Summary

  • Result: Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa - Marie Hobinger with opener; Natasha Flint adds second with fine turn and finish

  • Earlier: Man City 1-1 Chelsea - Guro Reiten equalises in stoppage time after Chloe Kelly opener

  • City have Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp sent off

  • Other results: Brighton 0-2 West Ham, Tottenham 3-1 Bristol City, Leicester 1-0 Everton

  1. Goodbyepublished at 21:29 British Summer Time 8 October 2023

    Thanks for joining us for another entertaining weekend of WSL football.

    Chelsea take on West Ham next Saturday as the next set of fixtures begin.

    Be sure to join us for that.

    Until then, good night!

  2. 'Every team is up for it this season, we need to be better'published at 21:27 British Summer Time 8 October 2023

    FT: Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

    Aston Villa

    Aston Villa captain Rachel Corsie speaking to Sky Sports: "Really disappointing night. The standards we set for ourselves we were well below them and that is hard to take.

    "We work very hard through the week to work on different ways that we can break teams down and be effective in the attacking third. In possession we didn't ask enough questions of them, didn't threaten them nearly enough. Their game plan worked better than ours today.

    On upcoming match v Arsenal at the Emirates: "I don't think we need to rely on those performances against the top teams to do well this season. We have a really top team and the basis of our success last year was our play as a collective, not just the individual talents of our side.

    "Every team is up for it this season. You can see that already this season with the results in the opening weekends. Ultimately your season is not decided in the opening weeks but you can get the momentum. We don't have any of that, so we need to go into next week looking a little brighter than we did today."

  3. 'We have ambitions to break into the top five'published at 21:23 British Summer Time 8 October 2023

    FT: Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

    Liverpool

    Liverpool boss Matt Beard speaking to Sky Sports: "All wins are important. We are pleased we've managed another three points after last week. There are moments we need to be smarter in; eliminate some of the risks we don't need to put ourselves in. For the most part, I was really pleased. I was concerned about the time that is being added on; we've played two games and nearly 115 minutes. It needs to be looked at.

    "These players are going to get injured, especially those who played at international tournaments. It is a lot of strain, a worry.

    "Ceri Holland played two games, 90 minutes, away for Wales and covered a lot of distance. We've played a lot of football, it needs to be looked at."

    On moving to Melwood training ground: "It is early days; the facility is fantastic, the nutrition and recovery stuff are second to none. That helps from a preparation point of view. We are very lucky."

    On targets this season: "We want to improve on last year. We've got a good group here; we have ambitions to break into the top five. We've had a fantastic start but we've got to keep our feet on the ground."

  4. 'We need to be better in every department'published at 21:20 British Summer Time 8 October 2023

    FT: Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

    Aston Villa

    More from Aston Villa boss Carla Ward speaking to Sky Sports:

    On the WSL table: You don't look at the table now, it is cliché but we don't. What we do look at is our standards and we were nowhere near them."

    On the absence of Kirsty Hanson and Kenza Dali: "They were pivotal in our success last year. But we are a squad full of top quality players, and you can usually get away with it if one or two have an off night. But a lot more than that did tonight. But it starts and ends with me."

    On Liverpool's impressive defence: "They are a top quality side and they will cause many teams issues. I don't want to discuss them tonight. I need to look at what we've not done right and address that."

    On next match at the Emirates: "We have to be better in every single department no doubt about that."

  5. 'We are miles off being a top four side'published at 21:19 British Summer Time 8 October 2023

    FT: Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

    Aston Villa

    Aston Villa boss Carla Ward speaking to Sky Sports: "First and foremost we weren't good enough in any department, on the ball or off the ball. We didn't execute anything in the way we wanted to.

    "We deserved that tonight, we really did. We have to look back at that properly because we were absolutely miles off it tonight.

    On Villa just missing that cutting edge: "I think the chances we made weren't of that high quality to be honest. Firstly I need to look at things and ask, 'Did I get it right?' And then look at if we got it right in the week, with the team selection, with the changes in the game. It starts and stops with me, and we will have to analyse that.

    "You might say we had more of the ball, of the chances but not with any real quality. That is one of the worst performances we have put out as a team, we know that.

    "It is a reality check. Everyone is talking about us as a top four side and we are miles off that at the moment. We need to go back to basics, have a look at what we are good at and get back to that."

