Manchester City’s WSL title ambitions were all but scuppered after a shock 2-1 loss to mid-table Liverpool on Sunday.
The Reds, invigorated by a close run-in with reigning champions Chelsea in midweek, dealt Gareth Taylor’s side a similarly early dose of pressure and saw their eager energy rewarded as Natasha Dowie exploited a lapse from Laura Coombs to open the scoring before Miss Bo Kearns cancelled out Lauren Hemp’s equaliser shortly after the interval.
Despite persistent attempts to mine an equaliser, with Hemp striking the underside of the crossbar late on, the efforts proved futile as Liverpool claimed all three points at Prenton Park and dealt City a second loss in their last four league matches.
The result leaves City six points adrift of Manchester United at the top of the WSL table at 50 points with just two fixtures remaining in the season. A clash against United next could potentially overturn their title fortunes if Taylor’s side can emerge victorious, but with a heady title race already in full swing and Chelsea and Arsenal touting games in hand, City will have to rely on favours elsewhere if they hope to keep their title hopes alive.
And Taylor admitted post-match that the off-colour performance from his side was nothing more than an aberration but refused to rule out City in the title run-in despite the ostensibly fatal blow.
“We were just off it a bit today,” he said. “It’s about holding your nerve. We know there’s only so many places for the Champions League.
“Nerves are understandable, but we could still have controlled the play a little better than we did today.
“We’re still not out of it yet, there could still be a bit of movement. We just have to go and win our last two games. It’s as simple as that.”
Taylor credited Liverpool with their resilient performance to secure a fifth home win in six WSL matches to shake off the threat of relegation, but City lacked a clinical edge against a frustratingly dogged defence.
Despite touting nearly 70% possession and rallying 17 shots at Faye Kirby's goal, including an early chipped effort that Coombs was unlucky not to see converted, City registered just three shots on target to Liverpool's four.
The bluntness was in contrast to that of City's performances of late, which has seen City unexpectedly embed themselves in the title race after a pallid start to the season.
Nevertheless, the shock loss to Liverpool delivered a major dent to the impressive momentum built. City’s inferior goal difference of 25 to United’s 42 makes any serious title bid hinge on improbable circumstances, but the battle for top three and Champions League football remains alive.
Chelsea and Arsenal both have two games in hand and sit on either side of City at 46 and 41 respectively, but the pair are set to face each other in the penultimate match of the season in what could prove fruitful for Taylor's side.
City return to WSL action in two weeks' time when they travel to United for the Manchester derby.
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