Shaw punishes Liverpool again as Manchester City record Anfield win | OneFootball

Khadija Shaw netted a brace as Manchester City came from behind to defeat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield this afternoon.

Olivia Smith opened the scoring for the hosts late in the first half before Shaw’s second half double secured maximum points for Manchester City.

Both sides tried to find pockets of space in the early stages of the contest. Liverpool forward Smith found herself played in on goal after nine minutes but she could only shoot at visiting keeper Ayaka Yamashita.

Gemma Bonner then headed over from a Marie Höbinger free-kick before Shaw and Lauren Hemp went close at the other end.

The deadlock was broken four minutes before half-time. Smith picked up the ball 20 yards from goal and her low effort beat Yamashita and nestled in the back of the Manchester City net.

Liverpool looked the more likely side to score again soon after the restart and Sophie Román Haug’s header from a corner kick went narrowly wide across goal.

Manchester City were struggling to trouble the Liverpool goal but they levelled matters in the 58th minute. Shaw headed in following a cross from the left; home keeper Rachael Laws was disappointed not to keep the ball out of the net.

The goal sparked The Cityzens into life and Hemp looped a shot over the bar before curling an effort narrowly wide of the far post. Mary Fowler then took aim on the turn but the ball flew narrowly wide of goal.

In the 83rd-minute, Manchester City had a great chance to win it. Shaw beat Laws but her floated shot across goal came back off the far post. Laia Aleixandri was then inches away from finding the back of the net during a chaotic moment in the Liverpool box.

The Cityzens finally found the winning goal in the second minute of stoppage time. Shaw thumped the ball home from close range as she claimed her seventh goal against Liverpool in just three league outings.

Liverpool are back in action next weekend when they play host to Crystal Palace while Manchester City’s attention now turns to a UEFA Women’s Champions League fixture away at St. Pölten in midweek.