Relegation-battling Aston Villa fought back to a claim a 2-1 victory at Liverpool as they picked up their first points under boss Natalia Arroyo.

Villa came into the match at St Helens Stadium having lost their last six WSL games, five of them under Spaniard Arroyo, and another defeat looked on the cards when Marie Hobinger fired Liverpool ahead from the penalty spot.

But Kirsty Hanson drew the visitors level before an 88th-minute own goal from Jenna Clark earned second-bottom Villa only their fourth win of the season, and one that lifts them four points clear of Crystal Palace.

Defences were largely on top in the first half with decent goalscoring chances in short supply, although Liverpool came close on the half-hour mark.

Sophie Roman Haug met a deep free-kick at the far post and her looping header was clawed out by Villa goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo before Jas Matthews fired the loose ball over from six yards out.

At the other end, Rachel Daly looked set to pounce on the stroke of half-time but Liverpool defender Grace Fisk did well to deny her.

The start of the second half was similarly uneventful until Liverpool broke the deadlock through Hobinger’s 57th-minute penalty.

Villa contributed to their own downfall as, from their own corner, a defensive mistake gifted possession to Ceri Holland and she raced from inside her own half before being brought down as she rounded D’Angelo. Hobinger sent the Villa keeper the wrong way from the spot to break the deadlock.

That sparked the game to life and Villa almost drew level within four minutes when the unmarked Chasity Grant was denied by the feet of Liverpool keeper Rachael Laws.

Laws was caught out in the 68th minute though as Villa made it 1-1 through substitute Hanson, who had only been on the pitch a matter of moments.

Former Liverpool midfielder Missy Bo Kearns sent a brilliant pass over the home defence and Laws, having rushed out of her area, was beaten to the ball by Hanson, who found the back of an unguarded net from a tight angle.

Both sides pushed for a winner, but it was Villa left celebrating when Clark inadvertently turned Ebony Salmon’s low cross onto her own net after the Villa forward had superbly powered her way into the area.