Manchester City ruthlessly dismantled Liverpool to move three points clear at the top of the Women’s Super League.
Lauren Hemp opened the scoring with the first of three goals in eight first-half minutes as City seized control.
Jess Park jinked past two defenders before finishing coolly for the second, and WSL top-scorer Khadija Shaw made it three with a sizzling 25-yard strike.
A Shaw header early in the second half sealed the win, but Khiara Keating’s own goal gave the hosts a late consolation.
Liverpool had started the game brightly at Prenton Park, keeping City penned inside their own half but without creating any chances of note.
Matt Beard’s Reds lacked a cutting edge around the box, but the clinical visitors scored from their first attack, with Hemp reacting quickest to find the bottom corner after Liverpool goalkeeper Rachael Laws had pushed out Park’s deflected shot.
Park doubled the lead when she collected Mary Fowler’s pass, beat a pair of defenders on the edge of the box, and fired a strike in off the far post.
Two minutes later, with Liverpool reeling, Shaw delivered the decisive blow. The Jamaica striker flicked the ball past Gemma Bonner and then sent a thunderous effort into the top corner from a distance.
Leanne Kiernan had the chance to get one back for the hosts soon after but shot wide with only Keating to beat.
Any glimmering hopes Liverpool had of mounting a comeback were ended six minutes after the break when Shaw rose highest at the back post to head into Fowler’s corner for her 19th league goal of the campaign.
While City remained in control, the home side still looked to attack with numbers when given the chance, and their efforts were rewarded when Taylor Hinds, making her return from injury off the bench, saw a fierce 30-yard shot hit the upright before going in off the unfortunate Keating’s back.
Victory ensures Gareth Taylor’s side go into the international break top of the table as second-placed Chelsea are not in WSL action this weekend, while Liverpool stay fourth.
