Ella Toone leads Manchester United to WSL derby win over lowly Liverpool | OneFootball

Liverpool’s wait for their first points of the Women’s Super League season continued as a well-oiled Manchester United side enjoyed a surprisingly comfortable derby victory in St Helens.United had lost three of their past four WSL meetings with Liverpool, but on Sunday there appeared to be a significant gulf in quality between the two sides as the visitors extended their unbeaten start to the league campaign.

Liverpool’s German goalkeeper, Rafaela Borggräfe, made her first WSL appearance and started her second consecutive game in all competitions, despite currently being under investigation by the Football Association for an alleged racist comment that was overheard by teammates and staff during pre-season.

Her first real involvement in the game was to watch the ball fizz past her as Manchester United’s early pressure was rewarded with a fourth-minute opening goal. After good work down the right by Ella Toone, Jess Park’s cross was met by a lethal, first-time left-footed strike from Hinata Miyazawa that was struck with precision and power to give the hosts’ goalkeeper no chance.The visitors looked sharper, faster and far more confident in possession as they dominated most of the first 45 minutes thereafter, going close to adding a second when another eye-catching Miyazawa effort hit the post. There had also been chances for Jayde Riviere, who swerved a near-post effort wide after carrying the ball from her own half into the Liverpool penalty area, and for Julia Zigiotti Olme, who headed wide from a Melvine Malard cross.

Marc Skinner’s team were recycling possession very quickly on the rare occasions they did lose the ball, scarcely allowing Liverpool to keep it for more than a few seconds. Just before half-time, a rare Liverpool attack ended with Ceri Holland’s deflected shot being touched on to the post by the Manchester United shot-stopper, Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

Just moments later and with the interval looming, United doubled their lead. Elisabeth Terland’s persistence was rewarded as she won the ball off Gemma Evans and slipped a pass across goal to Toone, who finished clinically, low into the corner.Gareth Taylor’s team improved a little after the break and Cornelia Kapocs raced in behind the Manchester United defence on to a headed flick-on, but she dragged her shot wide.

There was a landmark moment at the start of the day as Liverpool’s Gemma Bonner became only the third player to make 200 WSL appearances, after Millie Bright and the division’s all-time leading appearance-maker, Jordan Nobbs.

There was very little else for Liverpool to be happy about, though, on what ultimately was a bad day for the hosts. They have zero points from three matches, after defeats to Everton and Leicester City in their opening two league games.

Header image: [Photograph: Cody Froggatt/PA]