Manchester United Women travelled to the St Helen’s Stadium to take on great rivals Liverpool on an emotional afternoon after the death of Matt Beard.
First half
United got off to the perfect start when they took the lead after just four minutes.
A Jess Park cross was cleared and it fell to Hinata Miyazawa on the edge of the box.
The Japanese international made no mistake and rocketed the ball into the back of the net to give Marc Skinner’s side the lead.
Liverpool struggled to deal with United energetic pressing and Jayde Riviere fired a shot just wide of the post after 13 minutes.
United continued their positive start when Ella Toone’s whipped in cross almost bent inside the far post but drifted just wide.
Elisabeth Terland almost doubled United’s lead but her effort was fired right at the Liverpool keeper.
Despite United’s dominance, the hosts almost equalised. Ceri Holland’s excellent shot was wonderfully tipped over by Phallon Tullis-Joyce who added further to her growing reputation as one of the best keepers in Europe.
The Red Devils took full advantage of Tullis-Joyce’s save and scored their second two minutes into added time of the first half.
Terland laid the ball off in the box and Ella Toone coolly slotted in to put United in control of the match.
Second half
United began the second half in the same vein as the first and Toone fired a speculative attempt from 35 yards but she scuffed her shot wide.
Liverpool responded almost immediately and Cornelia Kapocs found herself one-on-one but luckily she fluffed her lines and missed the target to maintain United’s two goal lead.
The hosts continued to have possession but struggled to carve out many genuine chances to threaten United’s defence.
Late on, Terland was slipped in one-on-one but she failed to keep her cool and blasted right at the keeper.
The home side really should have scored shortly after as Mia Enderby was left in plenty of space in the box but her tame shot was easily claimed by the United keeper.
The visitors managed to hold on and kept another valuable clean sheet as the win took them temporarily at least to the top of the Women’s Super League.
The fixtures don’t get any easier for United as they welcome champions Chelsea to the Progress with United Stadium next Friday evening at 19:30 BST.
Featured image Matt McNulty via Getty Images
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
