Manchester United Women’s team could not follow up last week’s late win against Leicester, as they came unstuck against old rivals Liverpool.

Coach Marc Skinner spoke before the match that United could not be distracted by next week’s FA Cup final when he stated, “We’ve got a showpiece final next week, but we’ve got a final this weekend, and we’ve got a final, obviously, when we play at Old Trafford against Chelsea.”

However, his side were unable to respond as Liverpool had almost the double of shots with 19 to United’s 10.

The Red Devils just shaded possession with 55% but a Jenna Clark goal in first-half stoppage time was enough to give Liverpool the win.

Not only was pride at stake but also the win saw the Anfield side jump above United into fourth place with only one league game left to play in the Women’s Super League.

United almost got off to the perfect start when they caught Liverpool napping as Leah Galton was put through one-on-one in the fourth minute of play, but could not convert as she fired the ball straight at Liverpool’s keeper, Teagan Micah.

The home side then had their first chance of the afternoon when Ceri Holland got through some industrious work down the right-hand side and played a great ball across which Taylor Hinds could only hit right at a grateful Mary Earps in the United goal.

Holland was once again in the thick of the action as she unleashed a dipping drive that dropped just above the United keeper’s crossbar as Liverpool began to take charge of proceedings.

In a back-and-forth first half, United’s Millie Turner had a great chance to open the scoring in the 15th minute when a corner dropped in the penalty box and after some pinball, Turner swivelled and shot right down Micah’s throat.

The best chance soon fell to Liverpool just before the 20th-minute mark when Emma Koivisto found herself in oceans of space but could only head against the post, leaving Earps stranded. There was a chance for her to put away the rebound, but it came at her very quickly and from a Man United perspective, luckily bounced wide of the post.

There was drama on the touchline when Liverpool’s head coach, Matt Beard, was shown a direct red card for saying something to the referee after Koivisto went down late in the first half.

Shortly after, the Red Devil’s best chance of the game fell to the usually reliable Ella Toone. The 24-year-old snatched at a half-volley chance from just inside the box after great work from Lucia Garcia down the right-hand side had set her up perfectly to finish.

United were eventually punished in the 48th minute of play when a short corner was whipped in by Marie Höbinger and Clark got the slightest of touches to deflect the ball past the stranded Earps.

Skinner had spoken of Liverpool’s threat from set pieces before the match and United were all at sea for the goal.

The second half was largely one-way traffic as the Red Devils failed to really create any major chances to threaten the Merseysiders’ lead.

Earps made a smart save from yet another long-range effort and in the 62nd minute, Liverpool striker Mia Enderby went on a great run and after beating a couple of players, fired a long-range effort that just dipped over the bar and beat the goalkeeper’s outstretched glove.

The Old Trafford side left it late but they did have a couple of chances to find an equaliser. In the 87th minute, Katie Zelem fired in a long ball that substitute Rachel Williams got her head to but could not find the required control to threaten the Liverpool goal.

The home team did have one more chance as a mix-up in the United defence led Turner to clear the ball against the Liverpool attacker who could only fire into the side netting.

However, the Merseysiders almost paid for their wastefulness when Zelem fired a late free kick into the box, that was headed across goal and substitute Melvine Malard was almost the heroine as she produced a great header that was clawed away by the inspired Micah.

The game ended and Liverpool now find themselves three points ahead of United with only one game left in the Women’s Super League, as it looks like the Red Devils will have to content themselves with a disappointing fifth-place finish.

Nevertheless, the Red Devils can now look forward to a crucial game next weekend at Wembley when they take on Tottenham Hotspur, aiming to win the club’s first piece of silverware in the women’s game.

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Manchester United women’s Irish centre back, Aoife Mannion, has lavished praise on goalkeeper Mary Earps.

The United shot-stopper has had a meteoric rise over the last few seasons with her standing across world football skyrocketing.

Earps was a crucial part of England’s Euros win in 2022 and was also magnificent in her national team’s run to the final of the World Cup, saving a penalty in the final.

She has also been crowned the best keeper in world football for two consecutive years and won the BBC sports personality of the year award.

The 31 year old has carried her fine form into club football, as she put in an outstanding performance for the Red Devils when she faced a barrage of shots in the club’s 2-1 win over Chelsea in the recent FA Cup semi-final.

Speaking to talkSport, her teammate Mannion has claimed, “What Mary is like on the pitch is exactly what she’s like in training.”

The defender was also full of praise for the attitude she brings to matchdays.

