Manchester City Women 5, Liverpool 1
Khadija Shaw hit a hat trick as Manchester City overcame an early Liverpool lead to re-take second place in the Women’s Super League.
Visitors Liverpool made the most of a slow City start when their captain Taylor Hinds lobbed Khiara Keating after 16 minutes but Liverpool were so worried about the presence of the Jamaican striker that City were soon level through a Gemma Bonner own goal before Shaw showed them that their fears were not unfounded with a well taken hat trick.
Chloe Kelly put away a late penalty to make it 5-1 after Lauren Hemp had been brought down in the area – despite a good showing from Liverpool it was City who showed no mercy in the box.
It had started well for Liverpool – Teagan Micah made an impressive double save from Laura Coombs and Chloe Kelly after 12 minutes and Co didn’t continue her run after Shaw curled the ball into the six yard box rather than shoot.
And City were stunned after 16 minutes as Liverpool made the most of their first attack of the game, beating the City press with captain Taylor Hinds lobbing Khiara Keating – a remarkable goal despite the swirling windy conditions at the Joie Stadium.
Their lead was short-lived as City substitute Esme Morgan’s low cross into the box was turned past Micah by ex-City defender Gemma Bonner in the 19th minute.
And Khadija Shaw pounced on a telegraphed pass out of defence by Micah, intercepting the ball and drilling it back through her legs to put City back into the lead after 32 minutes.
Micah had to get down to save from Coombs as City were quickly in the ascendancy.
City finally made the most of an extended period of injury time to extend their lead after Shaw rose highest to head home Chloe Kelly’s deep cross from the right.
Liverpool made a double change at the break, bringing on Shanice van de Sanden and Jasmine Matthews for Natasha Flint and Jenna Clark.
But Shaw completed her hat trick in the second half with a cheeky back heel after Liverpool were in disarray following a fierce shot from Lauren Hemp.
City made a double change bringing on Mary Fowler and Filippa Angeldahl for Shaw and Coombs
Keating saved from Sophie Romain Haug and also collected an attempt to lob her from the Liverpool forward as she regained her confidence in the second half.
Sophie Lundgaard replaced Missy Bo Kearns after 73 minutes as Liverpool made their third substitution.
Lauren Hemp was sent clean through with a great pass to run onto but was cleaned out by the Liverpool goalkeeper – a clear penalty – and Hemp was taken off for treatment.
It was down to Chloe Kelly to take the spot kick and she confidently dispatched it as City eased themselves back into second place in the WSL – three points behind league leaders Chelsea.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City Women 5, Liverpool 1
Khiara Keating: 6. Lobbed by Taylor Hinds. Saved well from Sophie Roman Haug as she regained her composure after the early setback.
Kerstin Casparij: 6. Sustained a early injury and although she tried to run it off she could not continue.
Laia Aleixandri: 8. Partnered Alex Greenwood well and tided up well.
Alex Greenwood: 8. Experienced defending at the back. Locked up the right side of the Liverpool attack and cleared the ball when Missy Bo Kearns looked to be clean through.
Leila Ouhabi: 7. Played high up and switched into midfield well, tried to put City players through with ambitious passes into the final third.
Yui Hasegawa: 8. Inventive passing in midfield and good work rate, her passes kept City ticking over and always on the move.
Laura Coombs: 7. Late raider into the box, she had couple of great shots saved by Teagan Micah and a few more off target after getting into great positions.
Lauren Hemp: 8. Used pace well, great turns on the ball in tight spaces, and was never perturbed by the number of Liverpool players who tried to put her off. Her second half shot was saved allowed Bunny Shaw to complete her hat trick. Bravely ran full pace into the area late on for a shot on goal but was cleaned out by Teagan Micah to earn a penalty – she was taken off as a precautionary measure.
Jill Roord: 7. Good close control and pressing in midfield. Relatively quiet game for her.
Chloe Kelly: 8. All action up front – wind played havoc with her crosses into the danger area until she sorted it out later with a well weighted cross which was converted by Bunny Shaw, had a shot saved and robbed Teagan Micah to set up another chance. Drove a second half shot just over the bar and had a header saved by Teagan Micah. Excellent penalty.
Khadija Shaw: 9. Significant goal mouth threat and she proved it when he intercepted a poor ball out of defence by Micah and drilled it back through her legs. A second goal from a header made it 11 WSL goals in as many games for the lethal striker and her 12th was a cheeky backheel. A third hat trick in four WSL games.
Esme Morgan (on for Kerstin Casparij, 10): 7. Slotted in at right back and curled a low cross in for former City defender Gemma Bonner to score an own goal. Swept up well at the back.
Filippa Angeldahl (On for Laura Coombs, 60): 6. Came on to sit in midfield with the game won.
Mary Fowler (On for Khadija Shaw, 60): 6. Switched to left flank after the departure of Lauren Hemp.
Jess Park (On for Lauren Hemp, 79): No time to mark
Ruby Mace (On for Jill Roord, 79): No time to mark.
TEAM NEWS – Manchester City Women 5, Liverpool 1
Manchester City were unchanged from the side that beat Durham in the FA Cup last week.
City continued to be without the injured Alanna Kennedy while Julie Blakstad departed permanently to Hammarby IF.
Laura Coombs recently celebrated her 100th appearance for Manchester City Women in the Women’s Super League and was presented with a commemorative shirt pitch side before the game.
Liverpool were undefeated in 5 games in all competitions coming into this game.
GOALS – Manchester City Women 5, Liverpool 1
Man City Women 0, Liverpool 1: 16. Taylor Hinds broke the deadlock with a lob from outside the box to defeat Khiara Keating who was caught off her line.
Man City Women 1, Liverpool 1: 19. Esme Morgan’s low cross into the box was put past her own goalkeeper by ex-City defender Gemma Bonner.
Man City Women 2, Liverpool 1: 32. Khadija Shaw anticiptated a telegraphed pass out of defence by Teagan Micah and drilled it back through her legs to put City into the lead.
Man City Women 3, Liverpool 1: 45+7. Khadija Shaw rose highest to head home Chloe Kelly’s cross from the right which went in off the post.
Man City Women 4, Liverpool 1: 56. Khadija Shaw completed her hat trick after getting on the loose ball after Lauren Hemp’s shot was charged down. Her first effort was blocked by Gemma Bonner so the Jamaican striker finished it off with a cheeky back heel.
Man City Women 5, Liverpool 1: 78. Chloe Kelly smashed a penalty to the right side of the goal, sending Teagan Micah the wrong way after the Liverpool goalkeeper had brought Lauren Hemp down.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City Women 5, Liverpool 1
Man City Women: Keating, Casparij (Morgan 10), Aleixandri, Greenwood, Ouhabi, Hasegawa, Coombs (Angeldahl 60), Hemp, Roord, Kelly, Shaw (Fowler 60)
Man City Women subs not used: Roebuck, MacIver, Stokes, Houghton
Goals: Bonner og 19; Shaw 32, 45+7, 56; Kelly 78 pen
Liverpool Women: Micah, Clark (Matthews 46), Bonner, Fisk, Koivisto, Kearns (Lundgaard 73), Nagano, Hinds, Hobinger, Flint (van de Sanden 46), Haug (Lawley 79)
Liverpool Women Subs not used: Laws, Fahey, Enderby, Daniels, Parry
Booked: Micah 75 (bad foul on Lauren Hemp); Fisk 48 (bad foul on Lauren Hemp)
Goal: Hinds 16
Referee: Kirsty Dowle