Khadija Shaw scores twice as Manchester City ease past Liverpool

Khadija Shaw celebrated the first of her two goals in Manchester City’s 4-0 win over Liverpool by performing a Black Power salute.

The Jamaican made her first return to the starting line-up since withdrawing from the League Cup semi-final against Arsenal earlier this month after receiving racist abuse.

Shaw took her first chance of the Women’s Super League fixture in customary clinical fashion and then stood with her head bowed and fist raised in the air.

The gesture was made famous by American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the Olympics in 1968 as a stand against racism.

City boss Gareth Taylor said of Shaw’s defiant gesture: “It’s powerful, obviously. Bunny’s a proud black woman and where she’s come from means a lot to her.

“We’ve supported her as we always will do and the team were there for her tonight. It’s nice for her to be able to feel the love from the supporters and the club.”

Shaw doubled City’s advantage with an emphatic finish 13 minutes later and Jill Roord and Gracie Prior, who was making her full league debut, both scored in the second half as City claimed a vital victory in their push for Champions League football.

Lauren James grabbed a stoppage-time winner as Chelsea battled from a goal down to beat Everton 2-1 at Kingsmeadow and maintain their seven-point lead at the top of the Women’s Super League.

The visitors threatened to cause an upset when Kelly Gago burst down the left wing in the 51st minute and unleashed a fine effort into the top corner against the run of play.

But Sonia Bompastor’s side rallied with Mayra Ramirez equalising just after the hour mark in what was the leaders’ first real chance of note.

Everton looked good value for a point until the third minute of added time when James unleashed a long-range effort with her left foot that clipped the post and found the back of the net.

Elsewhere, Chloe Kelly marked her return to Arsenal by featuring in a crushing 5-0 win over north London rivals Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium.

Lionesses winger Kelly, who rejoined her first club on loan in January, came off the bench as Renee Slegers’ team cruised to victory in front of over 56,000 fans.

Clare Hunt’s 15th-minute own goal set the Gunners on their way and Mariona Caldentey added a second 10 minutes before half-time.

Frida Maanum and Alessia Russo doubled the hosts’ lead before the hour mark and Emily Fox rounded off a big win in style with a spectacular fifth in the final minute.

Elisabeth Terland bagged a brace as Manchester United beat bottom club Crystal Palace 3-1 to seal their sixth straight win.

Terland’s early opener was cancelled out by a composed finish from Mille Gejl for the struggling Eagles, but United moved up a gear after the break with a second for Terland before Grace Clinton confirmed the points with a brave header.

Second-half goals from Riko Ueki and Viviane Asseyi proved enough to earn West Ham a hard-fought 3-1 win over fifth-placed Brighton.

Shekiera Martinez fired the Hammers into an 11th-minute lead but the visitors quickly drew level through Nikita Parris to reach half-time on level terms.

Janice Cayman scored twice as Leicester took a huge step towards top-flight survival with a 3-0 win over Aston Villa at the King Power Stadium.

Cayman fired the opener just before the half-hour and added a spectacular second early in the second period before Julie Thibaud effectively sealed the Foxes’ win with a quickfire third.