For their first Women’s Super League fixture of the calendar year, Manchester United thrashed Liverpool 6-0. Six goals from six different players demonstrated the depth of Mark Skinner's squad as they end the day one step closer to the summit in the title race.
United leapfrogged Arsenal into second with both teams on 25 points from 10 played but the ‘embarrassing’ score-line has put United a step ahead with a four-goal advantage that pushes the Gunners into third.
Goals came from Lucia Garcia promptly after kick-off, before Alessia Russo and Hayley Ladd sealed a three-goal lead into halftime. Millie Turner, Martha Thomas and Rachel Williams capped the game off with five minutes left on the clock.
Manager Marc Skinner said: “It's huge [the score-line] I like for us to hit six and keep a clean sheet it's really important.
“No pun intended I genuinely mean this we were at a six [out of ten] today, and that wasn’t the very best form for us. As happy as we are with the result, there’s so much more for us to give.
“We said before the game there are two words: 'Take control'. That’s what our message was for this game and we took control in moments but more importantly, we said about having 13 cup finals to play and one is ticked off.”
The hosts enjoyed a large majority of the possession at Leigh Sports Village making over double the amount of passes and five times as many shots at goal. The high-energetic press from Ella Toone and on either flank from United kept the visitors scrambling from cheap turnover of possession, which led to a frustrated Liverpool. A side that was frankly sick of ball chasing entwined with a loss of will to show up.
Liverpool manager Matt Beard begrudgingly accepted that the hosts were better on the day, saying: “We should be embarrassed by it, [the score], it was dire.
“My biggest disappointment is the work rate, and the best example I could give you is - we had a counterattack right at the end of the half Mel Lawley is driving out three vs one. Seven Manchester United players have run past four, five of mine and Mel’s on her own.
“And I think that summed the day up for me perfectly, in that one moment. We've competed so well this year, so I just can't understand that 90 minutes.” Before adding: “I apologise [to the fans] for the performance.”
United head to the Madejski Stadium for their next WSL fixture against Reading for a 2pm kick-off whilst Liverpool travel south to Kingsmeadow where they face League leaders and current champions, Chelsea - a side Liverpool got the better of back in September.
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