I agree - If Liam was to mock his son, and effectively mock Sophia as the parent who spends the most time raising Dylan, this could help push Sophia further into Dylan's affections.
Early in AWAM, Liam did mock/tease Dylan about soccer not being 'real' football - and this is something Dylan is heavily invested in.
Imagine this kind of exchange within the hearing of Sophia:
Liam - How was the party, see any hot chicks?
Dylan - I chose not to go to the party; Mom and I went out instead.
Liam - Why would you choose to go out with your mom when you could have gone to a party and spent time with girls your own age? You're Never going to get a girlfriend if you don't make the effort.
Dylan (now getting frustrated) - You taught me to always keep my work and then you blew off you wife to watch American football. She deserved more and I wanted her to know that I thought she was more important to me than a party.
Liam (not liking getting called out by his son) - I think going out with your mother was just an excuse to avoid getting shut down by girls your own age. Now if you played Real football, you would have the girls coming to you and you would not have to go out with your mother as a date of last resort.
Dylan - Sophia, Mom, will Never be a date of last resort to me. I don't understand how you could think so little of her. As for Real football - I play what almost the entire World calls football and I am very good at it - not that you would know since you have never come to a single game...
Sophia, having listened to the entire exchange, decided to break it up before it got worse.
She was shocked that her son had to defend her to her husband, and that her husband was belittling their son. She wondered how things with Liam had sunk this far.
Sophia, entering the living room, says - Hey, I'm hearing raised voices - let's calm down and enjoy a nice breakfast together.
Liam - I have to go into work - someone has to take care of this family (and he leaves).
Dylan comes up to a stunned Sophia and hugs her saying - I'm sorry Mom, he should have stayed. Thanks for making breakfast! Can I get you more coffee?
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There is a way for L&P to shape this type of conversation to illustrate both some distance between Liam and Sophia as well as Dylan acting more responsibly and standing up for Sophia.
The introspection of Sophia following this type of encounter would also be important as it helps to shape her future encounters with Dylan who is becoming, more and more, her defender and support.
I'll stop now so others can add their own suggestions.
Cheers!