Manchester City maintained their perfect start to the Women’s Super League season with a dramatic 4-2 victory over Liverpool, scoring twice from the 90th minute onwards after Gareth Taylor’s side had pushed the champions all the way at the Joie Stadium.
Lauren Hemp gave City an early lead before Alice Bergström and Vivien Endemann turned the match around for Liverpool. Khadija Shaw equalised in first-half stoppage time, but Liverpool continued to frustrate City after the break until Grace Fisk’s unfortunate own goal in the 90th minute finally broke their resistance.
Hemp then punished another Liverpool mistake in stoppage time to complete her brace and secure City’s third victory from three WSL matches. Read our Manchester City vs Liverpool Women match report here.
Match information
Result: Manchester City 4-2 Liverpool
Competition: Women’s Super League
Date: Friday, 18 September 2026
Venue: Joie Stadium
Goals: Hemp 13′, Bergström 19′, Endemann 29′, Shaw 45+2′, Fisk 90′ (OG), Hemp 90+5′
Player of the Match: Lauren Hemp
Liverpool’s press causes City problems
Iman Beney’s evening started painfully when she suffered a cut to her head in an aerial challenge inside the opening 15 seconds. City briefly continued with ten players, yet immediately threatened when Hemp stole possession from Jenna Clark and forced goalkeeper Rachael Keating to tip her effort over the crossbar.
Beney returned with a large bandage around her head, but Liverpool were causing problems of their own.
City eventually broke through in the 13th minute. Alex Greenwood stepped into midfield before the move progressed to Carlotta Wamser, whose excellent pass found Hemp free inside the area. The winger calmly finished into the far corner for her first WSL goal of the season.
The Joie Stadium then remembered former Liverpool manager Matt Beard, one year after his passing. Liverpool responded quickly on the pitch.
Their aggressive high press forced City into mistakes and Endemann capitalised before finding Bergström, who finished beyond Ayaka Yamashita for 1-1 after 19 minutes. Ten minutes later, Liverpool led.
City again lost possession and Bergström attacked down the right before delivering into the area. Jade Rose’s clearance fell to Endemann, who turned and scored from close range.
Shaw brings City level
City’s defence looked uncomfortable against Liverpool’s pressure, but the hosts remained dangerous going forward.
Shaw came close to equalising after breaking through the defence. Keating raced from her goal but stopped short of committing to a challenge, forcing Shaw wide enough that her eventual effort struck the post. The equaliser finally arrived two minutes into first-half stoppage time.
Shaw helped start the attack before City worked the ball through Beth Mead and Wamser to Hemp. Keating blocked Hemp’s effort, but the ball bounced awkwardly towards the goal line and Shaw got there alongside Fisk to turn it home. It was 2-2 at the break after a breathless opening 45 minutes.
Keating frustrates Manchester City
Liverpool started the second half brightly, with Endemann continuing to cause Beney problems, while Clark did an impressive job containing Shaw for long periods. When City did find their striker, Keating was excellent.
Yui Hasegawa released Hemp down the right and her cross found Shaw, whose close-range effort was kept out by a superb reaction save. Keating then tipped away a long-range Hasegawa attempt as City’s pressure increased.
Andrée Jeglertz made three changes in the 62nd minute, introducing Aoba Fujino, Kerstin Casparij and Sam Coffey for Mary Fowler, Beney and Laura Blindkilde Brown.
The substitutions added pace to City’s game. Liverpool could no longer maintain their earlier press with the same intensity and gradually dropped deeper. Grace Clinton replaced Mead in the 76th minute as City continued searching for the winner.
Late heartbreak for Liverpool
Liverpool looked increasingly likely to leave Manchester with a point as the clock approached 90 minutes. Then came the breakthrough. Clinton delivered another cross towards the Liverpool goal and Fisk, attempting to deal with the danger, inadvertently turned the ball into her own net.
After an excellent performance from the visitors, it was a cruel way to fall behind. Liverpool were given four minutes of additional time and Taylor made three late substitutions, introducing Marie Höbinger, Sophie Roman Haug and Smilla Agrez.
But another mistake ended any hope of an equaliser. Bergström was unable to control the ball and Hemp immediately took possession. The England international raced towards Keating, remained composed and finished in the 95th minute to make it 4-2. Keating still had time to deny Shaw once more before the final whistle.
The final scoreline was harsh on Liverpool, whose high press exposed genuine weaknesses in City’s defence and had the champions heading towards their first dropped points of the season.
City ultimately found a way through, though, with Hemp’s two goals earning her Player of the Match and maintaining their 100 per cent start.
Manchester City vs Liverpool Women match report
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