After an unbeaten start to their Women’s Super League season, Liverpool travel to the Joie Stadium to face defending champions Manchester City in what will be their stiffest challenge to date.
You have to go all the way back to 2023 to find a time when the Reds overcame the Cityzens, with the Merseyside outfit winning just two of their 15 encounters over the years.
There are promising signs though. After a lacklustre campaign last time out, Gareth Taylor’s side have looked vastly improved this season and already there is a sense of optimism around the team.
But with the likes of Bunny Shaw, Lauren Hemp and Beth Mead to contend with, maintaining the thus far untainted unbeaten streak in the WSL might be tough.
Manchester City vs Liverpool match info
• Date: Friday 18 September 2026
• • Kick-off times: 7:00pm (BST) and 2:00pm (ET)
• • Competition: Women’s Super League Matchday 3
• • Venue: Joie Stadium - Manchester
• • How to watch: Paramount+ (USA) & Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports + (UK)
How can I watch Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur?
The match is live on Paramount+ in the United States. In the UK and Ireland, viewers can watch this match on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+. You can stream it online via the NOW app or the Sky Go app with an active Sky Sports subscription
Other broadcasters around the world include Stan Sport in Australia, or if you are in a region without a local broadcast deal, the match is available to stream for free on the Official Barclays WSL YouTube Channel.
Recent Form
Manchester City (Home Side):
Andreé Jeglertz’s side are reigning champions for a reason, and they have shown that in their opening two WSL fixtures. With a six points out of a possible six, scoring seven goals in the process, Manchester City look imperious as ever.
In their first match against newly-to-the-division Birmingham City, the Cityzens overcame a first-half shut-out to win the game 3-1, while their second game against Aston Villa was a dominant 4-1 victory.
Talisman Bunny Shaw has been in fine form yet again to start the season. The Jamaican international already has three goals and one assist from two matches as she continues to terrorise defences. Reds centre-backs Grace Fisk and Jenna Clark will no doubt have to be on red alert if they are to keep her off the scoresheet.
Liverpool (Away Side): Gareth Taylor can consider his side unfortunate to not come away with all three points against Tottenham in their previous outing. After being pegged back by an ill-fated deflection off Sam Kerr from a Signe Gaupset cross to go a goal down, the Reds fought back superbly.
They maintained the lion’s share of possession and also carved out the majority of the chances. Half-time substitute Aurélie Csillag header got her side level on the hour mark but they were unable to find the crucial winning goal.
The reigning WSL champions promise to be a more dangerous opposition than Martin Ho’s side, but nevertheless, there were promising signs to say that the Reds can get a result away from home.
Before that the Reds turned out comfortable 4-0 victors in their opening fixture away to newly-promoted Charlton Athletic. Captain Fisk bagged herself a brace and there were also goals for summer signing Vivien Endemann and Cornelia Kapocs from the spot.
Team News
Manchester City team news: Jeglertz confirmed that there were no major losses or returnees from injury ahead of Friday’s match. Grace Clinton made her return against Aston Villa as she came on as a late substitute in place of Mary Fowler. She is expected to remain on the bench as her minutes continue to be managed.
Dutch superstar Vivianne Miedema is still recovering from the knee injury she sustained in pre-season and remains out for the foreseeable future.
Liverpool team news: Gareth Taylor has admitted that to there being ‘a few niggles’ in the camp from his side’s 1-1 draw with Spurs last weekend. However, it seems like no fresh injuries were picked up during the match. The team now enters a busy period with fixtures on Friday, Wednesday and next Sunday so it promises to be a testing time for an already thin squad.
In terms of absentees, Lucy Parry and Mari Ward are nearing their return, but will not feature on Friday. Sam Kerr is expected to feature at right-back once again despite her own goal last weekend.
Anna Josendal and Mao Itamura also continue to recover but are yet to return to full fitness.
Predicted Line-ups
• Manchester City predicted lineup: Yamashita, Casparij, Rose, Greenwood, Wamser, Hasegawa, Blinkilde, Fowler, Hemp, Mead, Shaw
• Liverpool predicted lineup: Keating; Kerr; Fisk; Clark; Bernabé; Nagano; Ramos; Endemann; Holland; Kapocs; Olsson.
What the managers have said:
Andreé Jeglertz (Manchester City): “There is a lot of teams [that can break into the traditional top four]. You can look at the list that have done good recruitment, coaches that have been there more than one year. Liverpool is definitely a team that is going to have a bright future, they are doing good things. They have all opportunities to be challenging all teams in the league. Yes for sure.”
Gareth Taylor (Liverpool): “I think it shows the levels that we have now taken our performances to at the start of this season. To still be unbeaten is important for us and I do think the players deserve a lot of credit for the passion, desire and quality they are showing.”
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