Lauren Hemp double sinks Liverpool as City survive late scare

Manchester City kept their winning start to the Women's Super League season intact with a 4-2 victory over Liverpool, though the defending champions were made to work hard for it in an entertaining contest at the end of which Lauren Hemp scored twice.

The game was level at 2-2 heading into the closing stages before Grace Fisk turned Grace Clinton's dangerous low cross into her own net in the 90th minute, nudging City back in front and easing the pressure that Liverpool had built.

With the scoreline still delicately poised, Liverpool pushed players forward in search of an equaliser deep into stoppage time. That left them exposed at the other end, and City punished the gaps on the counterattack as Hemp added her second of the night to make it 4-2 and put the result beyond doubt.

The final margin of victory, according to Guardian Sport, rather flattered the champions given how competitive the match had been for long periods. Liverpool were described as an ever-improving side, and their performance will have offered plenty for their manager to build on despite the defeat.

Gareth Taylor took charge of Liverpool against the club he used to manage, and the outcome will not have disguised the promise in what he saw from his players. City, the reigning champions, were made to dig deep by a Liverpool side unwilling to sit back and absorb pressure.

Hemp's brace continues a productive start to the campaign for City, whose position at the top of the table remains unaffected by a night in which the scoreline briefly looked far less comfortable than the final whistle suggested.

City's unbeaten start to the season stands as the headline outcome, but the manner of victory - an own goal settling matters with the game still finely balanced, followed by a stoppage-time breakaway - underlines how far Liverpool pushed the champions before eventually falling short.