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Just as bad weather tore through the north-west the prior day, the home side swept United away at the their home ground. It was a statement 3-0 win for their manager's side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a result that clearly signaled their leadership claims as they strengthened their standing at the league summit.

Successive Losses for United

This result signalled successive Women's Super League losses for Skinner's side for the first time since last May, placing them a significant margin off the top team with their championship aspirations severely dented.

Manchester United's ability to manage league and European football with a thin team has been a hotly discussed subject since they earned a place in the UCL. Reviewing the calendar, it always felt like this was the week that would seriously challenge this ability. Regrettably for the visitors, they looked fatigued all game, the landmark win against the French side clearly having left its mark.

Lineup Adjustments

Marc Skinner had sought to make changes with a handful of adjustments. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Galton all provided vigor, although the exclusion of the on-form Melvine Malard to the sidelines was questioned.

City, in contrast, have no similar workload concerns. Andrée Jeglertz made a single alteration from the previous win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her return to the lineup since recovering from a physical setback.

Commanding Opening Period

The storm clouds started to build for the United boss and his team from the kickoff. This was a show of the power from Manchester City whose energetic offense played with and tore United open with a excellent initial 45 minutes display that saw them put three past the keeper in just over twenty minutes.

This placed City firmly in control and had Manchester United disorganized. Before this encounter, the away side had allowed just six in this league campaign but they fell apart in the face of the hosts' offensive ingenuity.

Initial Opportunities

The omens came early when Miedema used her strength to push Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot past the post. Hemp was at the heart of everything in the beginning, taking advantage of the space left by Riviere down United’s right side. Her deliveries were posing a threat and led to an chance for Hasegawa that Sandberg kicked off the line.

United had several forays forwards, their direct style giving them choices in the flanks but they could not test Ayaka Yamashita. City, meanwhile, commanded possession, probing their opponents and trying to lure them of their defensive shape.

Triple Strike

They converted their dominance with almost the first period played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a set-piece. A delivery to the back post was headed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to head in. It was City’s seventh header of the term.

They extended their advantage with an additional two goals just before the interval. When Jade Rose was allowed to drive through the middle from central defence, the field widened for City. The prominent Casparij picked the ball up on the right side before delivering a precise ground pass for Shaw to tap home. A short time later, they had a third after a quick turnover in the ball saw Hemp allowed the room to drive a shot home from outside the box.

After the Break

The primary change came from Skinner at the half-time as Malard entered for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was ineffective to shift the momentum of the match. Ex- City player Jess Park came most likely to score, rattling the woodwork, but the visitors were creatively abject and failed to record a one shot on target.

The home side, in contrast, could have increased their lead when a superb Miedema pass sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it was insignificant to the hosts. Previously unable to defeat any side who ended above them last season, Jeglertz’s side now have wins against Arsenal and Manchester United to place them in a commanding position after nine matches.