Khadija Shaw scored a hat-trick as Manchester City moved three points behind Women’s Super League leaders Chelsea with a dominant victory over Liverpool.
Taylor Hinds opened the scoring for the Reds with an audacious finish from outside the area after spotting goalkeeper Khiara Keating off her line.
City were level just three minutes later when Gemma Bonner turned into her own net under pressure from Shaw.
The Jamaican international then put Gareth Taylor’s side ahead after dispossessing Fuka Nagano and then finishing low into the bottom corner.
Just before the break, Shaw rose highest to head home Laura Coombs’ cross despite Liverpool goalkeeper Teagan Micah getting a strong hand to it.
Shaw completed her third treble in her last four WSL games in the 56th minute.
Her initial effort was saved but Liverpool failed to clear their lines and a cheeky backheel trickled over the line to further increase City’s lead.
City were awarded a penalty in the 78th minute, despite Micah’s foul on Lauren Hemp seemingly occurring outside the area. Chloe Kelly scored from the spot, slotting into the bottom right corner to complete City’s commanding performance.
The only downside for City was the loss of defender Kerstin Casparij who went off injured after eight minutes following a collision with Missy Bo Kearns.
But the victory sent City up to second, ahead of Arsenal on goal difference, while Liverpool remain fifth.
Shaw stands out as City maintain title challenge
City were in control from the opening stages but fell behind to a super finish from Hinds.
Shaw was then in the right place to ensure Bonner scored an own goal before forcing Nagano into a mistake due to City’s high pressing.
The forward was often quickest to react when Liverpool gave the ball away. After her first goal, she almost scored again a minute later but an acrobatic effort flew over.
Kelly and Coombs were also denied thanks to great saves from Micah who helped to keep the score down with City in control for the majority of the contest.
Shaw’s goals, though, will be crucial in the second half of the campaign as her side push Chelsea for the title.
Liverpool masters of their own downfall
Prior to the match, Liverpool manager Matt Beard said “City have probably been the best team in the league this season”.
Their display against Liverpool certainly supported that claim.
But the Reds didn’t help themselves by giving the ball away repeatedly and clearly frustrating Beard on the sidelines.
They also did that just before scoring the opener and were lucky not to be punished as Kelly’s shot was well saved by Micah.
At the other end, Sophie Roman Haug’s near-post effort was well saved by Keating after 65 minutes and she then mis-hit a shot when in a promising position.
But it was one of the few opportunities for Beard’s side as they only attempted three shots in the match, their lowest total in the league this campaign.
It was disappointing from the Reds and they will need to be much improved when they face third-placed Arsenal next Sunday.
Line-ups
Man City Women
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 35Keating
- 18CasparijSubstituted forMorganat 10′minutes
- 4Aleixandri
- 5Greenwood
- 15Ouahabi
- 25Hasegawa
- 7CoombsSubstituted forAngeldahlat 60′minutes
- 9Kelly
- 20RoordSubstituted forMaceat 79′minutes
- 11HempSubstituted forParkat 78′minutes
- 21ShawSubstituted forFowlerat 60′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Roebuck
- 3Stokes
- 6Houghton
- 8Fowler
- 12Angeldahl
- 14Morgan
- 16Park
- 22MacIver
- 30Mace
Liverpool Women
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 16MicahBooked at 75mins
- 17ClarkSubstituted forMatthewsat 45′minutes
- 23Bonner
- 4FiskBooked at 48minsSubstituted forFaheyat 79′minutes
- 2Koivisto
- 14Höbinger
- 8Nagano
- 12Hinds
- 7KearnsSubstituted forLundgaardat 73′minutes
- 26FlintSubstituted forvan de Sandenat 45′minutes
- 10HaugSubstituted forLawleyat 79′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Laws
- 5Fahey
- 6Matthews
- 11Lawley
- 13Enderby
- 15Lundgaard
- 19van de Sanden
- 20Daniels
- 32Parry
Live Text
-
Match ends, Manchester City Women 5, Liverpool Women 1.
-
Second Half ends, Manchester City Women 5, Liverpool Women 1.
-
Corner, Manchester City Women. Conceded by Taylor Hinds.
-
Attempt blocked. Mary Fowler (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Chloe Kelly.
-
Offside, Liverpool Women. Sofie Lundgaard is caught offside.
-
Foul by Jessica Park (Manchester City Women).
-
Fuka Nagano (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Attempt missed. Ruby Mace (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Chloe Kelly following a corner.
-
Corner, Manchester City Women. Conceded by Gemma Bonner.
-
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
-
Delay in match because of an injury Chloe Kelly (Manchester City Women).
-
Offside, Liverpool Women. Shanice van de Sanden is caught offside.
-
Substitution, Liverpool Women. Niamh Fahey replaces Grace Fisk.
-
Substitution, Manchester City Women. Ruby Mace replaces Jill Roord.
-
Substitution, Liverpool Women. Melissa Lawley replaces Sophie Haug.
-
Goal! Manchester City Women 5, Liverpool Women 1. Chloe Kelly (Manchester City Women) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.
-
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
-
Substitution, Manchester City Women. Jessica Park replaces Lauren Hemp because of an injury.
-
Delay in match because of an injury Lauren Hemp (Manchester City Women).
-
Teagan Micah (Liverpool Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.