Liverpool boss Matt Beard believes Aston Villa can challenge right at the top of the Women's Super League this season.

The Villans lost 2-1 to Manchester United on the opening weekend courtesy of a late Rachel Williams strike, while the Merseysiders beat Arsenal 1-0 at the Emirates thanks to a goal from Miri Taylor.

But Beard is well aware of the threat posed by Carla Ward's side as he prepares to host them at Prenton Park on Sunday.

He said: "Villa proved what a good team they are last season. 

"It was only us and them that beat teams that are in that top three, so Ward has strengthened their team really well in January and in this window.

"I think they are genuine contenders to break into that top four, top three this year. 

"They have got experience, they have got goals, so they have everything in their team.

"It's going to be a completely different test for us this weekend."

Liverpool's defence will have to stand strong up against an exciting Villa forward line and perhaps out in the same kind of rearguard action that Beard was so impressed by in the victory at Arsenal.

He added: "Everyone played their part at Emirates and it was fantastic. We defended magnificently. 

"We wanted to stop them playing centrally and we reduced them to shots from distance. 

"They had 19 shots and three on target, and we had six shots and two on target, so that just shows defensively the work that we put in. 

"Everyone defensively — from Lawsy [Rachael Laws], the back five and midfield three – just blocked shots, blocked crosses.

"Even though they had 19 corners I felt we defended them so well, so we were really pleased."