Manchester United fans might've felt apprehensive on Sunday morning ahead of a Premier League clash with Liverpool, but the Red Devils were favourites to beat the Merseyside outfit in the Women's Super League a few hours earlier. And it looked like they'd have at least one win to celebrate when Ella Toone fired them into the lead with just three minutes on the clock.
But that perfect start was as good as it got for Marc Skinner's side as the visitors came back to condemn United to a 2-1 defeat that, if Chelsea beat newly-promoted Bristol City later, could leave them seven points off the top as the league's winter break begins.
United were quick out of the blocks and had something to show for it almost immediately, Toone pouncing on Leah Galton's recycled cross to arrow the ball past Teagan Micah in the Liverpool goal. Melvine Malard nearly doubled that lead moments later, but could only hit the side-netting after rounding the goalkeeper, while Millie Turner saw a bullet header crash against the crossbar.
But that was about it for opportunities for the home side. Instead, Liverpool got back into things, mainly thanks to Mel Lawley, who looked like she had the ball glued to her feet anytime she picked it up in the first half. Her mazy dribbles caused a serious problem for the United defence and created the visitors' equaliser, her cross inadvertently directed into the back of her own net by Turner.
The Reds then took the lead midway through the second half when, after some poor marking in the United box, Taylor Hinds was able to stroll into a central area on her own and direct Marie Hobinger's corner beyond Mary Earps.
The home side put Liverpool under the cosh as the final whistle loomed, but even with 12 minutes of added-time, they couldn't create an opportunity to at least rescue a draw, dropping points for the fifth time in the WSL this season after just 10 games.
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