Man City 5-1 Liverpool: Shaw hits third hat-trick in four WSL games

Khadija Shaw scored her third hat-trick in four Women’s Super League games as Manchester City extended their winning streak by thumping Liverpool 5-1 at Joie Stadium to return to second place in the table.

After Taylor Hinds’ impressive finish saw them fall behind on the quarter-hour mark, City were swiftly back on level terms via a Gemma Bonner own goal.

Shaw then, once again, took centre stage, putting the hosts ahead just past the half-hour, heading a second in first-half stoppage time and wrapping up her treble with a delightful backheel 11 minutes into the second half, before Chloe Kelly’s 78th-minute penalty completed City’s emphatic response.

Adding to her hat-tricks in November’s 7-0 thrashing of Tottenham and December’s 4-1 win at Everton, Shaw now has 12 WSL goals for the season overall in 10 appearances.

The Jamaica striker moved back to the top of the Golden Boot standings as City – victorious for a fifth successive league match, across which they have scored 21 times – leapfrogged Arsenal into second.

Gareth Taylor’s very much in-form side join the Gunners in sitting three points behind Chelsea, who beat Manchester United 3-1 earlier on Sunday, while Matt Beard’s Liverpool stay fifth.

After being forced into an early change with the injured Kerstin Casparij replaced by Esme Morgan, City were first to threaten as Kelly saw a 12th-minute shot well saved by Teagan Micah.

Liverpool then grabbed the lead when Khiara Keating came off her line to gather a lofted delivery, Alex Greenwood got there first with an attempted clearance and the ball went straight to Hinds, who sent a fine lob over the goalkeeper and in.

The advantage proved short-lived, the home side hitting back four minutes later as Morgan’s cross aiming for Shaw was turned into her own net at the near post by former City defender Bonner.

Taylor’s team then moved in front in the 32nd minute, taking advantage of Liverpool sloppiness with Micah’s attempted pass to Fuka Nagano intercepted by Shaw and the forward slotting home, leaving Beard looking decidedly frustrated.

Shaw almost had another within moments, sending the ball just over, before getting her second in the seventh minute of added time at the end of the half, meeting Kelly’s cross with a header that Micah got a hand to but could not prevent going in.

And after Kelly went close early in the second half, Shaw made sure she would claim another match ball, responding to Micah parrying her initial effort by following up with a cool flick into the net.

Keating subsequently made a save to deny Sophie Roman Haug before City’s fifth came when Micah came out to challenge Lauren Hemp, referee Kirsty Dowle pointed to the spot and Kelly converted.