Remarkable Liverpool statistic speaks volumes about WSL disruptors' impressive evolution

If you wanted an encapsulation of Liverpool's remarkable progress this term, you would only need to look at the Women's Super League (WSL) table.

Sunday's 4-1 victory over Aston Villa saw the Reds move on to 25 points for the season, meaning Matt Beard's side have already surpassed their entire haul from the 2022/23 WSL campaign with seven league games still to play. It is an admirable feat from a team that, not even two years ago, were plying their trade in the second tier.

In many ways, this weekend's victory at the Poundland Bescot stadium serves as a neat microcosm of Liverpool's impressive evolution over the past 18 months. Whereas the same fixture last season - a frantic 3-3 draw - spoke of an outfit still getting to grips with the intensity of the top flight, Sunday's showing pointed to a side with both the quality and maturity to properly upset the league's ecosystem.

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Of course, any successful team needs a slice of luck and Liverpool got just that when Grace Fisk's strike deflected into the back of the Villa net to put the visitors ahead inside 19 minutes. Fisk's first goal for the Reds came after a well-worked free kick from Marie Hobinger and Fuka Nagano, with Mia Enderby 's blocked shot bobbling straight into the defender's path.

There was another element of fortune later in the half when Jasmine Matthews' cross was fumbled by Daphne van Domselaar, opening the door for the lurking Sophie Roman Haug to nod home and double Liverpool's advantage. Villa rallied well, though, and halved the deficit through Sarah Mayling's spot-kick after Gemma Bonner was