Match reportKoivisto nets twice as clinical LFC Women earn victory at Aston Villa

Emma Koivisto netted twice for the Reds, and Grace Fisk and Sophie Roman Haug were also on target at the Poundland Bescot Stadium as Matt Beard’s side extended their unbeaten run to four matches in all competitions.

It also completed a league double over Carla Ward’s Villa side, whose goal came from the penalty spot courtesy of Sarah Mayling.

Victory consolidates Liverpool’s fifth-placed position in the WSL table, following up their win at Brighton & Hove Albion prior to the international break with another hard-earned three points on the road.

The visitors threatened early on when Marie Höbinger escaped down the left to deliver a dangerous cut-back, but Roman Haug’s eventual effort was blocked.

Roman Haug almost got on the end of a well-delivered Höbinger free-kick soon after, as the Reds made a confident start.

They were rewarded with the opening goal on 19 minutes, with Höbinger and Fuka Nagano working a smart free-kick into the feet of Mia Enderby in the box. Enderby’s shot was blocked, but the ball fell to Fisk, who fired home from close range via a deflection.

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Nagano did enough to stop Kenza Dali from getting on the end of Alisha Lehmann’s low cross as Villa looked to respond, but Liverpool continued to carry a threat, particularly via set-pieces and through the lively Enderby.

And they doubled their advantage after 28 minutes, as Villa goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar failed to collect Jasmine Matthews’ cross from the left, allowing Roman Haug to head into an empty net from close range for her sixth goal of the season.

Villa had offered little as an attacking threat to that point, but they reduced the deficit eight minutes before half-time as Kirsty Hanson got the wrong side of Gemma Bonner in the box and was tripped, with Mayling beating Rachael Laws from the penalty spot.

After the break, and with the yellow-carded Bonner replaced by Jenna Clark, Fisk made a crucial challenge to stop Simone Magill from finishing off Hanson’s dangerous cross, while Laws was able to hold Dali’s 25-yard free-kick as Villa came out on the front foot.

Liverpool extended their lead on the hour mark, though, as Sofie Lundgaard’s header released Matthews down the left, and despite her cross evading the sliding Enderby, Koivisto arrived at the back post to fire home a fine, first-time finish across Van Domselaar to make it 3-1.

Jordan Nobbs was not far away with an ambitious 25-yarder, but Liverpool continued to defend superbly, with Niamh Fahey blocking bravely from both Nobbs and Hanson.

And the Reds were able to extend their lead eight minutes from time. Missy Bo Kearns, on for Nagano, did well to force a save from Van Domselaar, but the ball broke to fellow substitute Leanne Kiernan, whose left-wing cross allowed Koivisto to find the net with a looping back-post header.

Kearns, impressive after her introduction, fired off target from 20 yards in stoppage time, but Liverpool could be more than satisfied with their day’s work as Beard’s side recorded a deserved victory, with Laws making a courageous, last-minute save to deny Rachel Corsie a consolation goal.

TEAM

Liverpool FC Women: Laws, Koivisto, Bonner (Clark, 46), Fahey, Fisk, Matthews, Nagano (Kearns, 69), Höbinger (Daniels, 84), Lundgaard, Enderby (Lawley, 61), Roman H. (Kiernan, 61).

Unused substitutes: Micah, Parry.

NEXT UP

The Reds are in Adobe Women’s FA Cup quarter-final action when they welcome Leicester City Women to Prenton Park on Saturday. Kick-off is set for 12pm GMT.