Lauren Hemp capped off a dramatic 4-2 triumph for Manchester City over Liverpool, helping the defending champions preserve a flawless opening to their title defence. The match appeared to be in jeopardy right up until the final minute, when a series of late mistakes by Liverpool opened the door for City to clinch the win.
City entered the game riding a 13‑match unbeaten streak at the Joie Stadium and matching Chelsea's record of 14 consecutive home victories in the Women's Super League – a run the Blues achieved between September 2019 and January 2021. A victory in their next home fixture against Arsenal on 4 October would see City set a new benchmark for home dominance in the league. The turning point arrived in stoppage time. With the score locked at 3‑3, Liverpool’s captain Grace Fisk inadvertently diverted the ball into her own net, giving City a 3‑2 lead as five minutes of added time were displayed.
Sensing a draw was imminent, Liverpool pushed a large contingent forward, leaving gaps that Hemp exploited with her characteristic pace. She surged down the right flank, slipped past former teammate Khiara Keating and calmly slotted the ball home, sealing the victory.
Hemp, an England international, had already opened the scoring earlier in the match, completing a well‑crafted team move for her first goal of the season. Her strike came after a fluid passing sequence that broke down Liverpool’s defence, illustrating why she is regarded as one of the league’s most lethal forwards. Liverpool, however, responded with vigor and claimed a deserved lead midway through the first half.
A defensive misunderstanding allowed Alice Bergström to unleash a powerful shot, while Vivien Endemann – the creator of City’s opening goal – followed with a spectacular volley that slipped through the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita. Khadija "Bunny" Shaw continued her impressive run for a third consecutive Golden Boot by netting her fourth league goal of the season 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 consistency underscores why retaining her was City’s most astute summer acquisition.
Shaw’s equaliser also saw her become the all‑time leading home scorer in WSL history, moving past Bethany England with a total of 52 goals at the Joie Stadium. She is additionally the first Manchester City player to find the net in each of the opening three league matches of a campaign. The match ultimately hinged on errors, and City emerged the better side, extending their league lead to five points with several games still to play. Liverpool remain in third place, four points behind the champions.
Sky Sports analyst Charlotte Marsh reflected on the encounter: "Liverpool may have lost, but they pushed the champions to the brink on their own ground – a feat few have managed, as evidenced 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 has endured profound tragedy, losing former manager Matt Beard and kitman Jon Humble in quick succession, and has battled a spate of injuries under new boss Gareth Taylor. Yet the resilience they have shown this season signals a clear turnaround that began earlier in the year." Marsh continued, "Vivien Endemann looked more like a seasoned veteran than a newcomer, causing real problems for City’s back line alongside newcomers Beta Olsson and Bergström, a superb signing from Wolfsburg. For large stretches of the game Liverpool pressed more aggressively, made smarter decisions and displayed greater confidence. Their late lapses, however, cost them dearly, but manager Taylor can take heart from the progress after an otherwise dreadful previous season." The timeline of key moments reads as follows: - 13′ – Hemp finishes a brilliant team move for her first goal of the season.
- 19′ – A defensive mix‑up for City allows Bergström to fire home. - 28′ – Liverpool surge ahead after Endemann’s close‑range effort beats Yamashita. - 39′ – Shaw smashes 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′ – Fisk’s own‑goal hands City a late lead. - 90+5′ – Hemp races down the wing and calmly slots past Keating to seal the win.
After the match, Hemp spoke to Sky Sports: "I don’t normally get on the scoresheet, so it felt great to score, especially the final one when I had a bit of time to think about where to place it. It shows the depth we have in the squad – we needed that energy at crucial moments and the team delivered." City manager Andrée Jeglertz praised his side’s resilience: "Every victory has its own special flavour.
This one was particularly tough; we knew Liverpool would be a challenge. Their adjustments forced us to adapt, especially in the first half when we almost gave them two goals.
Still, we created numerous chances and scored four, which reflects the group’s mentality. They never stopped believing and kept pushing, and that’s why we came out on top." Jeglertz also lauded Hemp’s impact: "She’s an extraordinary talent.
Her energy and love for the game are infectious; she never lets a missed chance affect her. She truly changes the game when she’s on the pitch." Liverpool boss Gareth Taylor remained optimistic despite the defeat: "It’s disappointing to fall short, but I’m proud of how we approached the game. We attacked with intent, which is exactly what I wanted.
If we continue playing this way, we’ll win many matches this season. The champions are a high‑quality side, and we need to improve our finishing in the final third. We’re still a team that finished 11th last season, so progress takes time, but the attitude and application we showed tonight were first‑class." Overall, the encounter highlighted the fine margins that separate victory from defeat in the WSL. Manchester City’s ability to recover from setbacks, combined with Hemp’s decisive contributions, reinforces their status as early favourites for the title, while Liverpool’s spirited display suggests they could be a serious contender as the season unfolds.