Report: United Women 3 Liverpool 1

With players and staff wearing black armbands, tribute was paid before to kick-off to the victims of the Munich Air Disaster. The Flowers of Manchester was played pre-game, both managers laid wreaths as the team emerged from the tunnel, while the names of the eight players who lost their lives also adorned flags proudly displayed in Leigh’s north terrace.

Marc Skinner had made two changes to the team that started last weekend’s win at Villa Park, with Elisabeth Terland and Lisa Naalsund coming into the side and Lea Schuller and Ellen Wangerheim moving to the bench.

Naalsund repaid that faith with her first two goals of the season, either side of a Liverpool goal against the run of play from Alice Bergstrom. On her return to action, substitute Fridolina Rolfo added a third late on, making sure of the three points.

FIRST HALF

Liverpool won their first league game of the season a week ago thanks to an impressive performance against Tottenham, with Skinner aware of that threat and instructing his team to take the game to the visitors. Within a few seconds of kick-off, Terland had fired an effort at goalkeeper Jennifer Falk.

Teri soon forced a more challenging save out of a diving Falk after latching onto a loose ball in the box and the Reds looked dangerous when they moved quickly into Liverpool territory. High pressing, particularly from Naalsund, created another opening midway through the first half, as Terland’s goal-bound strike was deflected behind for a corner.

Going the other way, Jayde Riviere defended a handful of situations expertly as Liverpool tried to build attacks down their left flank, reading the play each time.

United then upped the intensity to end the first half, with Liverpool forced to defend frantically to block twice after giving the ball away close to goal. Terland managed to bypass the defenders but also just missed the target as that move ended. As United worked the ball again, Melvine Malard saw a fierce attempt across goal parried to safety by Falk.

One more sight of goal before the break saw Jess Park shoot off-target, just unable to wrap her foot around the ball to generate the required curl.

SECOND HALF

Falk pulled off a brilliant save a minute into the second period, getting strong hands behind a powerfully-struck effort from Park on an angle from the right. But United didn’t have to wait much longer to go in front and it was a well-worked goal that Naalsund eventually finished off.

Malard’s ball into the space in front of Park made it possible, pulling to the right and cutting the ball back to an unmarked Naalsund in the middle of the box. Our no. 16 stayed composed and confidently converted the first-time shot.

But a set-piece drew Liverpool level just a few minutes later. Ceri Holland’s in-swinging corner caused problems, with the ball twice blocked on the line by Maya Le Tissier before Bergstrom was able to poke in the equaliser from close range.

Thankfully, Naalsund didn’t allow it to remain 1-1 long. It was a fine example of high pressing from Julia Zigiotti, pinching possession in Liverpool’s half and immediately seeing Lisa in space in front of her, delivering a killer pass. Clearly buoyed by her earlier strike, Naalsund shifted onto her right and cleverly pulled the shot across goal to wrong-foot Falk and nestle the ball in the bottom corner.

Perhaps inspired by Zigiotti’s ‘Olimpico’ at Villa Park, Anna Sandberg almost pulled off one of her own, the in-swinging corner parried away by Swedish compatriot Falk. She later denied Park too, with more strong hands when Rolfo’s deflected cutback fell nicely to hit first time.

But Skinner's side managed to open up a cushion soon after when three of his substitutes combined. Ellen Wangerheim raced down the right, feeding Hanna Lundkvist on an underlapping run. The subsequent cross was then met by Rolfo in the six-yard box after getting in front of her marker.

Hinata Miyazawa and Lea Schuller both had sights of goal in stoppage time, but 3-1 was how it finished.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere (Lundkvist 77), Le Tissier (c), Janssen, Sandberg (George 85); Zigiotti, Miyazawa; Park (Wangerheim 85), Naalsund, Malard (Schuller 85); Terland (Rolfo 66).

Subs not used: Rendell, Turner, Awujo, Drury.

Goals: Naalsund 52, 60, Rolfo 87.

Booked: Malard, George.

Liverpool: Falk; Shimizu (Woodham 82), Clark, Fisk(c), Bernabe (Enderby 81); Nagano; Bergstrom (Csillag 66), O’Sullivan, Kapocs (Olsson 85), Holland; Thomas.

Subs not used: Kirby, Bonner, Evans, Parry, MacLean.

Goal: Bergstrom 58.

Booked: Bergstrom.

Attendance: 4,502.