Man Utd 6-0 Liverpool WSL: Player ratings as Red Devils romp to emphatic victory
By Tom Gott
Manchester United handed out a reminder of the gulf in quality between themselves and Liverpool on Sunday as they roared to an emphatic 6-0 victory.
Marc Skinner's side flexed their quality from the first whistle and they were ahead inside six minutes as Lucia Garcia's scrappy effort deflected past Rachael Laws in the Liverpool net.
Hannah Blundell should have added a second soon after, but Alessia Russo did find the back of the net midway through the first half. Ella Toone picked up possession after a sloppy Liverpool move and her threaded ball allowed a ruthless Russo to fire into the bottom corner.
Liverpool weren't totally silenced in attack, with both Jasmine Matthews and Niamh Fahey getting good sights of goal, but their profligacy was punished as Hayley Ladd rose highest to steer a header into the far corner - a goal which saw them move up to second in the WSL standings after Arsenal were held by Chelsea earlier in the day.
The second half began brighter for Liverpool as the Reds stepped up the tempo and pressed higher on United, but Skinner's title hopefuls only extended their lead in the 64th minute when Millie Turner's strike was turned into her own net by Emma Koivisto.
Martha Thomas scored just moments after coming off the bench with the simplest finish of the afternoon. Toone set it up perfectly with a fierce low cross that was simply begging to be converted, and the substitute duly obliged with her second touch of the ball.
There was still time for a sixth as Rachel Williams connected with a cross from Ladd to seal a memorable victory.
To cap off a sensational day, the attendance of 7,666 at Leigh Sports Village set a new record for United's home games.
Man Utd player ratings
GK: Mary Earps (7); RB: Ona Batlle (9); CB: Maya Le Tissier (7); CB: Millie Turner (8); LB: Hannah Blundell (8); DM: Katie Zelem (8); DM: Hayley Ladd (9); RM: Lucia Garcia (8); AM: Ella Toone (9); LM: Nikita Parris (6); ST: Alessia Russo (8)
Substitutes: Martha Thomas (7); Maria Thorisdottir (7); Adriana Leon (6); Vilde Boe Risa (6); Rachel Williams (7)
Liverpool player ratings
GK: Rachael Laws (3); RB: Emma Koivisto (4); CB: Niamh Fahey (5); CB: Megan Campbell (5); LB: Gemma Bonner (4); RM: Taylor Hinds (5); CM: Ceri Holland (6); CM: Jasmine Matthews (6); LM: Melissa Lawley (6); ST: Yana Daniels (5); ST: Shanice van de Sanden (5)
Substitutes: Missy Bo Kearns (6); Sofie Lundgaard (6); Rachel Furness (6); Leighanne Robe (6); Carla Humphrey (N/A)