Manchester City Women claimed a 4-2 victory over Liverpool in a tightly contested WSL match that featured emotional moments and strong performances from both sides.
The game began with Manchester City taking the lead through Lauren Hemp in the 13th minute. Hemp won possession and later finished a move created by Carlotta Wamser to put the home side ahead. The goal came on Hemp's 200th WSL appearance.
Liverpool responded quickly. Alice Bergström equalized in the 19th minute before Vivien Endemann scored in the 29th minute to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. Liverpool had gone from trailing to leading in about 10 minutes.
Manchester City managed to level the score just before halftime, with Khadija Shaw scoring after a mistake by Liverpool goalkeeper Khiara Keating. Shaw bundled the ball in from close range in the second minute of first-half stoppage time. The teams went into the break tied 2-2.
Liverpool goalkeeper Keating made a key save in the second half, stopping a dangerous effort from Shaw. Manchester City continued pushing for a winner as the match moved toward its final minutes.
The home side began to gain momentum as the match progressed, with fresh energy brought in by Grace Clinton. Clinton’s low cross in the 90th minute proved too difficult for Liverpool defender Grace Fisk to handle, and the ball accidentally went into the net, giving City a 3-2 lead. Fisk had stretched out a foot in an attempt to prevent Shaw from reaching the cross.
With time running out, Liverpool continued pressing forward in search of an equalizer, but Manchester City held strong and added another goal on the counterattack.
The final goal came from Hemp in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Liverpool had committed players forward when City broke quickly. Hemp raced toward goal and beat Keating one-on-one to complete the 4-2 victory.
Hemp's first goal of the match was her first WSL goal since November. Her two goals helped City preserve their perfect start to the new league season. City have now won all three of their opening WSL matches.
The victory also extended Manchester City's home winning streak in the WSL to 14 matches. That equaled Chelsea's league record for consecutive home victories set between September 2019 and January 2021.
Despite the loss, Liverpool caused City problems throughout the match. The visitors arrived at Joie Stadium unbeaten this season and were ahead for much of the first half. Manager Gareth Taylor said afterward that he was encouraged by his team's performance despite the result.
The match was also notable for honoring former Liverpool manager Matt Beard, who passed away in September 2025. Supporters across the WSL and WSL 2 were invited to applaud during the 13th minute of games this weekend in memory of Beard. The 13th minute was chosen because Beard led Liverpool to the WSL title and was named the league's Manager of the Year in 2013.
Beard managed Liverpool Women from 2012 to 2015 and again from 2021 to 2025. He led the club to consecutive WSL championships in 2013 and 2014 and later guided Liverpool back to the top division by winning the Women's Championship in 2022. He was inducted posthumously into the WSL Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Manchester City’s performance reflected their strong team spirit and ability to find ways to win, a message that has become central to their identity under manager Andrée Jeglertz. Jeglertz has repeatedly spoken about developing a winning mentality and finding different ways to win matches even when his side is not at its best.
The result showcased the competitive nature of the WSL, with both teams giving everything they had in a match that kept fans on edge until the final whistle. City remained at the top of the table with a perfect record after three games.