WSL: Roundup of the weekend’s Super League action – Liverpool shock win, Chelsea open gap
The final games of the WSL before the winter break took place over the weekend with some shock results.
The WSL is on Christmas break and will return on January 14 in the Women’s FA Cup against Watford.
Liverpool stun United
Liverpool 2-1 Manchester City
After going 1-0 down early into the match, Liverpool fought back to earn a surprise win over – their first ever win over Man Utd in the WSL.
Ella Toone opened the scoring within just three minutes, but Liverpool hit back against the run of play in the 33rd minute, as Melissa Lawley’s deep cross from the right was headed into her own goal by Millie Turner, under pressure from Emma Koivisto.
Liverpool went ahead in the 68th minute, from a corner, captain Taylor Hinds was able to hook the ball.
United could not force an equaliser, and manager Marc Skinner was scathing in his assessment.
“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,” said Skinner. “You can play all the pretty football you want, you need to win headers. It’s not good enough.
“We can’t blame fatigue,” Skinner continued. “It’s desire to win the ball, to go and compete. We can’t be beaten like that. When they [the players] come back from the [international] break, they had better be fired up.”
The Liverpool manager, Matt Beard, was delighted to see his team win a fixture they lost 6-0 last season. “I’m super proud. I think we nearly gifted them a second, but I thought we were the better team over the course of the 105 minutes that we played today,” he said.
“It is great for us to celebrate in front of our fans and go off to Christmas with three points,” Beard added. On Bonner’s injury status, he said: “I do not know, I haven’t been in yet, but we will find out and release a statement later.”
Lauren James wonder goal
Chelsea 3-0 Bristol City
Chelsea have gone three points clear at the top after a 3-0 win over Bristol City. Lauren James curled home the opening goal after just 17 minutes, followed by Erin Cuthbert’s volley which put the Blues in control at half time.
Sam Kerr headed home the final goal just before the hour mark, putting the game to bed.
The only downside for the Blues was a late red card for Niamh Charles.
Bristol City are now at the bottom of the table on goal difference.
Bunny Shaw golden boot?
Manchester City 4-1 Everton
It’s still early into the season but Bunny Shaw is en route to win the Golden Boot after scoring another hat-trick, despite missing an early penalty.
City is now second in the table.
West Ham lift off
West Ham 1-1 Leicester
West Ham climbed off the bottom of the table after Honoka Hayashi’s equaliser deep in stoppage time earned a 1-1 draw with Leicester at the King Power. Lena Petermann’s 70th-minute strike looked to have ended the hosts’ six-game winless league run, but Hayashi bundled home in the 98th minute to grab a point.
Villa picks up 3-points
Aston Villa 1-0 Brighton
Aston Villa picked up a welcome three points with a 1-0 home victory over Brighton. Adriana Leon scored the winner just past the hour with a clever finish from a tight angle, and the hosts held on despite Maz Pacheco’s late red card to leapfrog their opponents in the table.
