Manchester United 1-2 Liverpool
Liverpool fought back from conceding an early goal to earn a surprise win over Manchester United, the women’s side’s first-ever win over their rivals. Ella Toone slotted home in just the third minute, before Melvine Malard fired into the side netting with the goal at her mercy moments later.
The hosts were punished for not taking more of their chances in the 33rd minute, as Melissa Lawley’s fine cross from the right was headed into her own goal by Millie Turner, under pressure from Emma Koivisto. Turner made amends in the second half, blocking Ceri Holland’s shot, but Liverpool did go ahead in the 68th minute.
From a corner, substitute Shanice van de Sanden’s delivery caused chaos in the United defence and the Liverpool captain, Taylor Hinds, hooked the ball home. After a lengthy stoppage for a head injury to Gemma Bonner, who was helped off the pitch, Katie Zelem went closest to a leveller with a fierce shot, parried away by Teagan Micah.
Marc Skinner is next to talk, and he offers a scathing assessment of his United side’s performance. “We lost on the fundamentals. Liverpool are not nice to play against, and we didn’t match that – we were too passive in the final third.
“You can play all the pretty football you want, you need to win headers. It’s not good enough. We can’t blame fatigue. It’s desire to win the ball, to go and compete. We can’t be beaten like that. When they come back from the break, they had better be fired up.”
