Match report
Mary Fowler made WSL history as Manchester City cruised to a 4-0 win over Liverpool at the Joie Stadium. The in-form winger assisted both of Khadija Shaw’s first-half goals to become the first player to record at least two goal involvements in four successive league games.
City dominated the match from the off but did not break the deadlock until the half-hour mark. Having been played onside by Jenna Clark when receiving a clever pass from Fowler, Shaw took the ball out of her feet with a quick touch before slotting into the bottom-right corner. That effort was followed by another brilliant touch and finish from the striker just before half-time.
Things could have been very different at the break had Ceri Holland converted her one-on-one shot in the 18th minute, but instead the midfielder fired her effort directly at Rebecca Knaak.
The hosts continued their dominance in the second half and came close immediately after the restart through Aoba Fujino. But the match was quickly put to bed following a post-and-in effort from Jill Roord. Things went from bad to worse for Liverpool when Gracie Prior netted her first WSL goal on her first league start with a bizarre cross-cum-shot which nestled perfectly in the top-left corner.
Gareth Taylor, the Manchester City manager, was thrilled with his team’s performance. “It was good, I think the girls delivered the game plan really well,” he said. “We knew Liverpool would be aggressive and they had some moments, probably more than we would like, but I think sometimes you’re going to do that. I thought the way we were getting players forward into the box early on was really good.”
Meanwhile, Matt Beard, the Liverpool manager, admitted he made mistakes. “In the first-half I did get it wrong, we needed to adapt things quicker but I felt tonight we had so many chances to score. It could’ve been 6-4 to be honest with you, we were too passive in the first half and we were too slow to get in positions to play and we were too transitional. We were worried about turning the ball over and getting countered on. The second half we did that a little bit better. It’s a frustrating night for us.”
That’s all from me! I’ll leave you with a list of today’s WSL results. Have a great week!
Manchester United 3-1 Crystal Palace
Arsenal 5-0 Tottenham
Chelsea 2-1 Everton
Leicester 3-0 Aston Villa
West Ham 3-1 Brighton
Manchester City 4-0 Liverpool
Liverpool manager Matt Beard tells Sky Sports: “I think [goals] three and four were a little bit fortuitous for Man City. We blocked the first shots and it fell to her [Roord] and she’s had a good strike and the fourth one is a mis-hit cross.
“In the first-half I did get it wrong, we needed to adapt things quicker but I felt tonight we had so many chances to score. It could’ve been 6-4 to be honest with you, we were too passive in the first-half and we were too slow to get in positions to play and we were too transitional.
“We were worried about turning the ball over and getting countered on. The second half we did that a little bit better. It’s a frustrating night for us.
“I think we created a lot of opportunities tonight and against a top side if you don’t take them... [you get punished]. In the first half the difference was Bunny Shaw, she had two opportunities, two goals. From that side it’s frustrating.
“It’s not been a disastrous start since the turn of the year so we’ve just got to keep our heads up and keep going.”
Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor tells Sky Sports: “It was good, I think the girls delivered the game plan really well. We knew Liverpool would be aggressive and they had some moments, probably more than we would like, but I think sometimes you’re going to do that. I thought the way we were getting players forward into the box early on was really good.”
Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw tells Sky Sports: “Definitely good to get back on the scoresheet after a difficult couple of days. The team did well and I’m happy to keep scoring.
“I think for me it’s just knowing where the goal is and even on the second one I just told myself I’m just going to turn and put my foot through it. Me and Mary [Fowler] have been working, working, working to get that connection. When she came into the team, we spoke about it, she’s playing wide so when she cuts in I just have to be ready because I know she will try to find me.
“[Fowler] has been fantastic. I think you see the way she plays, she has the confidence. She’s a young player but she plays with a lot of experience. I try to keep encouraging her and she’s just doing the bits she can at the top of the pitch and it’s working at the moment.
“I approach every game the same, try to help the team, I’m the focal point, so I just try to work as hard as I can and I know when the ball goes wide I have to be ready because they’re going to put it in. Two goals for me tonight and we keep going.”
By assisting two goals this evening, Mary Fowler became a WSL record-breaker. The Manchester City winger has become the first player in the league’s history to be directly involved in two or more goals in four consecutive appearances.
Full-time: Manchester City 4-0 Liverpool
Manchester City get back to winning ways in the WSL in emphatic style!
