Lauren Hemp capped off a thrilling 4-2 win for Manchester City over Liverpool, helping the defending champions preserve a flawless start to their WSL title defence. The match was a roller‑coaster, with City’s dominance hanging in the balance until the final minutes. After a hard‑fought first half that saw City scramble for an equaliser, a series of late mistakes by Liverpool opened the door for a dramatic finish.
City have now matched Chelsea's record of 14 consecutive home victories in the Women's Super League – a streak the Blues set between September 2019 and January 2021. If City can beat Arsenal at home on 4 October, they will break that record and set a new benchmark for consistency at the Joie Stadium.
The decisive moment arrived in stoppage time when Liverpool captain Grace Fisk inadvertently turned the ball into her own net, giving City a 3‑2 lead with five minutes of added time on the clock. Sensing that a draw was imminent, Liverpool pushed a large number of players forward in search of an equaliser. This left space for Hemp, who burst down the right flank, beat former teammate Khiara Keating and calmly slotted the ball past her to restore a two‑goal cushion for City. The England international also opened the scoring earlier in the match, finishing a well‑crafted team move with her first goal of the season – her first strike since November.
That goal set the tone for a game that would see both sides trade blows and showcase the depth of talent on both rosters. Liverpool, however, responded with vigor. A defensive lapse allowed Alice Bergström to fire home, and shortly after, Vivien Endemann – the creator of City’s opening goal – unleashed a spectacular volley that slipped through the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita, giving the Reds a deserved lead.
Khadija "Bunny" Shaw continued her impressive run for a third consecutive Golden Boot, netting her fourth league goal of the campaign to level the score. After Hemp’s initial shot was saved by Keating, Shaw pounced on the rebound and tapped the ball home from close range. Shaw’s contribution underlined why retaining her was the most astute piece of business for City during the summer transfer window.
Shaw’s goal also made history: she now holds the record for the most home goals in WSL history with 52, surpassing Bethany England, and she is the first Manchester City player to score in each of the first three league matches of a season. The match ultimately hinged on errors and opportunism, and City emerged as the better side, extending their league lead to five points with several games still to play. Liverpool sit third, four points behind the leaders, after a performance that, despite the loss, showed significant progress. Sky Sports analyst Charlotte Marsh offered her perspective: "Liverpool may have lost, but they pushed the champions to the limit on their own ground – a feat few have achieved, as reflected in City’s record‑equalling run at the Joie Stadium.
This Liverpool side is a far cry from the one a year ago. The club has endured heartbreaking loss, with the tragic passing of former manager Matt Beard and kitman Jon Humble, and they have battled a spate of injuries under new boss Gareth Taylor. Yet the resilience they have shown this season signals a genuine turnaround that began earlier in the year.
"Vivien Endemann, despite being relatively new to the league, performed like a seasoned veteran, troubling City’s defence alongside Beta Olsson and Bergström – a high‑calibre signing from Wolfsburg. For large stretches of the game Liverpool pressed better, made smarter decisions and displayed greater confidence. Late lapses, however, cost them dearly, but Taylor can take pride in how his side rebounded from a difficult period last season.
It took Liverpool twelve games to collect four points last year; they have already matched that tally, and if they continue on this trajectory they could aim for a top‑half finish or better." Key moments of the match were: - 13' – A brilliant team move finished by Hemp for her first goal of the season. - 19' – A defensive mix‑up allows Bergström to slot home for Liverpool. - 28' – After sustained pressure, Endemann scores a close‑range effort that beats Yamashita. - 39' – Shaw smashes a header against the post as City hunt for a first‑half equaliser.
- 45+2' – Shaw converts a rebound after Keating spills Hemp’s shot. - 60' – Keating makes a crucial save, denying Shaw again. - 90' – An own‑goal by Fisk levels the score for City.
- 90+5' – Hemp breaks away and calmly finishes past Keating to seal the win. After the match, Hemp spoke to Sky Sports: "I don’t score often, so it felt great to get on the scoresheet, especially with that final chance when I had so much time. I thought, ‘Where am I going to put this?’ but I’m pleased we secured the win. It shows the depth we have in the squad – we needed that energy when we were struggling, and the substitutes changed the game for us." City manager Andree Jeglertz, reflecting on the half‑time talk, said: "At times we played the ball very well.
It’s about challenging them, moving the ball quickly with the right tempo. We did that in the end.
It isn’t always easy, but as long as we get the job done and keep pushing in the right direction, that’s what matters." Jeglertz added further insight: "Every victory is special in its own way. This game was tough; we knew it would be a challenge.
Liverpool altered their approach, which forced us to adapt. The first half was a bit back‑and‑forth, and we nearly gave them two goals.
Yet we created numerous chances and scored four, which I’m proud of. The group’s mentality is fantastic – they never stop believing and keep fighting, and ultimately we are the winners." On Hemp’s performance, Jeglertz praised her enthusiasm: "She’s an amazing player.
I don’t know what she’s made of because she just loves being on the pitch and brings so much energy. I’m thrilled for her.
She missed an early chance, but she kept going – it didn’t affect her, and she’s a real game‑changer." Liverpool boss Gareth Taylor accepted the defeat with a constructive outlook: "It’s disappointing, we fell just short. But the way we attacked the game was exactly what I wanted – that’s the most important thing I told the players after the match. If we keep playing like that, we’ll win many games this season. We were out‑muscled in the second balls and the skirmishes, and City capitalised on their moments because of their quality.
"We need to improve our final actions; there were chances where we could have taken the lead. We’re up against the champions.
Last season we finished 11th, so closing that gap won’t happen overnight. However, you could see a more improved version of ourselves – the attitude and application were first‑class.
The players gave a lot tonight. "We’re disappointed because we looked like we were maintaining an unbeaten start, but when you compare us to a side that can bring on experienced players instead of two 16‑year‑olds, the difference is clear. It takes time to bridge that gap, but we’re on the right path." Overall, the match highlighted the fine margins that separate victory from defeat in the WSL. City’s ability to absorb pressure, capitalize on opponent errors, and rely on the depth of their squad ensured they continued their march at the top of the table, while Liverpool demonstrated resilience and growth that could see them become serious contenders as the season progresses.