Match Report: Liverpool Women 1-0 Manchester United Women | OneFootball

Manchester United Women’s team could not follow up last week’s late win against Leicester, as they came unstuck against old rivals Liverpool.

Coach Marc Skinner spoke before the match that United could not be distracted by next week’s FA Cup final when he stated, “We’ve got a showpiece final next week, but we’ve got a final this weekend, and we’ve got a final, obviously, when we play at Old Trafford against Chelsea.”

However, his side were unable to respond as Liverpool had almost the double of shots with 19 to United’s 10.

The Red Devils just shaded possession with 55% but a Jenna Clark goal in first-half stoppage time was enough to give Liverpool the win.

Not only was pride at stake but also the win saw the Anfield side jump above United into fourth place with only one league game left to play in the Women’s Super League.

United almost got off to the perfect start when they caught Liverpool napping as Leah Galton was put through one-on-one in the fourth minute of play, but could not convert as she fired the ball straight at Liverpool’s keeper, Teagan Micah.

The home side then had their first chance of the afternoon when Ceri Holland got through some industrious work down the right-hand side and played a great ball across which Taylor Hinds could only hit right at a grateful Mary Earps in the United goal.

Holland was once again in the thick of the action as she unleashed a dipping drive that dropped just above the United keeper’s crossbar as Liverpool began to take charge of proceedings.

In a back-and-forth first half, United’s Millie Turner had a great chance to open the scoring in the 15th minute when a corner dropped in the penalty box and after some pinball, Turner swivelled and shot right down Micah’s throat.

The best chance soon fell to Liverpool just before the 20th-minute mark when Emma Koivisto found herself in oceans of space but could only head against the post, leaving Earps stranded. There was a chance for her to put away the rebound, but it came at her very quickly and from a Man United perspective, luckily bounced wide of the post.

There was drama on the touchline when Liverpool’s head coach, Matt Beard, was shown a direct red card for saying something to the referee after Koivisto went down late in the first half.

Shortly after, the Red Devil’s best chance of the game fell to the usually reliable Ella Toone. The 24-year-old snatched at a half-volley chance from just inside the box after great work from Lucia Garcia down the right-hand side had set her up perfectly to finish.

United were eventually punished in the 48th minute of play when a short corner was whipped in by Marie Höbinger and Clark got the slightest of touches to deflect the ball past the stranded Earps.

Skinner had spoken of Liverpool’s threat from set pieces before the match and United were all at sea for the goal.

The second half was largely one-way traffic as the Red Devils failed to really create any major chances to threaten the Merseysiders’ lead.

Earps made a smart save from yet another long-range effort and in the 62nd minute, Liverpool striker Mia Enderby went on a great run and after beating a couple of players, fired a long-range effort that just dipped over the bar and beat the goalkeeper’s outstretched glove.

The Old Trafford side left it late but they did have a couple of chances to find an equaliser. In the 87th minute, Katie Zelem fired in a long ball that substitute Rachel Williams got her head to but could not find the required control to threaten the Liverpool goal.

The home team did have one more chance as a mix-up in the United defence led Turner to clear the ball against the Liverpool attacker who could only fire into the side netting.

However, the Merseysiders almost paid for their wastefulness when Zelem fired a late free kick into the box, that was headed across goal and substitute Melvine Malard was almost the heroine as she produced a great header that was clawed away by the inspired Micah.

The game ended and Liverpool now find themselves three points ahead of United with only one game left in the Women’s Super League, as it looks like the Red Devils will have to content themselves with a disappointing fifth-place finish.

Nevertheless, the Red Devils can now look forward to a crucial game next weekend at Wembley when they take on Tottenham Hotspur, aiming to win the club’s first piece of silverware in the women’s game.

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