90+4 min: Höbinger steps up to take the free kick and sends a great cross into the box. Kapocs gets on the end of it in front of goal but directs her header wide!
90+3 min: Enderby draws a foul from Park in a dangerous position for Liverpool…
90+1 min: Six minutes have been added on…
90 min: Park splits the Liverpool defence with a perfectly-weighted pass through to Kerolin, who makes her way into the box before going for goal, but Micah gets a fingertip to it and deflects the shot onto the post!
89 min: Park picks up the ball on the left and sends a powerful cross into the box. Kerolin is there and goes for the header, but her attempt on goal flies over the bar.
87 min: Kapocs receives the ball on the left and makes her way into the box before cutting inside and going for the shot, directing her effort towards the bottom-right corner. Yamashita does well to get down and make the save.
85 min: Liverpool have a corner. The ball is crossed straight into the box, but Yamashita punches it away unchallenged.
81 min: It’s a triple change for City as Aemu Oyama replaces Hasegawa, Fowler makes way for Kerolin and Lily Murphy replaces Fujino.
79 min: Holland receives the first yellow card of the match after clattering into the back of Hasegawa.
She is then quickly substituted for Zara Shaw. Meanwhile, Parry makes way for Gemma Bonner.
78 min: What a moment for Prior! The full-back receives a pass from Roord just outside the box on the right and looks as though she is going for the cross, but the ball ends up in the back of the net!
Question is – did she mean it?
GOAL! Manchester City 4-0 Liverpool (Prior, 77)
Prior scores her first WSL on her first WSL start!
74 min: Another change for Liverpool as Cornelia Kapocs replaces Evans.
73 min: There is a break in play as Micah receives treatment from the physios. Gareth Taylor takes the opportunity to make another substitution as Miedema is replaced by Laura Blindkilde Brown.
71 min: Liverpool look to break forward as Hinds makes a run into the box. She goes for a low-driven shot, but her effort is saved by Yamashita.
70 min: Park plays the ball to Ouahabi on the outside left, who sends a cross into the box. Roord goes for goal with a header, but her effort flies over the crossbar.
67 min: Park appears to be playing on the left at the moment, with Fowler moving inside to the CF role. Miedema remains in midfield for the time being.
64 min: Matt Beard makes a double change now as Fũka Nagano replaces Kerr and Kiernan makes way for Mia Enderby.
62 min: City make the first change of the match following that goal as Shaw is replaced by Jess Park.
61 min: Fowler sends a cross deep into the box and Fisk attempts to head it clear, but the ball falls straight to the feet of Roord. The midfielder’s first shot is blocked but she gets another chance and rifles it into the bottom-right corner off the post!
GOAL! Manchester City 3-0 Liverpool (Roord, 60)
Roord gets City’s third! That could be game over…
Updated
58 min: Huge save from Micah! Fujino picks up the ball in the middle before playing it out to Miedema on the left. The attacking midfielder moves into the box before unleashing a powerful shot, but Micah makes a great save to keep the effort out.
55 min: Knaak plays a great diagonal ball over to Shaw in attack. The striker does well to control it with her first touch and looks to break away, but the offside flag is up.
53 min: Liverpool are pressing high as they look for an equaliser in the early stages of this second half. Manchester City have been caught out a few times in defence so far but the visitors are yet to take full advantage.
50 min: Liverpool look to break forward through Holland. The striker approaches the edge of the box but Aleixandri is there to make the tackle.
47 min: An early opportunity for Manchester City as Fowler sends a fantastic diagonal ball across to Fujino on the right. The winger brings it down before making a run into the box and going for goal, but her effort runs just past the post.
46 min: No changes were made at the break. Both managers are sticking with their initial line-ups as we head into the second half.
Kick-off: Manchester City 2-0 Liverpool
We’re back under way at the Joie Stadium!
If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to Moving the Goalposts while we wait for the second half. Our weekly women’s football newsletter brings you the latest updates from the game as well as some exclusive stories.
Manchester City dominated that first half, but Liverpool had their chances too. Holland arguably should’ve fired the visitors ahead in the 18th minute, but her effort was directed straight at Knaak. Matt Beard’s side then found themselves behind just over 10 minutes later. What could have been…
Half-time: Manchester City 2-0 Liverpool
Shaw’s brace sees Manchester City take a commanding lead at the Joie Stadium.
