Lauren Hemp capped a dramatic 4-2 triumph for Manchester City over Liverpool, helping the defending WSL champions preserve a flawless opening to their title‑defence campaign. The match teetered on a knife‑edge until the final minutes, when a series of late mistakes by Liverpool opened the door for City to clinch the win.
City’s unbeaten home streak in the league now matches Chelsea’s record of 14 consecutive victories, a benchmark set between September 2019 and January 2021. A win in their next home fixture against Arsenal on 4 October would see City establish a new benchmark for dominance 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 the hosts a 3-2 lead with five minutes of added time displayed.
Sensing a potential draw, Liverpool pushed an excess of bodies forward, leaving space for the ever‑energetic Hemp. She burst down the right flank, evaded former teammate Khiara Keating, and calmly slotted the ball past her, sealing the victory.
Hemp, an England international, also opened the scoring for City earlier in the match. After a fluid team move, she finished a well‑crafted attack, marking her first goal of the season since November. Her strike set the tone for what would become a tightly contested encounter.
Liverpool, however, responded with vigor. A defensive lapse allowed Alice Bergström to unleash a powerful strike, putting the Reds ahead. Shortly after, Vivien Endemann – the creator of City’s opening goal – turned a precise cross into a spectacular volley that slipped through Ayaka Yamashita’s outstretched hands, extending Liverpool’s lead.
Khadija "Bunny" Shaw continued her impressive run for a third consecutive Golden Boot, netting her fourth league goal to level the score. After Hemp’s initial attempt 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 arguably City’s most astute summer signing. Shaw’s tally now places her atop the all‑time home‑goal chart in the WSL with 52 goals, surpassing Bethany England.
She also became the first Manchester City player to score in each of the opening three league matches of a season. The match ultimately hinged on errors, and City’s ability to capitalize on Liverpool’s missteps earned them three points, extending their lead at the summit to five points with a full round of fixtures remaining this weekend.
Liverpool sit third, four points behind the champions. 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 by City’s record‑equalling run at the Joie Stadium. This Liverpool side is a far cry from the one a year ago. The club endured a tragic period, mourning the loss of former manager Matt Beard and kitman Jon Humble, while also coping with a spate of injuries under new boss Gareth Taylor.
Yet the team has stuck together, and their strong start this season signals a continued upward trajectory that began earlier in the year. "Endemann, despite limited WSL experience, performed like a seasoned veteran, troubling City’s defence alongside new arrivals Beta Olsson and Bergström from Wolfsburg. For large stretches, Liverpool pressed better, made smarter choices, and displayed greater confidence. Late lapses – perhaps a failure to maintain those decisions – cost them, but Taylor can take heart from the progress after a difficult previous season.
"Last year it took Liverpool twelve games to accumulate four points; they have already matched that tally. If they maintain this momentum, a top‑half finish – or better – is within reach." Key moments of the match included: - 13′ – Hemp finishes a superb team move for her first goal of the campaign.
- 19′ – A defensive mix‑up for City allows Bergström to slot home. - 28′ – Liverpool surge ahead as Endemann’s close‑range effort beats Yamashita.
- 39′ – Shaw smashes a shot against the post while 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. - 90′ – An unfortunate own‑goal by Fisk restores City’s lead.
- 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 normally find the back of the net, so it feels great to score, especially that last goal when I had a bit of time to think about where to place it.
I’m pleased to have contributed to the win. It shows the depth we have in the squad – we needed that energy when we were under pressure, and the team delivered when it mattered." City manager Andree Jeglertz, in his post‑match interview, highlighted the team’s resilience: "Every victory has its own flavor. This one was particularly tough; we knew Liverpool would be a strong opponent.
Their adjustments forced us to adapt, and the first half was a bit of a seesaw. We conceded two goals but also created numerous chances, eventually scoring four.
I’m proud of the group’s mentality – they never stopped believing and kept pushing until the final whistle." Regarding Hemp, Jeglertz added: "She is an extraordinary talent. Her energy and love for the game are infectious. Even when she missed an early chance, she stayed focused and kept influencing the match.
She truly is a game‑changer." Liverpool coach Gareth Taylor reflected on his side’s performance: "It’s disappointing to fall short, but I’m proud of how we approached the game. We played our natural style, which is what I asked for – that’s the most important takeaway. If we continue to attack like this, we’ll win many games this season.
We struggled with second balls and physical duels, often ceding those to City, who are clinical when they get opportunities at the top of the pitch. "We need to improve our finishing in the final third. There were moments when we could have taken the lead.
Remember, we’re up against the champions. Last season we finished 11th; the gap is significant, but we’re making progress. The attitude and application from the players were first‑class tonight. We’ll learn from this and keep developing." Overall, the encounter demonstrated the fine margins that decide top‑level women's football.
Manchester City’s ability to weather Liverpool’s pressure and capitalize on critical moments reinforced their status as title favourites, while Liverpool showed signs of resurgence that could see them challenge higher up the table as the season unfolds.