Marc Skinner’s side rose to the occasion to continue their unbeaten run at Old Trafford. Rachel Williams' strike topped off the 5-0 win over Aston Villa after Katie Zelem, Leah Galton, Alessia Russo and Ona Batllealso had put the Reds in charge.
United ’s high press was quickly rewarded when captain Zelem followed up a loose ball from Alessia Russo’s header in the 13th minute. Galton doubled their lead by the half-hour mark when Ella Toone slotted the ball into her path, a clinical finish to find the bottom corner from a first-touch shot.
With her second assist, Toone provided the cross for Russo’s clinical finish five minutes into the second half for a 3-0 lead until Batlle extended United’s lead in the 76th minute. Williams netted the fifth in the final minute of play to make it 5-0.
Player Ratings
Mary Earps - Could hear her organisation over the 30,000-strong crowd, constant communication with her back four. Happy to be involved in switching the play, ball at her feet. She dealt with the aerial balls well - clearing the first corner out of danger with a punch and incredible reaction and athleticism to cover her bottom corners as effortlessly as the high balls. 9
Ona Batlle - Quality and energy to get involved higher up the pitch, one-two balls around players and so enjoyed a lot of possession on the right flank. Her efforts to keep Alisha Lehmann quiet during attack was solid, including the last-ditch effort in the box. Very reliable and versatile performance box-to-box. 9
Hannah Blundell - Got involved with the attacking play but seemingly not as much as the right flank. Kept the opposition guessing cutting inside proving effective in the second half where she was much more involved in play. 7
Ella Toone - Enjoyed time on the ball, good footwork to dance through players, she came deep to collect the ball even from the back line as well as troubling the last defender in the villa box, very high work rate, the number 7 was all over the pitch and provided two assists. 9
Katie Zelem - Fantastic connecting play throughout linking across the entire back four to the attacking line, She controlled the middle of the pitch with Ladd, scoring her second of the season from a fumble in the Villa box. 7
Leah Galton - She troubled the Aston Villa goalkeeper early on and kept the pressure high in and around the attacking area, her perfectly executed first touch shot to give a 2-0 lead within the half-hour mark. 7
Hayley Ladd - Again, reliable. Ladd played the pivotal role in the middle of the park. She overtook some red shirts to get back and defend a break in attack, and blocked the shot with Blundell. Ladd linked the play well with Katie Zelem crossing the park in short sharp pass-and-moves. 7
Maya Le Tissier - Showed more maturity about her style of play, growing in confidence and capability to perform at the highest level - she took her time to play out, she didn't force the ball, but slowed the game and kept Manchester United in control. Also stood very well against Rachel Daly 1-on-1. 8
Millie Turner - She won her personal battles with the opposition, like Le Tissier, she slowed down the play purposefully keeping United in the driving seat of the game. 7
Nikita Parris - Confident moving forward with the ball at the risk of over-playing it, sometimes running into trouble when simpler options are available. Her enthusiasm and hunger to work hard for her club cannot be matched and she troubled the Villa defence. 7
Alessia Russo - Energetic high press, link-up play from Ona Batlle on the right flank, held up the ball well and drew a number of fouls. Her willingness to throw her body on the line when it comes to a cross or goal-scoring opportunity led to the first goal, later finding the net herself. 9
Next, Manchester United host Everton in their Conti-cup clash on Wednesday before heading to the Etihad for the anticipated derby against City on December 11th.
