Courtney Brosnan is being kept busy this afternoon. She's had to get down quickly there to deny Marie-Therese Hobinger from squeezing the ball into the bottom left corner.

Nice bit of play from Jess Park down the right-hand side, she whips the ball across but it misses everyone and Manchester City reset.

The stadium announcer has just announced there are 15,376 fans at Anfield for this Merseyside derby.

That's around the same amount that were present for Liverpool's victory over Manchester United earlier this season - their first-ever WSL victory at Anfield.

Image source, Getty Images

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Old Trafford

It's not THAT cold in Manchester but it's definitely a drop off from the heat they have had here all week.

Laura Blindkilde Brown and Naomi Layzell came back out for the second half holding hot water bottles for City's substitute bench.

That would have been some goal. Ceri Holland skips past an Everton player on the left wing before floating a ball over the Everton defence to Olivia Smith, who goes for a spectacular volley.

She doesn't catch it right, though, sending it wide.

Back under way in this crucial match.

Anna Sandberg replaces Gabby George for Manchester United.

No changes for Manchester City.

Olivia Smith is hobbling about after some medical attention, but she's ready to get back on the pitch and continue.

On we go...

Brave keeping from Courtney Brosnan, who beats Olivia Smith to the ball and sends the Liverpool forward flying.

Smith is clutching her ankle but it looks like she'll be fine to carry on.

We're up and running again at Anfield.

Liverpool are behind and it's going to be an uphill task if Amber Whiteley's side are to bag a first WSL win against Everton since 2019.

Image source, Getty Images

In May 2019, Millwall Lionesses split from Millwall FC to become an independent and fully professional team. In the following season the renamed London City Lionesses joined the Women's Championship.

It hasn't been smooth sailing for the Bromley-based Lionesses, yo-yoing between second and eighth in the table during their first five seasons and going through five permanent managers - and three interims - prior to Precheur's arrival from Paris St-Germain in June 2024.

However, in 2022-23 they did come within touching distance of promotion, finishing in third position but only three points behind champions Bristol City. Although they finished second the previous year, they were 11 points behind Liverpool.

But this campaign, they have reached the verge of becoming the first fully independent women's side to ever reach the WSL.

Elizabeth Botcherby
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

In December 2023, London City Lionesses were bought by Michele Kang, an American businesswoman with a history of heavy investment in women's sport - including ownership of the highly successful Lyon women's team.

Kang's influence has been eye-catching, recruiting manager Jocelyn Precheur, who led PSG to the last four of the 2023-24 Women's Champions League, and bringing in more than a dozen new players throughout this season.

The headline additions included veteran Sweden internationals Sofia Jakobsson and Kosovare Asllani, who won the WSL with Manchester City, and five-time Women's Champions League winner Saki Kumagai.

Off the field, Kang has relocated the club to Bromley and purchased the 28-acre Cobdown Park in Aylesford, Kent, with the ambition of constructing a centre of excellence for women's and girls' football.

"What she's doing is amazing and I hope it will inspire other clubs or other rich people to invest in women's football," Precheur told BBC Sport.

"We've heard many times in the past, people who arrive [and say] we want to be promoted and play in the Champions League. Look at the men's side, so many examples and so many failures.

"You cannot realise how different it is if you haven't spoken with Michele. She knows what she wants and when she says something, she does it."

Emma Smith
BBC Sport

Birmingham were a founder member of the WSL in 2010 and an ever-present for the first 12 seasons. They finished second in 2011, qualifying for the Champions League, and won the FA Cup the year after.

But as other clubs received greater funding and interest, the money for Birmingham dried up. Despite a permanent move to play all home games at St. Andrews in 2021, they fell through the WSL trap-door and have not yet returned.

A turning point towards the success of this season has been, like rivals London City, new American ownership and serious investment.

While Michele Kang's leadership of Lionesses has caught the eye, Birmingham owner Tom Wagner attracts fewer headlines but is proving similarly effective.

Investment in the women's training facilities and an expanded playing squad has allowed Birmingham to compete. Like the men's team, who took League One by storm this campaign, relegation may have been a blessing in disguise.

"Having a fuller squad is massive," says captain Christie Harrison-Murray, one of several survivors of the relegation season still playing for Birmingham. "Just having that full circle support of the women's side is massive, to help us make that next step into the WSL and stay there."

"Without any shadow of a doubt we are in a healthier state now," adds Barry Ross, chair of the club's official fan club. "Crowds are far bigger now than in the WSL. There is a whole new feeling around the club."

Don't forget, we've also for that crucial match at 14:15 BST to determine who will be playing in the Women's Super League next year.

Birmingham City face London City Lionesses in a winner takes all match on the final day of the Women's Championship.

Lindsay Johnson
Ex-England defender on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

At 2-1 Man Utd are still in this game, 2-0 would've been an uphill battle.

I think we're on for a really good second half. Man City have to come out and get these three points, and Utd need to get a goal and get the draw as well.

I think it's going to be a really good, exciting second half.

An entertaining first half that!

What do we think, folks? Will it be Manchester United or Manchester City who take that third Champions League spot?

A reminder that a win for City today puts them within one point of United in third with Nick Cushing's side facing already-relegated Crystal Palace and Marc Skinner's team playing Arsenal on the final day of the season.

All getting a bit scrappy in the closing stages as Celin Bizet lunges at Yui Hasegawa.

Manchester City win a free-kick but it comes to nothing and that will be that for an entertaining first half.

Image source, Getty Images

Lindsay Johnson
Ex-England defender on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Man City do look more resolute at the back, getting bodies behind the ball and defending more confidently.

Aoife Mannion goes into the book for bringing down Lauren Hemp.

Clever play from the City winger.

Image source, Getty Images