Match reportLiverpool FC Women beaten by Manchester City in WSL

The visitors took the points at Prenton Park as strikes by Lauren Hemp and Jess Park were followed with a double from Khadija Shaw, the City forward netting in either half.

Liverpool’s late goal came as a consolation; substitute Taylor Hinds’ long-range effort found the back of the net via the crossbar and goalkeeper Khiara Keating.

The Reds started the afternoon on the front foot and dominated much of the early play against their title-chasing visitors.

Marie Höbinger’s inswinging free-kick was beaten away by stopper Keating, while Liverpool were pressing their opponents high to narrow the open space.

Despite their strong beginning, chances were difficult to come by and it was actually the away team who opened the scoring against the run of play in minute 16.

Rachael Laws halted a deflected effort from Park but Hemp was on hand to gather and calmly slot home into the bottom corner of the net from inside the area.

Six minutes later, the visitors doubled their lead and it was Park this time succeeding with a low drive via the inside of the post after a clever run.

City then added a third shortly after the restart to really take control of proceedings, with Shaw producing a finish from distance as she found the top corner of the net from around 25 yards.

Ahead of the half-time break, Liverpool forced a response following the eight-minute goal spell, with Höbinger first driving a shot wide of the mark, while Leanne Kiernan was unable to work an effort on goal having broken through the City back line.

PHOTOS

By Nick Taylor

Matt Beard responded by making a triple substitution at the interval, with Melissa Lawley introduced alongside the returning Hinds and Missy Bo Kearns, with the latter bringing up her 100th appearance for the club.

Five minutes after the break, however, City added a fourth to the scoreline from a corner ball with Shaw grabbing her second of the afternoon, converting a Mary Fowler delivery with a close-range header.

Liverpool continued to push forward with Mia Enderby also introduced from the bench, as Ceri Holland saw a curling shot from outside the box well saved.

Fuka Nagano also tried her luck from distance as the Reds searched to get on the scoresheet, while Enderby’s driving run at the City defence resulted in a low shot being saved again.

With a little more than 10 minutes to go, Shaw thought she had bagged her hat-trick as the visitors turned over the ball in the final third, but she was denied by a raised offside flag.

And in the final few minutes, Liverpool did finally grab a goal that their play warranted in the last meaningful action of the afternoon, with Hinds striking a brilliant shot onto the woodwork from outside the area and the ball rebounding into the net via the diving Keating.

TEAM

Liverpool: Laws, Koivisto, Fisk, Bonner (Lawley, 46), Clark, Parry (Hinds, 46), Nagano, Holland (Leath, 90), Höbinger (Kearns, 46), Kiernan (Enderby, 58), Roman H.

Unused substitutes: Micah, Duffy.

NEXT UP

The Reds will return to match action on April 20 following the upcoming international break.

Liverpool make the trip to Bristol City in the Barclays Women’s Super League for a 12.30pm BST kick-off at Ashton Gate.