Aston Villa came from behind twice to draw 3-3 with Liverpool at Villa Park on Sunday.
Kirsty Hanson opened and completed the scoring, with her second goal of the afternoon proving crucial in securing a point for Carla Ward’s side.
Rachel Daly was also on target with her 21st league goal of the season, while Katie Stengel (2) and Natasha Dowie scored for the visitors.
Sarah Mayling had to be alert inside the first five minutes to prevent a tap-in for Taylor Hinds at the back post.
Villa then began to apply relentless pressure in search of the opener and it paid off after seven minutes, with Mayling, Kenza Dali and Alisha Lehmann working the ball well down the right-hand side before finding an opening.
Hanson – nominated for the WSL Player of the Season award earlier this week – made the most of the opportunity by getting away from her marker and firing into the bottom corner.
Hannah Hampton made a good stop from Dowie, before making an incredible recovery run and save moments later to deny Missy Bo Kearns, after her clearance had found the feet of the Liverpool midfielder.
Down the other end, Hanson beat two defenders before pulling a ball back for Daly, whose effort was cleared off the line.
Hampton was forced into another top save at the midway point of the first half, as she dove to her left to palm Hinds’ strike from distance away from danger.
Liverpool got themselves level eight minutes before the break, when Stengel nodded Kearns’ goal-bound effort beyond Hampton.
The turnaround was complete three minutes later when Dowie fired into the roof of the net, but Villa responded before half-time whistle blew.
Simone Magill – on as a substitute for Jordan Nobbs - made a brilliant run down the right and pulled a ball back for Daly, who made no mistake with the finish to make it 2-2.
It was a tight and tense start to the second half but Liverpool broke through just after the hour-mark, with Stengel heading Shanice van de Sanden’s cross into the net to put her side ahead for a second time.
Just as they did before the break, Villa responded well with Daly heading onto the crossbar before Magill had a shot blocked.
The resurgence continued and Hanson got the leveller 20 minutes from time, as she went on a marauding run unleashing a shot that was too powerful for Faye Kirby.
Daly then forced a strong stop from Kirby as Villa chased a decisive goal, but chances were few and far between late on and the scores ended level.
Aston Villa: Hampton; Mayling, Patten, Turner (C), Pacheco; Dali (Allen 45'), Staniforth, Nobbs (Magill 32'); Lehmann (Boye-Hlorkah 80'), Daly, Hanson.
Substitutes not used: Corsie, Keitley, Shaw.
Liverpool: Kirby; Fahey (C) (van de Sanden 46'), Bonner, Matthews; Koivisto (Roberts 59'), Nagano, Taylor (Lundgaard 59'), Hinds; Kearns; Stengel, Dowie (Kiernan 59').
Substitutes not used: Laws, Cummings, Robe, Humphrey, Daniels.
