Everton claimed their first away victory of the season in the Women’s Super League with a 2-0 success against Aston Villa at Villa Park.

The hosts could have drawn level on points with Everton had they claimed a rare victory but remain 11th in the table after goals from Maren Mjelde and Honoka Hayashi in each half.

Villa boss Natalia Arroyo made three changes from the side beaten 3-0 by Leicester two weeks ago, with Danielle Turner, Miri Taylor and Chasity Grant coming in, while Everton fielded the same team that agonisingly lost against Chelsea.

Villa started on the front foot and Jill Baijings shot just over the crossbar but Mjelde volleyed in the opener in the 16th minute, seizing on a bouncing ball to fire high into the net for her first WSL goal since September 2022.

Villa had the best of the rest of the first half, with Katie Robinson forcing a save from Courtney Brosnan and Jordan Nobbs also threatening, while Everton also looked dangerous on the break.

The hosts suffered another blow nine minutes into the second period when goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo was forced off after colliding with team-mate Turner, handing American Katelin Talbert a league debut.

It quickly turned into a nightmare, though, as only five minutes later she spilled the ball and saw Hayashi get to it first to double Everton’s lead.

Kelly Gago then almost made it three, breaking away and finding space inside the area but firing her shot into the side netting.

Villa had mostly been restricted to half chances and their best opportunities of the game came in injury time.

First, lively substitute Ebony Salmon crossed from the right but Rachel Daly could only direct her effort just wide of the post.

Missy Bo Kearns then fired in a well-hit strike from the edge of the area towards the bottom corner that was pushed wide by Brosnan before Salmon sent another effort just off-target from long range.

The result leaves Everton in eighth – a point behind Tottenham – while Villa have only Crystal Palace beneath them.