Manchester United Women extended their unbeaten WSL start with a 2-0 win over Liverpool. Goals from Hinata Miyazawa and Ella Toone sealed the points at St Helens, leaving Gareth Taylor’s side still without a league point.
United dominate early, Liverpool punished
United seized control from the opening whistle, playing with sharpness Liverpool couldn’t match. Within four minutes, Toone combined down the right before Jess Park’s cross found Miyazawa, who rifled a first-time finish past Rafaela Borggrafe. The midfielder almost added another when her strike clipped the post, while Jayde Riviere and Julia Zigiotti Olme also went close.
Liverpool’s best moment came when Ceri Holland forced Phallon Tullis-Joyce into tipping a deflected shot onto the post. Just before half-time, Elisabeth Terland dispossessed Gemma Evans and set up Toone, who drilled low into the corner. Marc Skinner’s side looked electric, recycling the ball with pace while barely allowing Liverpool time to breathe.
Frustration for Taylor as Liverpool’s struggles deepen
Liverpool improved after the break with more urgency but lacked a cutting edge. Cornelia Kapocs spurned their best chance, dragging a shot wide. For Taylor, the flat first-half performance was the major concern. “We got what we deserved – very flat, lacking energy. We effectively handed the game to them,” he admitted.
It capped off a sombre week after the sudden death of former manager Matt Beard, whose passing overshadowed the match. Despite Gemma Bonner making her 200th WSL appearance, Liverpool slumped to three straight defeats — a start last endured in 2019-20, when they were relegated.
Author’s opinion
The finish of Ella Toone epitomised United’s mounting confidence, with Skinner’s side displaying maturity at crucial times. Liverpool, in the meantime, seem brittle — their defense exposed, as is so often the case with a team grappling with off-field feeling. Unless Taylor injects belief and resilience, another relegation fight looms. United’s electric first half proved the gulf between the sides — and reaffirmed Toone’s role as a match-winner.
As featured on ManUNews.com
