Man Utd 1-2 Liverpool: Hosts beaten and lose ground in WSL title race

Manchester United misplaced ground in the Women’s Super League title race as rivals Liverpool got here away with an outstanding victory at Leigh Sports Village in their ultimate match of the yr.

It seemed prefer it may very well be a troublesome afternoon for Liverpool when United took the lead inside three minutes – Ella Toone pouncing on Leah Galton’s go after the winger’s shot had come again off the publish.

Melvine Malard ought to have made it 2-0 straight afterwards when she fired into the side-netting from shut vary with the objective gaping.

Liverpool responded properly, battling via a primary half riddled with errors, and received themselves again into the sport when Mel Lawley’s cross was flicked in by United defender Millie Turner for an personal objective.

United struggled to take care of set-pieces all through and that ultimately proved pricey as Liverpool defender Taylor Hinds bundled in the winner with the within of her knee from Missy Bo Kearns’ supply.

The hosts pushed for an equaliser late on and Liverpool goalkeeper Teagan Micah blocked Hannah Blundell’s strike, after substitute Rachel Williams’ header flew over the bar.

There was prolonged stoppage time following a worrying head damage for Liverpool’s Gemma Bonner, who left the pitch with blood throughout her face however was in a position to stroll off with assist from medical employees.

Manager Beard confirmed afterwards centre-back Bonner was anticipated to go to hospital for additional remedy.

“I simply went in to see her. She’s OK. She’s speaking. She’s getting her lip stitched however she does not keep in mind the incident,” he added.

Pressure mounts for United as Liverpool dig in

Liverpool’s pre-season ambition was to shut the hole on the WSL’s high 4 and they knew they might draw stage on factors with United in the event that they got here away with a win on Sunday.

They had been at all times going to need to experience their luck and dig in in the event that they had been to realize it and that is what Beard’s aspect did for the 113 minutes that had been performed in Leigh.

Goalkeeper Micah pulled off sensible saves when wanted, whereas her counterpart Mary Earps was equally as busy in United’s objective – an outstanding fingertip save to cease Bo Kearns one of many highlights.

“It was a troublesome begin for us. We practically gifted them a second objective,” stated Beard.

“The manner we recovered and the way in which we grew into the sport, we had been worthy of the three factors. It’s nice to maintain in contact with that high 4 or high 5 – so it was an necessary win.

“I do know on our day we are able to compete and I believe we have confirmed that just a few occasions already this season. It’s nice to have targets. We are an formidable soccer membership however we take it sport by sport.”

This is a regarding outcome for United.

It is the fifth time in the WSL this season they’ve dropped factors, with two defeats and three attracts simply 10 video games into an inconsistent marketing campaign.

It will little question put strain on supervisor Marc Skinner to show outcomes round as they go into the Christmas break trailing their rivals and already out of European competitors.

“Both targets are poor [to concede]. We lose the sport on two actually poor targets. They took their moments and we did not,” stated Skinner.

“We had probabilities to win the sport on the finish and we did not take them. I’m pissed off by that efficiency and that we did not do sufficient.”

For Liverpool, this outcome exhibits their huge progress since a 6-0 defeat on their final journey to Leigh in the WSL in January and they finish the yr on a excessive, properly on track to realize their ambition.