Aston Villa suffered a frustrating 4-1 defeat against Liverpool at St Helens Stadium in the Women’s Super League.
The visitors found themselves two goals down after just 14 minutes, Mia Enderby converting from six yards before Martha Thomas doubled the Reds’ advantage with a well-taken finish.
Miri Taylor fired Villa back into contention with a superb right-footed strike from just inside the area shortly before the break.
But Natalia Arroyo’s side could not force a leveller, Grace Fisk volleying a third in the 86th minute before Aurelie Csillag added an injury-time fourth for a Liverpool side who started the day bottom of the WSL table.
Villa, who triumphed 3-0 in December’s reverse fixture, suffered a fourth successive defeat and will now be looking to bounce back at home to Tottenham Hotspur next weekend.
The hosts started strongly and applied early pressure, Enderby firing narrowly wide following a surging run.
But she made no mistake in the ninth minute, sweeping home Ceri Holland’s cross from six yards to give Liverpool an early lead.
And the Reds doubled their advantage just five minutes later, Thomas with an acrobatic finish from close range after Océane Deslandes’ interception from Holland’s cross had fallen into her path.
Liverpool v Aston Villa Women's Super League
Liverpool v Aston Villa Women's Super League
Sabrina D’Angelo tipped over from Alejandre Bernabe in the 21st minute before Villa, with Lucy Parker the sole change from last weekend’s defeat at Everton, started to gain a foothold as the first half wore on.
And the visitors gave themselves hope just before half-time courtesy of a sublime finish from Taylor.
Kirsty Hanson won the ball down the right wing and crossed for Taylor, who took a touch on the edge of the area before firing right-footed into the top corner, leaving Liverpool ‘keeper Jennifer Falk with no chance.
Liverpool v Aston Villa Women's Super League
Liverpool v Aston Villa Women's Super League
Villa introduced Noelle Maritz at the break but it wasn’t long before manager Arroyo was forced into another change early in the second half, ‘keeper D’Angelo suffering a nasty collision and replaced by Ellie Roebuck.
Georgia Mullett tested Falk at her near post just after the hour mark, with Arroyo turning to Chasity Grant and Jenna Nighswonger off the bench to try and inspire an equaliser.
But it was Liverpool who came close to adding to their advantage, Holland finding the near post with a close-range effort.
Liverpool v Aston Villa Women's Super League
Liverpool v Aston Villa Women's Super League
Hanson forced Falk into a low save in the 76th minute as the clash hung in the balance.
But Liverpool added a third late on, Fisk volleying into the net from 16 yards as the ball broke her way following a goalmouth scramble.
And it was Csillag who converted a fourth in the seventh minute of added time, racing on to a throughball and finding the net to confirm defeat for the visitors.