On an eventful afternoon at Villa Park, Liverpool Women earned a 3-3 draw against Aston Villa Women in the Women’s Super League (WSL). Fifth-placed Aston Villa opened the scoring in the seventh minute, but Liverpool’s top goalscorer Katie Stengel responded with an instinctive header in the six-yard box for 1-1. Natasha Dowie then emphatically found the net just three minutes later to flip the scoreboard on its head. However, Golden Boot favourite Rachel Daly levelled the scores on the cusp of half time after capitalising on a free run into the box.
The second half proved just as fast-paced but without so many goals, and it was again Liverpool who edged into the lead with Stengel’s second of the day and ninth league goal of the campaign. Shanice van de Sanden supplied the assist and it needed only a subtle touch from Stengel to steer the header into the net, a brilliant goal for 3-2. Unfortunately, Liverpool could not hold onto their lead as they paid the price for relinquishing possession in midfield, with Kirsty Hanson weaving her way through the defence before notching a brace of her own.
The final whistle blew for a share of the spoils but Van de Sanden could have been the late hero for the Reds with an audacious long-range lob only narrowly saved by the goalkeeper. Leanne Kiernan made her return to action after being injured on the opening day of the season in mid-September, coming on for the final 32 minutes. Liverpool host Man United in their final game of the season on Saturday.