Man United head coach Marc Skinner has urged his team to prepare for a “completely different” Liverpool in the WSL this weekend.
Manchester United return to action on Sunday as they face fierce rivals Liverpool in the Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL). The Red Devils are in good form, with four wins and a draw in their last five games (that draw was against Arsenal). Their form has been buoyed by the welcome sight of new arrivals – Lea Schüller arrived from Bayern Munich, joining Hanna Lundkvist and Ellen Wangerheim as reinforcements to a modest squad that has struggled under the weight of European football this season.
For their part, Liverpool have also had a busy January, with a host of new faces in the squad, including Alice Bergström from BK Häcken and Denise O’Sullivan from North Carolina Courage. This helped them to a first league win of the season last time out, as they beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 thanks to a late brace from Mia Enderby.
Speaking to media ahead of the game, Man United head coach Marc Skinner was asked about facing the new-look Liverpool at the Progress With Unity Stadium.
“It’s a completely different team now,” Skinner said on the Merseyside outfit. “I think what they wanted to add was more mobility in the front line to be able to press. You could see against Tottenham that they were pressing all over the place. That’s probably the identity they’ve wanted from the start.”
Skinner acknowledged the galvanising impact the new signings have had, suggesting it will take energy for United to break down.
“The players definitely seem galvanised by those signings, and while it’ll be a tough challenge, they’re aggressive with the press,” he said. “I still think there are ways we can exploit them, and we need to focus on those. But overall, they’re a very different team now, and I expect us to bring full energy this weekend.”
The number of new faces in the Liverpool line-up also adds another complication for Skinner and his team as the now must predict who Gareth Taylor will select in his the starting eleven.
On the potential for a surprise, the head coach surmised that Scottish forward Martha Thomas is most likely to be given the nod up front, adding that if there is a surprise, the gameplan will not change.
“Regardless of the players he picks, they’ll have the energy to press,” Skinner noted. “You can see that pressing is part of the identity they want to establish.
“[United need] to be able to play through that, adjust our style when needed, but in all honesty, we have to treat them as a serious threat.”
Man United in an ‘exciting’ place says Marc Skinner
Man United are currently fourth in the WSL, just one point behind Arsenal. After a pleasing third-placed finish last season, the prospect of finishing in the Champions League places looks like less of a sure thing this time around.
Despite their slightly inconsistent league form, there is still positivity for United fans as the side prepare to enter the knockout rounds of the Champions League for the first time in history. On top of European success, the side have a debut appearance in the Subway Women’s League Cup final awaiting them.
“For us, being in that position – competing in European knockout rounds and reaching a [Leauge Cup] final – shows the growth we’ve had, and I welcome that challenge,” Skinner praised.
Speaking on the battle for the top three, Skinner praised his side’s ability to steal a point from both Arsenal and Chelsea in the WSL, as well as knockdown the Gunners in the League Cup semi-final.
“We’re up against the European champions, and a team that’s consistently won the league, like Chelsea,” he said. “Yet, we’re still fighting, and I’m really happy with where the team is right now. It’s exciting.”
Skinner says Man United and Liverpool rivalry is still sprouting in the women’s game
Whilst United’s men’s games against Liverpool are highly contested due to one of the oldest and fiercest rivalries in the world of football, that relationship is still burgeoning in the women’s game.
Asked for his thoughts on the rivalry, Skinner asserted that whilst it “it definitely peaks interest”, the history of the two clubs is not as shared as in the men’s game.
“As for Liverpool, with the transition they’re going through right now, they’ll want to get back to a place where they can compete with the historic teams,” the head coach said. “[They are] one of only four, I think, that have won the league. They’ll be aiming to return to those glory days.”
Skinner feels the rivalry will grow with every encounter, particularly as the two clubs are located so close to each other.
“It’s really important to note that, right now, the women’s game might not be as strong as the men’s, but it will continue to grow,” Skinner expressed. “The more we play and the more encounters we have, the stronger it will get.
“Both teams take the rivalry seriously. Even though the men’s and women’s games are separate, it’s still a local rivalry, and both sides treat it with the seriousness it deserves. To finish on that, I think it’s crucial for driving interest in the game.”