“She’s full throttle, incredibly authentic and passionate as a character and very inspiring to be around on the pitch.”

The defender once again praised Earps’ acts of heroism on the pitch and spoke of one particular save she made in the vital semi-final victory over Chelsea a couple of weeks ago.

“I was saying to her in the gym actually that there was one particular save that she made [vs Chelsea] where it almost looked like she had to hyper extend or dislocate her shoulder to stop the ball from going in the net and I’m surprised there’s not been any videos or memes [because] basically when she did that, I just put my hands to my face and gasped.

“For that moment, I was like a fan watching it and it’s very rare in football in a game as a player where you have a sense of something that’s so incredible.”

Referencing how crucial Earps is for the team she commented, “She’s an incredible goalkeeper and sometimes, little moments like that in games can remind everyone just how lucky we are to have her and how lucky I am personally to play alongside her.”

“Some of those saves were just enormous and can’t be understated how incredible and skilful they are. I’m really pleased she was in the net for us because it could have been a very different outcome if she wasn’t.”

United’s women aim to finish the season strongly as they take on Leicester City on Sunday and still have two mouth-watering fixtures against Liverpool and Chelsea in the Women’s Super League.

However, Earps will be no doubt be champing at the bit to help United win their first piece of silverware when they take on Tottenham in the FA Cup final on the 12th of May.

There is little doubt that the England international will once again be of vital importance if United go on to win the trophy.

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Manchester United Women reached the final of the FA Cup this weekend to the delight of 6800 fans in Leigh Sports Village. They held on for a 2-1 victory over Chelsea, beating the current Champions for the first time in their 11 meetings.

United’s goal scorers, Lucia Garcia and Rachel Williams were visibly emotional at the final whistle as they spoke to club media, with the sound of their team-mates’ dressing room celebrations audible in the background.

“I’m so tired but so happy,” Garcia gushed. “It’s the first time we’ve beaten Chelsea and the best time to do it because we’re through to the final for the second year in a row.”

Garcia was surprised to learn that her goal came just 42 seconds into the game after Leah Galton won the ball and charged down the left. She delivered a cross into the box and Garcia headed it past Hannah Hampton.

“Wow! It was an amazing moment but we have to work hard now to win the final at Wembley,” Garcia said.

Williams doubled United’s lead with another header in the 23rd minute. Ella Toone provided the assist.

“It was a rewrite of last year’s final and there’s no easy route to the final,” Williams said. “To put in the hard work we have, the staff, the players the fans, they were absolutely brilliant.

“We’re going to enjoy today and then look forward to the final and hopefully, fingers crossed, we might just be able to win it.”

It was a gritty performance from United, who had to defend resolutely for much of the game. Lauren James clawed one back just before half-time but United held on for the win.

It was an intense and physical game which Mary Earps described to the BBC post match as being “horrible” but United found a way to win.

Williams continued: “The manager wanted to change things up. I’ve been in this league a long time, I’m not bothered about playing pretty football. If we have to play long ball, pretty football, pattern football, you play whatever you need to win games. We wanted to have players that were not only going to work hard on the ball but off it as well.”

In the second half, Williams took a ball to the face as she tried to prevent Hampton from hoofing it up the field.

“A big part of my game is physicality, a lot of people were saying about how I took the ball in the face off the keeper and you just get on with it. I’ll do it, because what’s more important is that we do our jobs out there and we got our rewards today.”

Williams praised Earps for her “brilliant” performance as she made seven big saves to maintain United’s lead.

“That’s why she’s had the accolades she’s had over the last few years because when you need your keeper to step up in big moments she’s done that.”

Maya Le Tissier posted on social media following the game that it was 89 minutes of defending for United and again Williams beamed with pride as she spoke of her team-mate.

“Right at the end Maya’s doing diving headers, nearly getting kicked in the face. I think with the ups and downs of this season that we’ve had, when this is what you’ve got left to play for, I ain’t going home tonight sitting on the sofa thinking I wish we’d done this, I wish we’d done that, we’ve given absolutely everything we can and that’s the reward.”

After the game, the club posted footage of the players dancing and singing in the dressing room.

TAKE ME HOMEEEEE! #MUWomen || #WomensFACup pic.twitter.com/tDQKFHBAkf

— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) April 14, 2024

Williams joked, “Zel says drinks on gaffer but I say two days off because after that, my body’s going to be battered!”

United will now switch their focus to the league as they host Tottenham next weekend in what will feel like a practice for the final as Spurs beat Leicester to guarantee their place at Wembley on May 12th.

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