Manchester City preserved their perfect start to the Women's Super League season, but they were made to work hard for it, eventually overcoming a spirited Liverpool side 4-2 thanks to a stoppage-time own goal and a second Lauren Hemp strike in the closing moments.
The reigning champions looked to be cruising when Hemp opened the scoring, guiding a low finish into the far corner after being set up by Carlotta Wamser inside the opening quarter of an hour. It was a significant moment for the England forward, marking her first club goal since the FA Cup in February and her first in the league since last November's Manchester derby.
Shortly after Hemp's opener, play paused briefly as supporters across the ground applauded in memory of former Liverpool manager Matt Beard, who died on 20 September 2025. The tribute, echoed in stadiums across the WSL and WSL2 this weekend, marked a year since his passing and honored a coach who led Liverpool to back-to-back league titles beginning in 2013.
Liverpool responded impressively, turning the game on its head before the half-hour mark. A miscommunication between Wamser and Alex Greenwood allowed Vivien Endemann to tee up Alice Bergström, who calmly finished past goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita to level the score. Liverpool then took the lead when Endemann, who had scored on her debut at Charlton, fired home after City failed to deal with a cross that Yamashita could only parry into the danger zone.
City hit back before the interval through Khadija Shaw, though not without drama. Shaw had earlier struck the post after rounding goalkeeper Khiara Keating, who was facing her former club following her summer move to Liverpool. Keating did well to initially block a Hemp shot, but the ball spilled loose for Shaw to tap in and restore parity at 2-2.
The second half saw Keating produce a smart reaction save to deny Shaw what looked a certain goal, keeping the score level as City increased the pressure. The introduction of Grace Clinton in the final quarter of an hour gave the hosts fresh attacking impetus, and it was her dangerous near-post delivery that ultimately proved decisive. Liverpool defender Grace Fisk, unable to deal with the cross, turned the ball into her own net in the 90th minute to hand City the lead.
With Liverpool pushing bodies forward in search of an equalizer during stoppage time, City exploited the space on the counterattack, and Hemp calmly slotted home her second of the night to make it 4-2 and put the result beyond doubt.
Despite the scoreline, Liverpool manager Gareth Taylor, facing his former club, took plenty of positives from his side's display.