Liverpool ended Manchester United’s seven-game winning run with a statement 3-1 victory at Anfield, as Arsenal leapfrogged the Red Devils to go second in the Women’s Super League.
With leaders Chelsea not in action this weekend owing to their League Cup final date with Manchester City, United had a chance to move within five points of the summit.
Marc Skinner’s team had won seven straight league matches since going down 1-0 to Sonia Bompastor’s Blues in November, but they were torn apart by a resurgent Liverpool.
A fine Rachael Laws stop prevented Celin Bizet from putting United ahead early on, and Liverpool struck in the 42nd minute as Phallon Tullis-Joyce failed to keep out Olivia Smith’s effort from a tight angle.
Liverpool had been forced to soak up plenty of pressure in the first half, yet they went into the interval with a 2-0 lead as Fuka Nagano turned Samantha Kerr’s cross into the bottom-right corner.
United’s hopes of a comeback were dashed just after the hour mark as Jayde Riviere brought Alejandra Bernabe down inside the area, allowing Smith to fire home for her second of the game.
Maya Le Tissier produced a fine run and finish late on, but that proved to be a mere consolation as Liverpool made it two wins in as many WSL matches since firing Matt Beard and appointing Amber Whiteley as interim coach.
United’s slip-up allowed Arsenal to leapfrog them in the table, with the Gunners earning a 3-1 win at Everton to go above the Red Devils on goal difference.
Alessia Russo turned home to open the scoring in the 24th minute, netting for the 14th time in all competitions this campaign, but Everton hit back 12 minutes later as Toni Payne bundled home on the rebound following a blocked Katja Snoeijs effort.
Arsenal had drawn 1-1 on their most recent WSL trip to Everton last season, but they would not be denied this time around.
Caitlin Foord came off the bench and immediately fed Emily Fox, and Everton defender Maren Mjelde turned the latter’s inviting cross into her own net.
Russo got her second and Arsenal’s third in stoppage time, taking Beth Mead’s pass in her stride to round Courtney Brosnan and slot home.
Data Debrief: Williamson makes club history, United fall short
Arsenal captain Leah Williamson made her 158th WSL appearance for the club on Friday, sealing her place in the Gunners’ history books.
That took her clear of Jordan Nobbs as Arsenal’s all-time leading appearance-maker in the competition.
Mead, meanwhile, inched ever closer to a landmark of her own, as she is now just two assists away from becoming the first player to record a half-century in the WSL.
But there would be no share of history for United, who could have won eight straight WSL games for just the second time, previously doing so between March and October 2023.
Instead, interim Liverpool boss Whiteley became the first Reds coach to win their first two WSL matches in charge of the club.
