There were 32 minutes on the clock at Prenton Park when Emma Koivisto yielded one of the biggest cheers of the day.
The Liverpool defender had - quite spectacularly - denied a certain Aston Villa goal, bravely putting her head to Jordan Nobbs' powerful, right-footed finish as it thundered toward the gaping net. As the ball careered over the bar, Koivisto was hauled to her feet by Liverpool goalkeeper Rachael Laws and sent on her way with an appreciative thump on the back.
Her remarkable last-ditch clearance in many ways encapsulated the tenacity, resilence and impudence that has characterised the Reds in these early weeks of the season. Matt Beard's sidetook to the field at on Sunday night looking to emulate the heroic display that saw them sensationally emerge from the Emirates with all three points last time out.
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On that occasion, Liverpool's defensive fortitude and the endeavours of the inspired Laws in goal saw them win the day in front of a WSL record crowd. But against the Villans, it was the ingenuity of Missy Bo Kearns that set the tone for another superb display.
Kearns, given a starting berth in the centre forward role owing to a glut of Liverpool injuries, did well to connect with Taylor Hinds' delivery into the box, steering her effort just wide of the post. Undeterred, Beard's side continued to play with the same grit that helped generate their improbable triumph over Arsenal, with Koivisto seeing her long-range shot deflect past the post.
Despite a paucity of Villa chances in the opening exchanges, Carla Ward's side gave a first
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