Updated
45 min: Just the one minute added on…
44 min: Miedema receives the ball from Ouahabi in midfield before playing it through to Fowler, who makes a run into the box. The winger then crosses it into Shaw, who brings the ball down with an exceptional touch before smashing her shot past Micah and into the net.
GOAL! Manchester City 2-0 Liverpool (Shaw, 43)
Shaw strikes again for the hosts!
Updated
41 min: Fowler does well to skip past two Liverpool players before passing to Miedema in midfield, who finds Fujino on the right. The winger looks to play a cross into the box but it is intercepted by Fisk.
38 min: Liverpool haven’t posed much of a threat at all in the last 10 minutes or so. They need to find a spark somewhere if they want to stay in this game.
35 min: That goal seems to have kicked Gareth Taylor’s side into another gear! They are throwing it all at their opponents now.
32 min: Another chance for Manchester City as a cross finds Miedema in the box, but the attacking midfielder’s looping header lands on top of the net.
31 min: Fowler receives the ball around 25 yards out from goal and plays a short pass through to Shaw in the box, who takes a quick touch before passing her shot into the bottom-right corner. Liverpool initially think she is offside, but Clark plays her on.
GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Liverpool (Shaw, 30)
Shaw breaks the deadlock on her first start in two months!
Updated
28 min: Great chance for City as Roord plays the ball out wide to Fujino on the right. The winger sends a cross deep into the box looking for Shaw, but Clark gets in front to deflect it behind for a corner. Nothing comes of the set piece.
27 min: Manchester City have enjoyed a whopping 73% possession so far as opposed to Liverpool’s 27% – but they are yet to do much with it…
25 min: City’s time in possession eventually comes to an end as Fowler is flagged offside. Liverpool free kick.
22 min: The intensity has seemingly dropped in recent minutes with neither team really having a look-in at goal. City still happy to keep possession.
20 min: That chance from Liverpool was arguably the best of the match so far. Brilliant defensive work from Knaak to keep the score level.
18 min: Huge chance for Liverpool as the ball is played over to Holland, who passes forward to Kiernan in the box. The striker looks to play around Yamashita but goes to ground following contact. The ball then falls to Holland again around 10 yards out from goal. She goes for the shot, but Knaak blocks just in front of the goalline!
15 min: First chance for Liverpool as Höbinger intercepts an attempted clearance before playing the ball forward to Kiernan. The forward goes for goal but rattles the side netting.
14 min: Another chance for City as Miedema breaks forward before setting the ball to Shaw, who goes for goal but her effort is saved by Micah.
13 min: It’s been a very quiet match for Yamashita in the Manchester City goal so far. The keeper has barely had a touch of the ball.
10 min: Chance for City – the first chance of the game! Ouahabi sends a cross deep into the box and finds Fujino at the far post. The winger goes for goal and her effort takes a slight deflection off Hinds before hitting the inside of the post!
9 min: Manchester City have been fairly happy to just keep possession in these opening stages. We’re yet to see an attempt on goal.
6 min: Höbinger attempts to apply pressure on Miedema in midfield but gives away a foul. City take it quickly and look to counter, but the attacking threat eventually fizzles out.
4 min: We’re four minutes into this match and Liverpool are yet to have a proper grasp of the ball. Manchester City have been quite happy just playing it among themselves.
3 min: The ball is sent over to Fujino on the right, who drills a cross into the box but Liverpool can make the clearance.
2 min: City look to break early as Shaw wins the ball in the middle before attempting to play it to Fujino, but her pass is intercepted.
Kick-off
We’re under way at the Joie Stadium! Manchester City kick off proceedings.
The teams are out! Kick-off is just a few moments away!
Discussing today’s game during his pre-match press conference, Liverpool manager Matt Beard said: “We don’t fear anyone. We will do as much as we can to get the three points because we want to continue the run we are on. We are five points off fifth place. I think that top four have broken away so right now our ambition is getting fifth or sixth spot, but if we go on a run like we did last year then we give ourselves a good chance of doing that.”
We might be at the Joie Stadium today but across the city, Manchester United fans have urged co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to put more effort into the women’s team…
Arsenal stunned local rivals Tottenham 5-0 in the WSL earlier today thanks to goals from Alessia Russo, Mariona Caldentey, Frida Maanum and Emily Fox. Chloe Kelly also received a huge ovation when she stepped onto the Emirates Stadium pitch for her second Arsenal debut.
