MANCHESTER — Lauren Hemp scored twice to bookend a 4-2 victory for Manchester City over Liverpool at the Joie Stadium as the WSL champions maintained their perfect start to their title defence. The win extended City's 100 per cent record to start the season and kept their long home run alive in dramatic late fashion.
Hemp opened the scoring in the 13th minute, finishing a fine team move for her first goal since November, but Liverpool responded to lead by the 28th minute. A defensive mix-up allowed Alice Bergstrom to slot home in the 19th minute before Vivian Endermann, who assisted the equaliser, volleyed through Ayaka Yamashita's hands to make it 2-1. Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw levelled in first-half stoppage time at 45+2, poking home from close range after Khiara Keating spilled Hemp's initial shot for her fourth WSL goal of the season. Shaw had earlier hit the post in the 39th minute and saw another effort tipped over by Keating on the hour.
The game remained 2-2 until the 90th minute, when City's 13-match winning run at the Joie Stadium was in serious jeopardy. Reds captain Grace Fisk turned the ball into her own net as five minutes of added time were shown to put City 3-2 ahead, and Liverpool's push for an equaliser left space at the back. Hemp exploited it in the 90+5th minute, racing clear to slot past former team-mate Keating and seal the points.
The result sees Manchester City equal Chelsea's WSL record of 14 consecutive home wins, set between September 2019 and January 2021, and they can set a new mark with victory over Arsenal at home on Sunday, October 4. Shaw also made history with her equaliser, moving to 52 home goals in the WSL to overtake Bethany England for the most ever, and becoming the first Manchester City player to score in the opening three WSL matches of a season. City moved five points clear at the top ahead of the weekend's remaining games, while Liverpool stay third on four points.