Manchester United 1-2 Liverpool: Womens Super League as it happened | Women's Super League

Manchester United 1-2 Liverpool

Liverpool fought back from conceding an early goal to earn a surprise win over Manchester United, the women’s side’s first-ever win over their rivals. Ella Toone slotted home in just the third minute, before Melvine Malard fired into the side netting with the goal at her mercy moments later.

The hosts were punished for not taking more of their chances in the 33rd minute, as Melissa Lawley’s fine cross from the right was headed into her own goal by Millie Turner, under pressure from Emma Koivisto. Turner made amends in the second half, blocking Ceri Holland’s shot, but Liverpool did go ahead in the 68th minute.

From a corner, substitute Shanice van de Sanden’s delivery caused chaos in the United defence and the Liverpool captain, Taylor Hinds, hooked the ball home. 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, parried away by Teagan Micah.

Marc Skinner is next to talk, and he offers a scathing assessment of his United side’s performance. “We lost on the fundamentals. Liverpool are not nice to play against, and we didn’t match that – we were too passive in the final third.

“You can play all the pretty football you want, you need to win headers. It’s not good enough. We can’t blame fatigue. It’s desire to win the ball, to go and compete. We can’t be beaten like that. When they come back from the break, they had better be fired up.”

Post-game thoughts from Taylor Hinds: “It feels amazing, this game is another derby for us. You can see how happy our fans are, which means everything to us. We’ve put [the 6-0 defeat last season] way behind us – you can see we’ve added a lot to this team.

On the goal, she says: “Normally I’m on the edge of the box, but I had a feeling I would score today!” On Gemma Bonner’s injury, she adds: “I haven’t heard anything, the fact she walked off the pitch … hopefully she’ll be alright. She’s a tough girl.”

Full time: Manchester United 1-2 Liverpool

It was tight but Liverpool just about deserved the victory in the end. United were a long way from their best, especially considering they took the lead so early on but Liverpool recovered after their slow start.

90+10 mins: Hinds takes a more sensible approach on the other flank and wins a corner from her attempted cross.

Hobinger might as well crawl across to take it. Van de Sanden lives out her dream of protecting the ball in the corner, winning her side a throw. Liverpool are doing some top-notch timewasting.

90+8 mins: Van de Sanden gets the ball in a dangerous position but instead of driving into the box, she decides to head for the corner flag. Not a clue why. United manage to dispossess her anyway, to the make act look even more futile.

90+6 mins: Williams does well to control a floated cross into the box but she is crowded out to stop her from shooting.

90+4 mins: Lundgaard is on for Holland. Liverpool need all the fresh legs they can get.

90+2 mins: Liverpool are running the ball into the corner. It might be a touch early for that …

90 mins: 12 minutes added on.

89 mins: United move the ball around quickly in an around the Liverpool box. It ends with Garcia laying it into the path of Zelem but her powerful drive is fisted clear by Micah.

87 mins: Bonner is able to walk off the pitch, which help of the medical staff. The finally show a replay of the incident and I can confirm that Williams gave her a smash in the mouth with her head.

Kiernan will replace her.

85 mins: Bonner is sat up covered in blood.

84 mins: The medical personnel are still working on Bonner. The stretcher is waiting to take her off the pitch and Liverpool are preparing a replacement.

83 mins: Beard calls all his players over to the touchline for a minute, allowing the medical staff to do their work in the goalmouth.

82 mins: Galton sends in a very dangerous cross into the box which is headed away by Bonner, who clashes heads with Williams and is left motionless on the ground. The medical staff are straight on.

80 mins: United are looking to go a bit more direct but Liverpool will not mind that.

78 mins: The free-kick from the right is headed back across the box to Geyse who nods wide when she should do better.

Micah sits down and asks for medical assistance. Everyone, as always, takes this moment to get a drink and some instructions. Unsurprisingly, Micah is fine.

The sun has come out in Leigh!

76 mins: Zelem lifts a corner deep to the back post which Williams heads off a Liverpool defender and the ball loops over.

Bonner is booked for a a dreadful challenge on Williams. It is above the ankle. That should be a red, in my opinion.

74 mins: Changes for United … Toone and Ladd off, Naalsund and Geyse on. The subs are announced to a smattering of boos who think Toone should stay on.

72 mins: Hobinger sends in another dangerous cross but it is a little behind Roman Haug who cannot put the pace and accuracy required on the ball.

Down the other end … Garcia gets into the box and pulls the ball back in the direction for Toone but the purple shirts are back in numbers and clear.

70 mins: Someone has set a flare off and no one knows what to do at Leigh. Whatever next?

Questions will be asked of Earps on the corner because she could have come for it. Life isn’t easy as a goalkeeper.

GOAL! Manchester United 1-2 Liverpool (Hinds, 68)

Van de Sanden is on and makes an immediate impact, winning a corner on the right. The resulting set piece is swung into the six-yard box by Hobinger where Hinds is left unmarked, allowing her to turn home. Poor defending from United.

66 mins: Garcia and Williams on for United, who have looked pretty blunt in the second half. Malard and Parris off.

64 mins: Roman Haug complains that Ladd pulled her hair in a challenge after being awarded a free-kick.

Kearns off, Hobinger on for Liverpool.

62 mins: Koivisto is penalised for a bodycheck on Galton but is only punished with a free-kick, rather than a second booking.

Chance for Liverpool! Hinds lifts a perfect pass to Holland in the box, she takes a touch but Turner gets across to block her shot from close range.

The corner causes chaos in the box. First the ball is cleared off the line after Earps fails to deal with the set piece and then again when a second shot comes in.

60 mins: Toone lifts a lovely pass over the top for Malard but the flag goes up immediately. I think if United are to get a winner here, it will involve Toone. She looks the most inventive player on the pitch currently.

58 mins: United are forced to pass the ball from side to side in an attempt to find a gap in the Liverpool defence but they cannot locate one.

56 mins: United play some nice stuff to get the ball out from the back. It eventually reaches Parris, who passes to Riviere but her poor touch allows Kearns to win possession.

53 mins: Galton finds Toone down the left, who darts for the byline. She takes a second to look up for Parris at the back post but the winger cannot get off the ground to head the ball and the cross flies over her.

51 mins: Riviere is on the end of a poor challenge from Holland and earns a free-kick. There have been a few lively challenges since the break …

49 mins: Hinds is the latest player to lay on the turf after her tackle on Parris. I think she has taken an arm to the face. The medic is taking a look at the Liverpool captain.

47 mins: Toone stays down for a few seconds after being tackled on the edge of the box. She gets up but is limping around slowly. After a bit of jogging, she seems to have run it off.

Second half

Here we go again!

One of the great men.

Half time: Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool

Very much a half of two halves. It looked like United could run away with it after Toone’s early opener but Liverpool grew into the game and earned a deserved equaliser.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTEoKyaqpSerq96wqikaJ6fpMGjrculZqWhppp8c3yRbGadnZNkfnh7zJqlnKCVqMGmvoyupaKslZl6t3nLoq2eqqCkvK151qiknqajYsC2vMSrZKWdkZzCpnnLoq2e