Manchester City will look to maintain the only perfect record left in the [Women’s Super League](https://womenfootball.blog/womens-super-league-table-standings/) when they welcome unbeaten Liverpool to the Joie Stadium on Friday night.
The defending champions have taken six points from their opening two matches, following a 3-1 victory over Birmingham City with an impressive 4-1 win away at Aston Villa. Liverpool have also made an encouraging start, taking four points after beating Charlton Athletic 4-0 and drawing 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur.
**Competition:** Women’s Super League
**Date:** Friday, 18 September 2026
**Kick-off:** 19:00 UK / 20:00 CEST
**Venue:** Joie Stadium, Manchester
**UK TV:** Sky Sports+
The match will be shown live in the UK on **Sky Sports+**.
International broadcast arrangements differ by country. Manchester City’s published listings also include an international YouTube option in territories where the [WSL’s YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@BarclaysWSL/streams) coverage is available.
Man City are the only WSL side to have won both of their opening matches.
Their performance against Aston Villa offered another indication of their attacking strength. Jade Rose and Mary Fowler put City 2-0 ahead before Amalie Vangsgaard reduced the deficit, but Khadija Shaw and a late Mathilde Harviken own goal eventually completed a 4-1 victory.
Shaw has already scored three league goals and leads the early WSL Golden Boot race, while Fowler has two. Head coach Andrée Jeglertz is not framing the new campaign around protecting what City won last season.
> “We don’t talk about title defence. We talk about chasing another title.”
Jeglertz was pleased with City’s attacking football across their opening two matches but acknowledged that there have been defensive situations where his side need to be sharper.
That may become particularly relevant against a Liverpool team determined to play aggressively both with and without possession.
Liverpool’s opening fortnight has provided an immediate improvement on their difficult 2025/26 league campaign.
A 4-0 victory over newly promoted Charlton Athletic was followed by a 1-1 home draw against Tottenham. Liverpool fell behind in that game but responded through substitute Aurélie Csillag, who converted an excellent Fuka Nagano cross.
Gareth Taylor felt his team deserved credit for the way they took control of periods of the Tottenham match, although he identified the final pass and finish as areas where Liverpool could have been better.
Taylor says Liverpool intend to arrive in Manchester with “energy, determination and desire”, adding that he wants his team to be aggressive both in and out of possession.
City are expecting a difficult game too. Jeglertz believes Liverpool have improved and pointed to their recruitment, continuity and coaching as reasons they can cause problems for the strongest teams in the league.
Manchester City have not reported a new major injury concern ahead of the game in the information released so far.
Grace Clinton was expected to return to contention for last weekend’s trip to Aston Villa after missing the opening victory over Birmingham, giving Jeglertz another midfield option as City’s schedule becomes busier.
A further availability update can be added if City confirm any changes before Friday’s match.
Liverpool have not yet published a fresh detailed injury update specifically for the Manchester City match.
Ahead of last weekend, Sophie Roman Haug and Maizie Trueman were moving closer to returning, while Mari Ward and Lucy Parry remained unavailable. Their status for Friday should therefore be treated as **awaiting confirmation** rather than assuming last week’s team news still applies.
Manchester City won both WSL meetings between the sides last season, but neither was comfortable. City won 2-1 at Liverpool before a much tighter meeting at the Joie Stadium ended 1-0.
That match remained goalless until second-half stoppage time, when Rebecca Knaak scored the winner. The result proved significant during City’s run towards the WSL title.
Jeglertz has already referenced that performance when assessing Liverpool and believes Friday’s visitors are capable of making life difficult again.
Liverpool’s start makes this a more intriguing contest than last season’s final league positions might suggest.
Taylor wants his side to play aggressively, and Liverpool have shown they can create sustained pressure rather than simply sit deep against stronger opposition. That approach could test a City defence that Jeglertz himself believes can still improve.
The problem for Liverpool will be controlling City’s attacking options for 90 minutes. Shaw has started the season in goalscoring form, Fowler has already scored twice, and Lauren Hemp was heavily involved in City’s victory at Villa Park. City have also shown patience when opponents deny them space rather than forcing attacks too early.
Liverpool should make this competitive, but City enter Friday night with greater attacking firepower and home advantage.
**Manchester City 3-1 Liverpool**
Liverpool’s unbeaten start deserves respect and their performances suggest they can make this difficult. City, however, have already shown several different routes to goal and remain the team to beat after winning their opening two matches.
Match Preview Manchester City vs Liverpool