Rachel Daly celebrates Getty Images

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

  • PLAYER RATER

Emily Salley
BBC Sport journalist

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.

Aston Villa analysis: Daly ends WSL goal drought

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.

Liverpool analysis: Reds' rot continues

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.

What next for these teams?

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.

Player of the match

L. Kendall
8.57
21 L. Kendall
8.57
9 R. Daly
8.42
4 A. Patten
8.00
16 N. Maritz
7.92
15 L. Parker
7.83
20 K. Hanson
7.64
1 S. D'Angelo
7.38
23 C. Grant
7.38
25 M. Taylor
7.29
3 Paula Tomás
7.25
17 E. Salmon
7.13
38 R. Maltby
7.06
5 L. Staniforth
6.78
13 M. Hijikata
6.73
7 M. Kearns
6.50
2 S. Mayling
6.00
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