The Aston Villa crowd have not been happy with the force of Liverpool's tackles this evening, but they finally have something to cheer about as referee Phoebe Cross shows Jasmine Matthews a yellow card for a heft challenge on Rachel Daly.

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What a goal that would have been from Olivia Smith.

The summer signing twists and turns to get a clear shot on goal, but Danielle Turner slides in to block the shot.

It seems the Aston Villa has caught Smith in doing so, as she goes down for a couple of minutes before gingerly getting to her feet.

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Aston Villa have been a lot better after the opener, but they're still lacking that clinical edge in front of goal.

Just the one shot so far, and even that wasn't on target.

Liverpool keeper Rachael Laws goes down off the ball and calls for the medics, but it looks like she's going to be fine to continue.

Leanne Kiernan has a pop from 25-yards, but there's a bit of height on it and it doesn't cause too much concern for Sabrina D'Angelo.

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Kirsty Hanson will have to do better than that if she's to help her side find an equaliser.

The Scotland international is in acres of space as she takes a swipe, but her strike flies high above the bar.

A good response from Villa, though.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Villa Park

There are a few boos from the home crowd as Liverpool take the lead.

Villa have been very unimpressive so far, the change in shape has not worked yet. They have offered little going forwards, while at the back there were huge gaps for Liverpool to exploit for the opener.

Villa manager Robert de Pauw cuts a frustrated figure as he complains to his backroom staff.

That looked like a sore one for both parties.

Grace Fisk takes a bad first touch before stacking it and falling headfirst into Gabi Nunes, who also goes to ground.

They're both back up and ready to carry on.

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Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Villa Park

If I have any advice to people watching this game today, it is not to assume the game is done if one side takes a lead - no matter how commanding.

Villa have dropped eight points from winning positions in the WSL this season, more than anyone else. Liverpool though are close behind in second with seven.

That said, we'd need a goal for that stat to potentially be relevant. Not too many signs of goals so far.

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A lacklustre cross from Kirsty Hanson floats straight into the arms of Rachael Laws.

Villa haven't looked particularly dangerous in the final third just yet.

Liverpool are known as a physical side and there's no holding back today. They're whizzing into tackles left, right and centre.

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Not far away from Ceri Holland! The Wales international hits a curler towards goal, but it's got a tad too much height and Sabrina D'Angelo watches it over the crossbar.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Villa Park

I was at Villa Park for the final round of WSL fixtures last season, when Manchester City beat Villa but failed to overhaul Chelsea at the top of the league.

Back then, there was a real end of term feeling for a mid-table Villa side. It was more a celebration of Carla Ward in her final game as manager - I remember her young daughter Hartley running laps of the press conference room, rather undercutting the tension of the post-match questions.

Now, things are rather more serious for Villa. They could really do with clicking into gear today.

No messing about from Taylor Hinds. The Liverpool captain slides into the challenge and stops Katie Robinson from darting along the byline.

Olivia Smith has got her hands in the air, demanding a penalty as she thinks the ball has hit an Aston Villa arm in the box.

Her calls go unanswered from referee Phoebe Cross.

That's as close as we've come to a goal so far.

Marie Hobinger whips in a dangerous ball but there's no one there to head it home, with Ceri Holland arriving too late.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Villa Park

Intense boos from the home crowd as Gabi Nunes is caught on the back of her leg by a Liverpool defender, only for Villa not to get a free kick.

Nunes is up quickly, but referee Phoebe Cross has not endeared herself to the Villa Park support.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Villa Park

While it is good that the Villa women's team are playing more games at Villa Park this season, it has not been a happy hunting ground.

Since a 5-0 win over Leicester in March, Villa have failed to win any of their last eight games at the club's home stadium, with four draws and four defeats.

It's been a rather dull opening 10 minutes, hasn't it?

Zero shots. Zero touches in the opposition box from either side.

Image source, Rex Features