A sublime display from Manchester United saw them cruise to victory against Liverpool, with a Player of the Match performance from Dominique Janssen.
Anticipation was high as the Red Devils were set to take on the Merseyside Reds at Leigh Sports Village. A game with so much history, and all to play for in the Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL).
The Lineups
MUN: Tullis-Joyce; George, Le Tissier, Clinton, Galton, Riviere, Janssen, Terland, Myazawa, Turner, Geyse
LIV: Micah; Fisk, Matthews, Kapocs, Nagano, Smith, Hinds, Enderby, Holland, Bonner, Shaw
The Action
Fuka Nagano’s shot from distance was notably the first of few efforts for Liverpool in the first half. Her shot didn’t transpire to anything in the end, as Phallon Tullis-Joyce’s strong hands pushed the ball wide, and the goalkeeper was quickly up to the recover and gather up the loose ball.
Teagan Micah was called into action as the Red Devils knocked on Liverpool’s door. Geyse da Silva Ferreira was in on goal but unable to control the through ball, and the goalkeeper was rapidly off her line to sweep up the mess.
Manchester United looked controlled, attacking Liverpool endlessly, and this persistency paid off when Elisabeth Terland’s low shot curled into the bottom right corner passed Micah to give the home side the lead just after the half an hour mark.
Marc Skinner’s side made it 2-0 only a minute later through Leah Galton. Janssen sent a brilliant ball over the top through to the number 11, and Galton made no mistake converting the effort.
Cornelia Kapocs had the opportunity to pull one back for Matt Beard’s side just on the brink of half time. The forward found herself one-on-one with Tullis-Joyce, but her strike was fired straight at the Manchester goalkeeper.
Jubilation continued for Skinner’s team in the second half, with Janssen making it three. Her shot from outside the box flew past the Liverpool defenders and straight into the back of the net.
The Red Devils would cause Beard’s side some more trouble, as Grace Clinton’s thunderbolt shot from outside the box forced Micah into a diving save.
Unfortunately for the visitors, Manchester United were not finished yet. Substitute Melvine Malard made it four for the home side as she came running from the wing into the box, finishing the effort at the near post.
4,782 fans at Leigh Sports Village stadium, watched the Red Devils thump their northwest rivals 4-0. The result sees them level on points with third-place Arsenal in the Women’s Super League, trailing only by a goal difference of two.
