Liverpool Women 1-4 Man City Women: Gareth Taylor's side go three points clear of Chelsea at top of WSL

Manchester City moved three points clear of Chelsea at the top of the Women's Super League table with a 4-1 victory at Liverpool.

Liverpool boss Matt Beard called for his side to be aggressive against City and his players responded. The hosts made an extremely bright start, dominating possession and asking plenty of questions of City's defence.

However, the visitors held firm and all Liverpool's good early work was undone when Rachael Laws pushed Jess Park's shot back into the path of Lauren hemp, who showed great composure to finish into the bottom corner.

City hardly had a kick in the first 15 minutes of the game but they doubled their advantage in the 22nd minute when Park danced her way through the Liverpool defence before firing in off the post to leave Laws with no chance.

It got worse for the hosts just two minutes later when Khadija Shaw skipped past Gemma Bonner before smashing the ball past a helpless Laws and into the top corner to put City out of sight heading into the break.

With the battle for the title between City and Chelsea so close, goal difference could prove crucial. City's three first half goals gave them a better goal difference than Chelsea and Gareth Taylor's side would have been eyeing further improvement after the break.

Liverpool made a triple change at the interval with Melissa Lawley, Taylor Hinds and Missy Bo Kearns on for Marie Hobinger, Lucy Parry and Gemma Bonner, but there was no change in their fortunes as City extended their lead in the 50th minute.

Shaw rose highest at the far post to head Mary Fowler's corner into the back of the net for her 19th WSL goal of the season.

The WSL's top goal scorer was denied a hat-trick after straying offside to latch onto Chloe Kelly's through ball late in