With her opening goal against Liverpool, Khadija Shaw showed her importance to Manchester City. Her actions afterwards were even more important to women's football and the fight against racism.

Shaw netted twice in the first half as City beat Liverpool 4-0 to end a run of successive home defeats in the Women's Super League and keep in touch with the top three and Champions League qualification.

It was the Jamaican's first start since suffering a leg injury on 8 December, and during her return to fitness, City had lost three league games and fallen out of WSL title contention.

Shaw's goals, both excellently taken finishes which showed off a mix of power and finesse of which she is uniquely capable in the WSL, demonstrated just how much her side have missed her.

But what truly caught the eye was her celebration after the opener. She stood with her right fist raised and her head bowed - the Black Power salute.

This is an anti-racism gesture and most famous in sporting contexts for being enacted originally by American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics in protest against discrimination in their home country.

Shaw has been the victim of racist abuse recently, following City's last home league game – a 4-3 league defeat to Arsenal on 2 February.

So bad was the online abuse that she made herself unavailable to face the Gunners a few days later when they met again in the League Cup semi-finals, before returning and scoring off the bench in the Women's FA Cup win over Leicester.

And this was another notable moment for Shaw, given an immense cheer by the home fans when her name was announced before kick-off and then a standing ovation when she was subbed on the hour mark with the game won.

Shaw declined to address the celebration directly when speaking to Sky Sports after the game, simply saying it was "good to get back on the scoresheet after a difficult couple of days".

While admitting he had not seen the celebration himself, City manager Gareth Taylor said it carried an important meaning.

"It's powerful," he added. "She's a proud black woman and, where she is from, means a lot to her. We will always support her, and the reaction of the crowd meant a lot to her."

Shaw has attempted to lift herself above her detractors by not sharing any of the abuse she received so as not to give the abusers publicity. But the fact she felt unable to face Arsenal in a crucial League Cup tie showed the effect it had on the 28-year-old.

Against Liverpool, Shaw felt ready to do her talking on the pitch – and did so in style.

"The way I saw it was a brilliant level of self-awareness by Shaw to take herself out of the equation [by not playing against Arsenal]," former Manchester City defender Izzy Christiansen told Sky Sports. "If you're not in your performance space you might do something stupid.

"We don't know how Bunny feels, but we have to respect it and she proved her point tonight."

Shaw is one of the most high profile black female footballers in the world, and in the WSL there is no active striker who can touch her.

She has scored 11 league goals this season, three more than second-highest scorer Alessia Russo, despite playing two matches fewer.

City's player of the year in each of the last two seasons, Shaw has scored 88 goals in just 102 appearances for the club.

She is loved and respected at City, with the stadium announcer emphasising she was "our number 21" following both goals for the fourth-placed side.

"It was incredible," team-mate Lauren Hemp told Sky Sports. "Bunny has been through a lot recently so it's great for her and it's great for us to see her back scoring goals like she always has done."

It is in games like this one against Liverpool where her quality shines brightest. With plenty of chances at both ends missed, Shaw had two half-opportunities and took both.

The first saw her control and turn in half a yard of space before firing across the keeper. For the second she controlled a cross at waist height before swivelling and netting with a half-volley,

"It could have been 6-4 tonight in chances," Liverpool manager Matt Beard said afterwards. "The difference tonight was Bunny Shaw."

As women's football continues to grow, abuse such as that suffered by Shaw may only become more prevalent.

Fans of the WSL must hope she continues to ply her trade in England. On her best days, such as this one, Shaw is a remarkable player – physically imposing while carrying one of the best touches and finishing ability in the modern game.

"Man City needed the moment, they needed the big-game player," former Sheffield United forward Courtney Sweetman-Kirk told Sky Sports.

"That's how you prove a point to people."