off target with a strike across goal.

Villa steadied, though, and began to show their quality, with an excellent Sarah Mayling cross from the right flank headed wide of goal by Rachel Daly.

But it was a moment of brilliance at the other end that broke the deadlock for Liverpool.

Ceri Holland evaded her marker with a clever turn out on the left and when her eventual cross was only partially cleared inside the box, Höbinger collected the ball, beat a defender and lifted a perfect strike into the top left corner.

As the hosts pressed on, Yana Daniels saw a low curler parried away by Daphne van Domselaar and Hinds – capitalising on a licence to attack – dragged a right-footer wide of the near post having broken into the area.

The next opportunity in an open game ended with a crucial Liverpool goalline clearance.

Adriana Leon was able to hit the byline and find a free Jordan Nobbs in the centre and her rising strike was heading under the bar – until Koivisto recovered to head the ball out.

The visitors were dictating proceedings as half-time approached and Rachael Laws produced a smart stop to glove away an Alisha Lehmann drive that was creeping inside the left post.

Reds hearts were in mouths within a minute of the restart as Villa substitute Ebony Salmon cut out Laws’ attempt to play out from the back.

The Liverpool goalkeeper scurried across her area to shut down Salmon’s shooting options, though, and Jenna Clark mopped up the danger by nicking the ball back.

Koivisto pulled an effort from 20 yards off target and Höbinger swept a swirling cross-shot into the hands of Van Domselaar as the home side rallied.

Beard sent on Flint early in the second half, the forward joining Clark, Grace Fisk and Höbinger with a home debut for the club, and there was soon the welcome sight of Melissa Lawley making her return to the pitch after a long-term injury.

And Lawley wasted no time at all in contributing for her team again, delivering a fine assist for Flint to double the Reds’ advantage in the 77th minute.

Lawley’s pace and dribbling ability allowed her to carry the ball half the length of the pitch and after she rolled it into the box, Flint controlled and spun with her first touch and buried a low finish with her second.

TEAM

LFC Women: Laws, Koivisto (Enderby, 81), Fisk, Bonner, Clark, Hinds (Matthews, 73), Nagano, Holland, Höbinger (Taylor, 81), Kearns (Lawley, 73), Daniels (Flint, 53).

Unused subs: Micah, Parry, Lundgaard.

NEXT UP

The Reds’ attentions now turn to the start of their Continental League Cup campaign, with a trip to Leicester City ahead on Wednesday night.

Kick-off at Pirelli Stadium is 7pm BST.

• Get tickets for LFC Women v Everton Women at Anfield here - just £1 for U18s