Khadija Shaw scored twice as Manchester City surged three points clear at the top of the Women’s Super League with a 4-1 victory at Liverpool.
Shaw scored the last two goals to seal a win that means City will enter the international break on top with title rivals Chelsea taking on Arsenal in the League Cup final on Sunday.
Three goals in eight first-half minutes effectively sealed the fate of fourth-placed Liverpool, whose only consolation came through a late own-goal from City goalkeeper Khiara Keating.
Lauren Hemp struck City in front on 16 minutes and Jess Park beat two defenders before firing home the visitors’ second six minutes later.
Shaw, the WSL’s top scorer, opened her account two minutes later with a long-range strike, then took her season’s tally to 19 early in the second half when she headed home from Mary Fowler’s cross.
Liverpool kept hunting for a consolation and found it six minutes from time when Taylor Hinds clattered the post from long-range, with the rebound bouncing in off the unfortunate Keating.
Rachel Daly scored a 75th-minute equaliser as Aston Villa salvaged a 2-2 draw at home to managerless Leicester.
The Foxes, in their first game since the dismissal of Willie Kirk, fell behind to Adriana Leon’s early effort but responded with goals from Yuka Momiki and Sam Tierney either side of half-time.
The accolade represents the first time the Jamaican has claimed the prize this season and comes after she was named Joie Player of the Month across the same period.
By netting a hat-trick in Manchester City's superb 4-1 win over Everton at the end of 2023, the clinical striker maintained her position as the division’s leading scorer so far this term with nine goals in as many matches.
Shaw's treble followed a strong display in City's 2-1 win over Aston Villa where Gareth Taylor's side came from a goal down to collect three points at the Joie Stadium.
But it was against the Toffees where the towering striker was at her scintillating best when she extinguished the disappointment of missing an early penalty to break the deadlock with a sublime chip past the hosts’ goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan.
The 26-year-old then doubled her and City’s tally at Walton Hall Park with a driven shot into the bottom corner, before Jill Roord extended the visitors’ lead further.
Following the interval, she collected the match ball when heading home in the 65th minute – which also signalled a perfect hat-trick.
“I am happy to win the award for the first time this year. December was a great month for us as a team and I am grateful to everyone who voted," Shaw said in an interview on the club's website.
“We’re getting into a really important part of the season now, so winning both our games in December has given us a big boost. Hopefully we can continue our strong form until the end of the season so we can make our fans happy," she added.
The Jamaican fended off tough competition from City teammate Lauren Hemp, Liverpool’s Taylor Hinds, Leicester’s Lena Petermann, Manchester United’s Ella Toone and Spurs’ Barbora Votikova.
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