Liverpool were narrowly beaten 2-1 as Aoba Fujino’s late winner at Anfield extended the Red’s pointless Women’s Super League campaign to five matches.
Second half goals from Iman Beney and Fujino cancelled out Cornelia Kapocs opener, prolonging the Red’s losing league run to a record seven consecutive league losses, which stretches back to the end of last season.
Gareth Taylor faced his former side for the first time since leaving last spring, but it would not be a happy reunion for the Reds manager.
The game started as most thought it would. Manchester City looked to dominate the ball from the get-go and break down the home side, but Liverpool remained patient and sat back, looking for the chance to counter.
Mia Enderby offered selfless runs but the lack of attacking support hindered any real chances for the Reds.
The Citizens ended the half strongly, forcing Rafaela Borggrafe into action. A slick pass down the left side of the box found winger, Fujino, who attempted to open up and play it across goal but saw her chance pushed out for a corner.
The game looked to continue in the same way but a quick transitioning attack in the 52nd minute led to a Ceri Holland cross from the right side of the box which made its way to the back stick for Kapocs to head home headed home neatly in front of the Kop.
Taylors’ side grew in confidence and seemed to surprise the visitors until a poor clearing save from Borggrafe fell to Beney, where she hit it into the roof of the empty net.
A game where both teams desperately wanted the points but for two very different reasons, looked to be heading to a draw.
However, a tidy sequence of passes in the 86th minute down the right side of the box led to Fujino, smashing a low strike pass the rooted keeper, sending Andree Jeglertz’s side back into second.
There was late drama as Gemma Bonner thought she had equalised in the dying moments of the match when Ayaka Yamashita spilled Holland’s free-kick, but the referee’s assistant waved the offside flag.
Liverpool have now failed to keep their lead in the only two WSL games they have scored in.
The Reds remain second from bottom in the WSL, ahead of their midweek trip to Durham in the FA Women’s League Cup, where they will be looking to put their poor league form aside.