You can recap the action with Suzanne Wrack’s match report here:
Elsewhere in the WSL today
Manchester United 3-1 Crystal Palace
Arsenal 5-0 Tottenham
Chelsea 2-1 Everton
Leicester 3-0 Aston Villa
West Ham 3-1 Brighton
Lauren James grabbed a stoppage-time winner as Chelsea battled from a goal down to beat Everton 2-1 at Kingsmeadow and maintain their seven-point lead at the top of the Women's Super League.
The visitors threatened to cause an upset when Kelly Gago burst down the left wing in the 51st minute and unleashed a fine effort into the top corner against the run of play. Sonia Bompastor's side rallied with Mayra Ramírez equalising just after the hour mark in what was the leaders' first real chance of note.
The visitors looked good value for a point until the third minute of added time when James [pictured] unleashed a long-range effort with her left foot that clipped the post and found the back of the net to break Everton hearts.
West Ham moved clear of the relegation battle with an impressive 3-1 home win over fifth-placed Brighton. Shekiera Martínez opened the scoring for the hosts from close range in the 11th minute, but Nikita Parris quickly hit back for Brighton, sweeping home Rachel McLauchlan's low cross.
Rehanne Skinner's side emerged stronger after the restart and Riko Ueki restored their lead after 64 minutes, with Viviane Asseyi scoring a penalty four minutes later after being brought down by McLauchlan as West Ham climbed to eighth.
Leicester eased to a 3-0 win over Aston Villa to leapfrog their opponents, who slip back down to 11th in the table. The Leicester captain, Janice Cayman, opened the scoring after 29 minutes and smashed in a superb volley just after half-time, with Julie Thibaud bundling home on 50 minutes to seal victory. PA Media
Updated
Discussing Shaw’s involvement, City manager Gareth Taylor said: “The conversations we’ve had with her, you never want anyone to go through that scenario she’s been through. Our job was to help and support her as much as we could, that’s the team as being teammates, staff and club, it’s really important. Hopefully she’s felt that and feels back in a really good place where we’re the ones who are really important for her and will help her in this period. She’s feeling a lot better for having this free week to get ready, because everything happened so quickly with us travelling down to London to play Arsenal, it was a critical time and not much time for us to make those opportunities to have those in-depth conversations and understand how she feels.”
Updated
Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw makes her first start since early December this evening. The 28-year-old spent over a month on the sidelines due to injury before returning to action last month. She then withdrew from City’s League Cup match against Arsenal on February 6 after receiving horrific racist and misogynistic abuse just days prior. She scored her first goal in two months against Leicester in the FA Cup last weekend after coming off the bench, but now she is back in the starting line-up.
Team news
Manchester City starting XI: Ayaka Yamashita; Leila Ouahabi, Laia Aleixandri, Rebecca Knaak, Gracie Prior; Jill Roord, Yui Hasegawa; Vivianne Miedema, Aoba Fujino, Mary Fowler, Khadija Shaw. Substitutes: Khiara Keating, Naomi Layzell, Laura Wienroither, Kerolin, Jess Park, Laura Blindkilde Brown, Aemu Oyama, Lily Murphy, Mayzee Davies.
Liverpool starting XI: Teagan Micah; Jenna Clark, Grace Fisk, Gemma Evans; Lucy Parry, Taylor Hinds; Sam Kerr, Ceri Holland, Marie Höbinger; Leanne Kiernan, Sophie Román Haug. Substitutes: Rachael Laws, Cornelia Kapocs, Fūka Nagano, Mia Enderby,
Yana Daniëls, Gemma Bonner, Alejandra Bernabé, Zara Shaw.
Updated
Preamble
Hello, good evening and welcome to coverage of Manchester City vs Liverpool in the Women’s Super League. These two teams last went head-to-head in October, when Gareth Taylor’s side took all three points courtesy of a late Khadija Shaw winner. Back then, City were widely considered title challengers. However, fast-forward four months and they are now battling for a place in the top three.
Liverpool, on the other hand, have struggled this season. Last term they beat Manchester United to fourth in the table, making them ‘best of the rest’ in the WSL. But this campaign things just haven’t been going their way. Both teams will be desperate for three points this evening, especially now we are approaching the back-end of the season.
Kick-off is at 6:45pm GMT - join me!
