Key occasions
61 min: Manchester Metropolis are subsequent to make a change as Coombs makes manner for Laura Blindkilde Brown.
60 min: Likelihood for the hosts as Holland receives the ball on the sting of the field. She makes an attempt to curve it into the top-right nook, however Keating will get throughout her line to make a superb save.
57 min: One other change for Liverpool – and one other attacking one. Mia Enderby is launched to interchange Kiernan.
The Eire worldwide had a number of glimpses at aim in the course of the first half however struggled to profit from them.
54 min: Lawley wins the ball from Casparij within the ultimate third earlier than making her method to the sting of the penalty space. She goes for aim however her effort is directed straight at Keating, who claims it with ease.
51 min: Fowler steps as much as take the nook and sends a cross in the direction of the again publish. Shaw is left free to move the ball into the top-left nook. Poor defending from Liverpool.
GOAL! Liverpool 0-4 Manchester Metropolis (Shaw, 50)
Shaw with the double!
49 min: Manchester Metropolis have appeared very snug in possession to date. Fowler appears to be like to play Casparij on the overlap, however the ball deflects out for a nook.
46 min: Matt Beard made three modifications on the break.
Missy Bo Kearns is on to make her one centesimal Liverpool appearances. She has changed Bonner.
Parry has made manner for Taylor Hinds, whereas Melissa Lawley is on for Höbinger.
Kick-off: Liverpool 0-3 Manchester Metropolis
We’re again underneath manner!
Whereas we look ahead to the second half, be sure to’re signed as much as The Guardian’s weekly girls’s soccer e-newsletter ‘Transferring the Goalposts’.
A have a look at THAT Shaw strike
In case you missed it, right here is Khadija Shaw’s gorgeous strike which put Metropolis 3-0 up.
It was a sluggish begin from Manchester Metropolis, however after quarter-hour they rapidly turned issues round to indicate precisely why they’re sturdy title contenders.
Three targets in fast succession put them on observe to go three factors clear on the high of the WSL desk. Gareth Taylor should be delighted.
Half-time: Liverpool 0-3 Manchester Metropolis
Manchester Metropolis have a commanding lead on the break following an excellent first-half show.
45+2 min: Big probability for Manchester Metropolis as Hemp makes an attempt an audacious lob within the field, forcing a stretched save from Legal guidelines on the road. There gave the impression to be a slight miscommunication between the goalkeeper and Bonner there, making the cease look barely awkward.
45 min: Greenwood finds Coombs with a go by way of the center as Metropolis look to interrupt ahead, however Liverpool are in a position to break down the assault with a problem within the ultimate third.
Three minutes have been added on.
42 min: Liverpool look to go on the assault once more as Höbinger splits the Manchester Metropolis defence with a go to Roman Haug, however Keating comes out to make the clearance.
40 min: Park loses possession in midfield and Roman Haug heads straight for aim. She unleashes a shot from distance which deflects behind for a nook, however nothing comes of the set piece.
37 min: It might be truthful to say that Manchester Metropolis are in cruise management proper now. After a shaky opening 10 minutes they’ve taken the reigns of this recreation and proven precisely why they’re title challengers.
34 min: Park is given loads of area to make a run straight by way of the center of the pitch. She sends a go to Hemp on the left, who loses possession within the field. Nonetheless, the clearance solely falls so far as Coombs. Liverpool finally get the ball away from the hazard zone – nearly.
32 min: Legal guidelines is nearly caught out within the field by Hemp, who closes her down and nearly wins the ball in a harmful space, however it deflects behind for a aim kick. An enormous sigh of aid comes from the goalkeeper.
30 min: One other probability for Manchester Metropolis as Park crosses the ball into the field. Kennedy goes for aim with a header however her effort flies over the crossbar.
28 min: Metropolis lose the ball in midfield following a quick lapse in focus and Kiernan is shipped by way of on aim. She shoots from the sting of the field however her effort flies large.
25 min: Legal guidelines makes an attempt to clear the ball, however it solely goes so far as Park and Coombs. The latter passes it to Shaw who takes it down earlier than unleashing an excellent strike from distance that flies into the top-right nook!
GOAL! Liverpool 0-3 Manchester Metropolis (Shaw, 24)
Shaw with an absolute stunner! What a strike!
23 min: Greenwood sends an excellent go over to Fowler on the fitting, who cuts inside and units the ball to Park. The midfielder goes for aim, firing her shot throughout Legal guidelines earlier than it rattles the publish and flies in.
GOAL! Liverpool 0-2 Manchester Metropolis (Park, 22)
Park makes it two!
19 min: As talked about earlier, Manchester Metropolis have been recognized to pop up and rating out of nowhere at instances this season – and it is a excellent instance.
Liverpool dominated the opening 10 minutes however only a few moments after the guests began to take again some management, Hemp was there break the impasse.
17 min: Shaw drops again to kick off the assault, switching the ball over to Fowler on the fitting. The winger crosses it into the field and Legal guidelines makes an attempt to parry it away, however Hemp is there to place it within the web.
GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Manchester Metropolis (Hemp, 16)
And similar to that, Metropolis take the lead!
13 min: Manchester Metropolis are beginning to develop in confidence now, with Liverpool dropping again.
11 min: Liverpool loved 65% possession within the opening 10 minutes. In the meantime, Manchester Metropolis have barely had a correct have a look at aim. The hosts have to profit from this dominant spell as Metropolis have been recognized to attain out of nowhere up to now.
9 min: Liverpool look to interrupt ahead once more as Kiernan appears to be like to play Roman Haug in excessive, however the latter is in an offside place.
This has been an excellent begin for the hosts.
6 min: Höbinger forces Keaing right into a save after her cross-cum-shot flies in the direction of the top-right nook. The Metropolis goalkeeper has no points in claiming the ball.
5 min: A really assured transfer from Legal guidelines as she turns Shaw whereas in possession on the sting of her six-yard field. Very dangerous, however definitely spectacular! I don’t assume she’ll be attempting that once more anytime quickly although!
3 min: Liverpool are inflicting some issues for Manchester Metropolis in these early phases. Höbinger is wanting very seemingly in midfield, stretching the Metropolis defence with some intelligent passes.
1 min: Liverpool win an early free kick in a threatening place following a foul on Kiernan. Höbinger sends the ball into the field however Keating comes off her line to punch it clear.
Kick-off
We’re underneath manner at Prenton Park!
Each groups observe a minute of silence to pay tribute to the 97 those that tragically died at Hillsborough in April 1989.
The groups are out! We’re only a few minutes away from kick-off. Don’t neglect, you possibly can e-mail in together with your ideas on the sport at any time. I’ll be with you all afternoon!
Elsewhere within the WSL this weekend:
Arsenal, Chelsea, Bristol and Tottenham usually are not in WSL motion this weekend as a result of Continental Cup ultimate, which takes place tomorrow.
Chloe Kelly is on the bench as soon as once more for Manchester Metropolis at present. She has not been named within the beginning line-up since March 7, with Mary Fowler taking her most popular spot on the fitting wing. Gareth Taylor addressed the state of affairs final week, saying: “It’s simply principally we’ve good gamers. We put Mary [Fowler] into the FA Cup recreation, she scores.
“She scores in opposition to Brighton. Mary’s an excellent participant. She began the primary eight or 9 video games this season for us. After all, the calls for are actually excessive of what we ask for, in sort of targets and assists from these gamers, with out it being all about that. However Mary has taken her alternative and now what Chloe has to do is figure exhausting daily in coaching to be prepared.”
What do you assume, Metropolis followers? Does Kelly should be beginning given her spectacular kind this season?
It’s the top of an period for Manchester Metropolis. Membership legend Steph Houghton has introduced that she’s going to retire from skilled soccer on the finish of the season. The 35-year-old, who has additionally performed for Sunderland, Leeds and Arsenal, introduced the information on social media earlier this week.
In a profession that has spanned 20 years she has received 16 home trophies and been capped 121 instances by England.
Manchester Metropolis have made only one change from final weekend’s derby day victory over Manchester United, with Laia Aleixandri stepping again into defence and changing Leila Ouahabi.
As for Liverpool, two academy stars have been named within the matchday squad for the primary time in Maddy Duffy and Mia Leath.
Group information
Liverpool beginning XI: Rachael Legal guidelines; Grace Fisk, Gemma Bonner, Jenna Clark; Emma Koivisto, Lucy Parry, Ceri Holland (C), Fuka Nagano, Marie Höbinger; Sophie Roman Haug, Leanne Kiernan. Substitutes: Teagan Micah, Missy Bo Kearns, Melissa Lawley, Taylor Hinds, Mia Enderby, Maddy Duffy, Mia Leath.
Manchester Metropolis beginning XI: Khiara Keating; Laia Aleixandri, Alex Greenwood (C), Alanna Kennedy, Kerstin Casparij; Laura Coombs, Yui Hasegawa, Jess Park; Mary Fowler, Khadija Shaw, Lauren Hemp. Substitutes: Sandy MacIver, Demi Stokes, Steph Houghton, Chloe Kelly, Filippa Angeldahl, Esme Morgan, Poppy Pritchard, Laura Blindkilde Brown, Ruby Mace.
Preamble
Howdy, good afternoon and welcome to protection of at present’s WSL conflict between Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis. Matt Beard’s aspect moved above Manchester United within the league desk final weekend for the primary time this season. Now, they hope to shut the eight-point hole on third-placed Arsenal. As for the guests, they are going to have the prospect to high the desk this afternoon.
With Chelsea in Continental Cup ultimate motion tomorrow, Gareth Taylor’s aspect can go three factors away from the reigning champions. Nonetheless, Liverpool have been recognized to trigger an upset on this league – might they do it once more at present?
Kick-off is at 12:30pm GMT – don’t miss it!