Manchester City struck late to secure a 2-1 Women’s Super League victory over Liverpool and old boss Gareth Taylor.
Taylor was facing City for the first time since his departure in March, and with his new side desperate for points following a poor start to the season.
They looked like they might even manage all three when Cornelia Kapocs put them ahead at Anfield but Iman Beney equalised and Aoba Fujino netted the winner with four minutes left to make it five Women’s Super League victories in a row for City.
Liverpool thought they had equalised with the final kick of the game after Gemma Bonner followed up a free-kick from Ceri Holland that had been spilled by Ayaka Yamashita but the offside flag cut her celebrations short.
Rafaela Borggräfe was a busy woman in the Liverpool goal, with the German producing her first save in the 10th minute when she tipped a Vivianne Miedema shot over the bar before sticking out a foot to deny the same player.
Miedema was then set up by Khadija Shaw but fluffed her volley, while Kerstin Casparij shot straight at Borggrafe.
Liverpool were dealt a blow in the 26th minute when Marie Hobinger, who had heavy strapping on her right knee, hobbled off in tears after going down holding her left knee, with Kirsty Maclean coming on.
Borggrafe made two more saves late in the opening half, getting enough on a lofted shot from Fujino after she had been played in by Miedema and then keeping out Shaw’s effort.
Liverpool began to offer more in attack in the early stages of the second half and, after Mia Enderby had been denied by a combination of Yamashita and the post, Kapocs arrived at the back post to head in a wonderful cross from Holland.
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It was Liverpool’s first goal for close to seven hours and they set about trying to defend their lead.
But City levelled in the 64th minute, Borggrafe only able to push Shaw’s header into the path of the lively Beney, who smashed her shot into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
And in the 86th minute substitute Sydney Lohmann played in Fujino, whose shot went through the legs of Borggrafe.
