An 86th-minute winner from Aoba Fujino saw Gareth Taylor beaten by his former club as Manchester City came from a goal behind to beat Liverpool and leave them still searching for their first Women's Super League points.
Taylor, who left City earlier this year after five years at the club, thought his side had done enough with their rearguard display to earn their first points of the season until Fujino struck with less than five minutes of normal time remaining.
After watching his side hold firm during a backs-against-the-wall first half, Thomas was able to celebrate a first WSL goal in more than six hours as Cornelia Kapocs met a pinpoint delivery from Ceri Holland to head home from close range early in the second period.
Within a quarter of an hour later though, City had struck back as teenager Iman Beney followed up her late winner against Arsenal with another all-important goal. The comeback would then be complete as Fujino ensured that the visitors’ late pressure paid off with a powerful finish past Rafaela Borggrafe.
The hosts thought they had stolen a point with the last kick of the game as Gemma Bonner smashed home a rebound following a mistake from Ayaka Yamashita, only for it to be ruled out for offside.
Andree Jeglertz’s side had come out firing at the start of proceedings, with Liverpool’s defence playing a vital role in keeping things all square. As the game went on though, City’s intensity levels dropped off, allowing Liverpool to keep them at arm's length and snatch a lead thanks to Kapocs.
However, the hosts were eventually picked apart by the superior opposition.
There was some concern for Marie Therese Hobinger, who hobbled off less than half an hour in with a suspected knee injury. The Austrian was heavily strapped up going into the game, and was seen in tears as she was escorted to the changing rooms.
The defeat means Liverpool stay alongside West Ham as the only two teams to not secure a single point in the WSL this term.
As for City, Fujino’s winner ensured they overtook local rivals Manchester United, climbing into second, one point adrift of leaders Chelsea.
Jeglertz: There's something special with this group of players
Man City head coach Andree Jeglertz on Sky Sports:
"It was a tough call, especially in the end of the game when they scored and it was an offside. But in general, I think we lacked a little bit of energy until they scored.
"It's almost like then that we needed this desperation where I saw. And I think that's something that we just need to need to work on because that's what shows a good team if you manage to do good games week after week.
"And we lacked a little bit in the first half with the energy in that.
"They kill the space in the centre and they are very good in cutting off the angles that we want to use. But there were possibilities for us to break them down if we played a little bit quicker and be a little bit more decisive with a pass, also to play a little bit more behind their backline because that was very high.
"So there were things that we could do. They did it good, but we can also do it better.
"There's something special with this group of players. No matter whether we are one goal down, you don't see a team where everybody's down and doing their own things. The team is deciding, 'okay, now this is something we need to do about'."
Beney: We came good after half time
Man City forward Iman Beney on Sky Sports:
"I think it was difficult to start the game but we came good after the second half. We keep pushing and then we score the two goals.
"I know it was not like last week because it was not the winning goal, but it was the equaliser and I think it was important for the team.
"After this we keep pushing and we score the second goal so I think it was important, but it's a job from the whole team because we came into the second half very good."
Taylor: Results are tough at the moment
Liverpool boss Gareth Taylor:
"Really proud of the players and the effort they put into the game.
"The game plan was working. We just had a couple of actions in that second period after we scored the goal that we didn't just quite get right. There were other moments when we didn't get it quite right as well and resulted with a chance for the opposition.
"So, disappointment for the group because they worked tremendously hard today and deserved more.
"Of course the results are tough at the moment, because we've probably found ourselves a little bit hard done by in a couple of those games. I think Man United was a tough one because we didn't start the game very well and ended up 2-0 down.
"No one's kind of consistently opening us up, I don't think it's that kind of situation. Like I said previously, we've changed a lot of things. We've been asked to come in and bring [in] a new way and sometimes it takes time, and certainly with regards to how late we came [through] the door.
"I think it's been really tough. More time with the girls would be what every head coach wants and the more time to implement your way and your style."
City's managerial change key to becoming title contenders
Sky Sports' Callum Bishop:
In an ideal world, there would've been no better team to secure Liverpool's first WSL points of the season against for Gareth Taylor than his former club.
After five years at City, Taylor swapped Manchester for Merseyside having been unable to get his hands on a WSL title during that period.
Since replacing him though, Andree Jeglertz has been quietly going about his business and appears to be reinstating City as Chelsea's closest challengers.
Since losing to the Blues at the start of the season, Jeglertz's side have looked increasingly difficult to beat. Even at Anfield, where at periods they weren't at their best, they found a way to take home all three points in rather ruthless fashion.
Taylor left City when they were fourth in the WSL table last term. That is the position they would finish, 17 points off top spot.
It may be early days, but the fact they are within touching distance of Chelsea, even at this stage, is what they would've hoped for after the managerial change. And to close the gap with a win against the man he replaced, is the cherry on top of the cake.
