City women march on after win sends them back to top

IT was another super display from City Women.

The Blues extended their unbeaten season run to move back to the top of the WSL with a resounding 4-0 victory over Liverpool.

It was a special day for Steph Houghton – who was presented with a commemorative shirt to celebrate her recent landmark of 100 club appearances, however, Nikita Parris stole the show with a brace.

City took a bizarre lead within two minutes, as an attempted clearance hit Parris clean in the face and bounced past a helpless Becky Flaherty.

After a rather uninspiring first-half the defending champions stepped things up a gear after the break and were presented with the perfect chance to double their lead when Caroline Weir brought down Parris inside the box.

It was left to Izzy Christiansen to step home and smash home her eighth goal of the season to give City the breathing space they were craving.

Liverpool produced their best moment immediately after but Beth England saw her effort saved by Ellie Roebuck before Parris headed home her second and City’s third from Claire Emslie’s corner.

Abbie McManus added a fourth late on as her rebounded effort bounced off her knee and into the net.

Parris said: “It was always going to be a tough game and that’s why the early goal for us was such a positive because we knew Liverpool were going to sit deep and try and frustrate us.

“They sat on their 18-yard line and we had to break them down but we had that persistence to grind them down.

“We got a bit of luck and I’d be totally lying if I said I meant the first goal, but I’ll take any goal as it comes.

“This is definitely the best form I’ve been in since joining City and that’s credit to Nick and the coaching staff because they’re determined to keep pushing me.

“They’ve done that in ways I didn’t even know I could.”