  6. 'We are a family unit'published at 21:11 British Summer Time 8 October 2023

    FT: Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

    Liverpool

    Liverpool defender Jenna Clark speaking to Sky Sports: "We defended from front to back and got two goals to top it off, which was really good. I'm delighted to keep a clean sheet again.

    "Throughout pre-season, we were connected on and off the pitch and that has shown in the last two games. We are such a family unit; we work hard for each other. I'm proud of everyone today.

    "Clean sheets come first but I'd like to add to my [goals] tally. I scored a few in Scotland, I'd like to bring that here. I'm up for the corners. That is enough for me just now."

  7. Postpublished at 21:04 British Summer Time 8 October 2023

    FT: Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

    Carla Ward has said her side "weren't good enough in any department" and they were "miles off it."

    It's fair to say she is unimpressed with her Villa side tonight.

    Full quotes to come.

  8. Postpublished at 21:02 British Summer Time 8 October 2023

    FT: Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

    Aston Villa have conceded three goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, more than any other team in the Women's Super League this season.

    Carla Ward will be very keen to address Villa's lack of concentration in defence late on in games.

    It has been a poor start to the season.

  9. 'A deserved win for an organised Liverpool side'published at 20:56 British Summer Time 8 October 2023

    FT: Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

    Lindsay Johnson
    Ex-England defender on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Liverpool thoroughly deserved the win tonight.

    If the ball had gone in instead of the Koivisto goal line clearance when Villa were on top then maybe things would have been different.

    But at the end of the day, Liverpool had the better of the play, they managed to score the goal to go in front, and were incredibly organised. They then added a second on the break.

    Villa were frustrated, couldn't break Liverpool down, ran out of ideas and creativity. Not a great performance from them this evening.

  10. Postpublished at 20:52 British Summer Time 8 October 2023

    A very fair point from Eddie.

    Liverpool and Leicester have made excellent starts to the season and are the only sides to have a 100% record after the opening two games.

    WSL table after two games, LFC and LCFC joint top.Image source, BBC Sport
  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:51 British Summer Time 8 October 2023

    #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    Eddie: Come on, be honest, not a single fan in the country would have guessed that Leicester and Liverpool would have been the top two after two games. Love to see it!

  12. FULL-TIMEpublished at 90+13 mins

    Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

    Two wins for Liverpool, two defeats for Aston Villa.

    The Reds were superb in defence and try as they might, Villa just could not break them down.

    Liverpool players celebrate their second goal as Villa players trudge back to kick off.Image source, Getty Images
  13. Postpublished at 90+11 mins

    Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

    Ceri Holland is back on the pitch to see out the last few minutes for Liverpool.

  14. 'Pressure could soon be on Villa with games ahead'published at 20:45 British Summer Time 8 October 2023

    Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

    Lindsay Johnson
    Ex-England defender on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Villa's next run of games look very difficult now.

    Arsenal at the Emirates, they need points themselves after a tricky start, Tottenham, the champions Chelsea.

    The pressure could be on them now given that they will have lost their opening two games.

    I'm sure Carla Ward will be able to pick them up and help them to bounce back but it has been a tough start to the campaign.

  15. Postpublished at 90+9 mins

    Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

    Jenna Clark is given Player of the Match.

    One of the solid Liverpool defenders who has put in an absolute shift for Matt Beard's side.

    Jenna Clark tries to cross the ba;l into the box from the right hand side.Image source, Getty Images
  16. Postpublished at 90+8 mins

    Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

    Ceri Holland is down for Liverpool, it was an awkward slip and she seems to be in some discomfort.

  17. Postpublished at 90+7 mins

    Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

    Lucy Staniforth takes and, you guessed it, Liverpool head clear.

  18. Postpublished at 90+6 mins

    Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

    Free-kick to Villa right on the edge of the box.

  19. 'Villa heads seem to be already on the bus home'published at 20:41 British Summer Time 8 October 2023

    Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

    Lindsay Johnson
    Ex-England defender on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Liverpool's shape and organisation has been key to this game, they have nullified Villa and made it hard for them to create anything of note.

    Their high press has also meant that when Villa get on the ball they rush things, go long and can't sustain possession.

    There's five or six minutes left but the Villa players' heads seem to be already on the bus home.

    Carla Ward watches on with a glum look on her face.Image source, Getty Images