Manchester City kept themselves on the coattails of Arsenal and Manchester United in the race for the Champions League places, as they comprehensively dispatched a toothless Liverpool side at the Joie Stadium. Goals from Jill Roord and Gracie Prior, and a brace from the returning Bunny Shaw, saw the Cityzens run out comfortable 4-0 winners.
The Lineups
MCI: Yamashita; Prior, Aleixandri, Knaak, Ouahabi, Roord, Hasegawa, Miedema, Fujino, Shaw, Fowler
LIV: Micah; Fisk, Clark, Evans, Parry, Höbinger, Kerr, Holland, Hinds, Kiernan, Haug
The Action
Right from the off, Manchester City set out their stall on how they would target Liverpool’s back three. Aoba Fujino easily had the beating of Taylor Hinds and Gemma Evans on the right, able to send wicked deliveries into the Liverpool penalty at will. Only a mixture of poor control by Leila Ouahabi at the back post and scrambled defence by the Reds prevented Man City from opening their account sooner. Fujino came the closest to doing just that on 10 minutes, seeing her volley deflected onto the post by Hinds.
But whilst Manchester City were able to exert their usual dominance, their defence remains suspect. Oh, how Matt Beard must have wished he could have had the suspended Olivia Smith to call upon to exploit City’s fragile backline. Leanne Kiernan was instead given the responsibility of leading the front line, but when the key chances came, she could not take them. After Ayaka Yamashita’s clearance was intercepted, Kiernan burst into the box, but could only hit the side netting.
Shaw capitalises on Liverpool’s missed opportunities
Four minutes later, the chance of the match passed her by. Ceri Holland slipped a pass to her to give her a 1v1 opportunity. But rather than take the shot, she tried to round the keeper. Yamashita was able to get the faintest of paws to the ball, and Holland was only able to shoot straight at Rebecca Knaak on the goal line.
It was a costly miss. Just over 10 minutes later, Viv raced onto a ball in the left channel, before laying it back to Mary Fowler. Fowler found Shaw free and onside in the penalty area, and she reversed the ball past Teagan Micah to give Man City a deserved lead.
Just before halftime, it was 2-0. Again, it was Miedema on the left. Again, it was Fowler setting up the effort. Again, it was Shaw executing it to perfection, a brilliant first touch to control the ball, allowing it to bounce up and then volleying it into the net from close range.
Roord and Prior seal routine win
The second half saw little change in momentum. Fowler was the chief architect of Liverpool’s misery, and a brilliant switch of play from the Australian opened the door for Fujino to storm into the box. Despite Shaw desperately trying to offer her availability for a tap in to complete her hat-trick, Fujino went for shot across goal, but could only drag it wide. Liverpool were trying to find a route back into the fight, but their final third ineptitude was holding them back.
Holland’s hesitancy in the box saw another potential moment slip through their fingers. Whilst Liverpool toiled in attack, Manchester City’s front five were oozing with confidence. Vivianne Miedema almost gave City their vital third, only for Micah to deny her with a strong save at her near post. But it was in vain. Seconds later, Liverpool could only clear a cross to Roord on the edge of the box. The Dutch international saw her first effort blocked, but her second flew through the crowd and in off the post to make it 3-0.
The game might have been up for Liverpool, but Manchester weren’t finished yet. Fujino’s crosses from the right had kept Liverpool on the back foot all game, albeit without generating a goal. Eventually, that avenue of attack paid dividends, and in spectacular fashion. Having seen Fujino bombard the Liverpool defence all game, Prior opted to have a go herself. Her looping delivery caught Micah badly out of position and could only stretch out in vain as the ball sailed over her head and inside the far post.
Any goal for Liverpool now would only prove to be a mere consolation, but it didn’t stop them from trying. Substitute Cornelia Kapocs had two openings in as many minutes, but Yamashita remained equal to both efforts, determined to keep City’s clean sheet intact. Indeed, it was City who came closest to increasing the scoreline with a substitute of their own, Kerolin striking the post in added time. But 4-0 it remained, and whilst Man City may have ultimately ended the weekend in 4th place, this will provide a strong message to their top 3 rivals that they are still well in the hunt for European football next season.
The Halfway Line Player of the Match- Bunny Shaw
Shaw’s injury before Christmas holed Manchester City’s season below the waterline, just like last season. Now, back in the side after having suffered such disgusting racial abuse following the Arsenal game, Shaw showed everyone why she is currently the best striker in the WSL with two well taken goals. If Manchester City are to win anything this season, Shaw is critical to their hopes.
