MANCHESTER, England — Liverpool made history by beating Manchester United for the first time in the Women’s Super League in a 2-1 victory and moving level with United in the table on points.
Chelsea remained top of the table with 25 points after their 3-0 victory at Bristol City.
Manchester United is fourth with 18 points, ahead of Liverpool on goal difference.
England international Ella Toone scored for Manchester United in the third minute. But United’s Millie Turner scored an own goal and Taylor Hinds netted for Matt Beard’s Liverpool, who lost 6-0 to United less than a year ago but set themselves a goal for this season of breaking into the WSL’s top four.
“We know we’re a good team. We’re a good group and they are all like friends and family,” Beard said according to Reuters. “We need to believe in ourselves.
“The non-negotiable is the work ethic and we did that. I know on our day we can compete and I think we’ve proven that a few times already this season.”
England striker Lauren James, Erin Cuthbert and Australia international Sam Kerr scored to lift Chelsea three points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who defeated Everton 4-1 with a hat-trick from Khadija Shaw.
After a lengthy stoppage for a head injury to Gemma Bonner, who was helped off the pitch, Katie Zelem went closest to a leveller with a fierce shot in the closing minutes, parried away by Teagan Micah. Despite 12 minutes of stoppage time, United could not force an equaliser, and manager Marc Skinner was scathing in his assessment.
“We lost on the fundamentals. Liverpool is not nice to play against, and we didn’t match that – we were too passive in the final third,” said Skinner.
“You can play all the pretty football you want, you need to win headers. It’s not good enough.
“We can’t blame fatigue,” Skinner continued. “It’s desire to win the ball, to go and compete. We can’t be beaten like that. When they [the players] come back from the [international] break, they had better be fired up.”
Lauren James returned in style as Chelsea moved three points clear at the top with a 3-0 win over lowly Bristol City. James, dropped to the bench for the Women’s Champions League draw with Hacken, curled home the opening goal after 17 minutes, with Erin Cuthbert’s volley putting the visitors in charge at half-time.
Sam Kerr headed home from Guro Reiten’s cross just before the hour to make sure of victory, after James had rattled the bar with another long-range effort.
The only negative for Emma Hayes’ side was Niamh Charles’ late red card after picking up two bookings, while the hosts slip to the foot of the table on goal difference.
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