Aoba Fujino scored late as Manchester City came from behind at Anfield to condemn hosts Liverpool to a club record seventh consecutive Women’s Super League defeat.
Fujino smashed in a low strike to send Andree Jeglertz’s side second in the table – and extend the Reds’ losing league run, which stretches back to the end of last season.
City trapped Liverpool inside their own third for much of the first half, but the hosts took a surprise lead in the 52nd minute when Cornelia Kapocs headed in a brilliant Ceri Holland cross.
City drew level 12 minutes later when Iman Beney smashed home the rebound after Rafaela Borggrafe palmed Khadija Shaw’s header into a dangerous area.
Jeglertz’s side had controlled the first half as Liverpool challenged them to find a way through, but lacked the cutting edge that brought them 15 goals in their opening five league games.
Vivianne Miedema pounced on a Jenna Clark mistake but saw her low strike blocked by Borggrafe, before seconds later mistiming an acrobatic effort when Shaw found her with a cross.
Kerstin Casparij and Fujino drew saves out of summer signing Borggrafe before the break, as City repeatedly found runners in the channels with balls over the top of Liverpool’s high defensive line.
Liverpool looked a different side from the restart – Mia Enderby sent a warning sign when her low cross deflect on to the post off Casparij.
A minute later Kapocs evaded City’s Dutch defender at the back post to head past Ayaka Yamashita in front of the Kop for her second league goal of the season.
Understandably City’s players cut frustrated figures – Miedema looked perplexed when she was substituted on the hour mark – but were soon given a helping hand by Borggrafe.
The German goalkeeper opted to palm away a wayward Shaw header instead of leaving it, giving Beney the chance to smash the loose ball into the roof of the net.
Just when a frustrating draw looked inevitable, Fujino smashed a low strike through Borgraffe to earn what City will feel is a deserved win.
Gemma Bonner thought she had equalised deep into injury-time when Ayaka Yamashita spilled Holland’s free-kick at her feet, but the offside flag denied the hosts.
Liverpool have lost all five of their WSL matches so far – having been beaten in their final two of last season – and sit second from bottom, while City are second with 15 points.