A goal in both halves did the damage, with Melvine Malard opening the scoring in the ninth minute, on her first start of the new season.

Rachel Williams, also in the XI for the first time this term, doubled our advantage after the interval, as United took three points from our Group A opener at Leigh Sports Village.

FIRST HALF - MALARD NETS BEFORE WITHDRAWAL

Williams was close to connecting with early crosses into the box from Celin Bizet and Gabby George, but United's first major chance came via a ball in behind the defence from Hinata Miyazawa. It found Malard, who raced towards goal before having a low attempt saved by goalkeeper Rachael Laws at her right-hand post.

The Liverpool shot-stopper may have got the upper hand on that occasion, but Malard did find the net from the resulting corner. Bizet's ball in from the left wasn't cleared, and fell to Malard around 10 yards out, who volleyed through the maze of bodies to put the Reds 1-0 up in the ninth minute.

Malard, starting her first game of the season from the left flank, was the star of the show in the opening half-hour and nearly turned provider soon after. Having had an initial pass for Williams cut out, the French forward teed up summer signing Simi Awujo, who blasted over the bar from the edge of the penalty area.

Both Malard and Williams were involved again in a swift move soon after, which created an opening for Awujo's fellow new recruit Bizet, who bent a left-footed effort just wide of the target after cutting inside from the right flank.

United, on our return to Leigh Sports Village for the first time in nearly six months, were well on top in the opening exchanges but were kept honest when Niamh Fahey headed narrowly wide at the other end on 24 minutes. The Liverpool skipper diverted Jasmine Matthews's left-footed free-kick towards goal, and just past Phallon Tullis-Joyce's posts.

Malard continued to be bright as Marc Skinner's side searched for a second, but her night was brought to a premature end when she pulled up with what looked to be an injury as half-time approached.

The Reds, putting on a lively showing in attack, continued to create opportunities however, and it was Bizet who went closest to extending the advantage before the break. Her powerful right-footed effort, after cutting in from the left, was parried away by Laws to keep the score at 1-0.

SECOND HALF - WILLIAMS EXTENDS LEAD

It was a corner that brought United's first-half opener and, immediately after the break, Skinner's side nearly had more success with an inswinging delivery. This time it was from the right, delivered by the left boot of Gabby George and guided just off target at the back post by Hayley Ladd.

Liverpool began to grow into the half, though, and an important intervention from Aoife Mannion was needed to make sure we kept our slender lead. The defender, playing at right-back, nipped the ball off the toes of the swivelling Cornelia Kapocs, who had taken Mia Enderby's scuffed shot under control on the edge of our six-yard box.

Having cleared the danger at one end, United very nearly made it 2-0 at the other. Miyazawa intercepted the ball off Hannah Silcock and skipped away from the defender's attempted challenge, before driving into the box from the left and seeing her low shot strike the base of the near post.

The Japan international was unlucky not to be rewarded for her efforts, but her ability to read Liverpool's attempted build-up play did bear fruit in the 67th minute. This time, Miyazawa read Laws's intended ball for Silcock, took possession and rolled the ball into a central area for Williams, who made no mistake with the finish after getting the ball out of her feet.

That effort gave United extra breathing room, although we weren't for letting up in the final 20 minutes, as a pursuit of a third goal was carried out under the lights at LSV.

First, Bizet headed off target after getting up well at the back post to meet George's looping cross from left, before substitutes Lisa Naalsund and Elisabeth Terland linked up shortly after coming on. Terland, searching for her maiden Reds goal, glanced her Norwegian compatriot's teasing ball over the top of the defence just a few yards wide. 

That proved to be as close as Skinner's side would come to a third goal, with two enough on the evening to kick off our Group A campaign with all three points.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Tullis-Joyce; Mannion, Le Tissier (c), Turner, George; Ladd (Clinton 79), Awujo (Janssen 71); Bizet, Miyazawa (Naalsund 79), Malard (Galton 38); Williams (Terland 71).

Unused subs: Middleton-Patel, Newell, Riviere, Geyse.

Liverpool: Laws; Matthews (Hinds 46), Fahey (c), Evans; Silcock (Bonner 68), Kapocs, Lundgaard, Enderby, Shaw (Hobinger 68); Daniels, Kiernan (Nagano 68).

Unused subs: Spencer, Parry, Roman Haug, Smith.

Booked: Beard (Liverpool manager), Fahey, Evans.

Goals: Malard 9, Williams 67.