Manchester United celebrated the 250th game in the club’s history with a narrow victory over Liverpool in the Women’s Super League.
Eva Olid’s side were rewarded for their early pressure after six minutes when Julia Zigiotti Olme intercepted Khiara Keating’s poor pass out from the back and lofted the ball into the net with Keating stranded.
Despite going behind so early, Liverpool grew into the game and United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce made a superb double save to deny Cornelia Kapocs and then Beata Olsson from close range.
Jess Park crashed a shot off the crossbar for the hosts and Andrea Medina thumped the rebound towards the near post, but Keating tipped the shot behind.
In an end-to-end first half, Olsson was denied by Tullis-Joyce after her low strike at the near post was well saved.
With the last kick of the opening period, Ella Toone – left out of the England squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers – threaded a ball through to Medina but Keating reacted quickly to smother the shot.
Elizabeth Terland tried to double United’s lead with a curling effort but Keating pushed clear as the hosts made it back-to-back victories in the league.
The result lifts them up to sixth, behind Liverpool on goal difference.
After conceding goals in the 95th and 92nd minutes against Arsenal and West Ham respectively, Olid’s side did not make the mistake a third time.
It is the first clean sheet United have kept in all competitions this season, with Tullis-Joyce central to that with eight key saves.
Anna Sandberg and Maya le Tissier were part of a solid backline and both made six clearances to stop Liverpool scoring.
United had chances to increase their lead but, despite failing to do so, they were defensively disciplined until the final whistle.
The home side have avoided defeat in their past 31 matches when scoring first in the league, since a 2-1 defeat by Liverpool in December 2023.
After the match Olid said: “I am so happy with the three points, still a lot to improve. We have to be better in the final third, we create, last pass and finishing needs to be better but that will come.
“We start to click in a lot of things, fight for each other, hard work. We need to work hard to improve and in possession. The minimum is to give everything every game. Now with training we’ve improve the rest. Little by little.”
Liverpool analysis: Reds punished for lapse in concentration
United pressed high early on, forcing Keating into the mistake for the opener, and while Liverpool recovered well the damage had been done.
Keating made some amends with two important saves to keep her side in the game.
Liverpool have conceded four first-half goals in five games, with only Charlton (five) conceding more in the league this season.
The Reds had an expected goals total of 1.41, compared to 0.59 for United, but were unable to make the most of their chances.
Olsson, Kapocs and Marie Hobinger all had two shots on target but could not get the better of Tullis-Joyce as they fell to their second league defeat of the season.
Liverpool boss Gareth Taylor said: “Their keeper was busier than ours. We make an error early and their tails are up. My early analysis? It’s difficult when straight after but we need to be braver.
“We ended up becoming what they are, very direct. Their goalkeeper was literally kicking out of her hands. It’s a very direct way of playing. We fell into that trap ourselves.
“We have got to be braver, to handle the ball and do what we do. It feels like the game last season where we tried to play a team at a different style. It surprised me today.”
