Liverpool have thrown one of the toughest groups in this season’s FA Women’s Continental League Cup wide open by defeating top tier side Manchester United 3-1 at Prenton Park this afternoon.
Rachel Furness netted a double while Rinsola Babajide was also on target for The Reds as they came from behind to get their FA Women’s Continental League Cup campaign off to a winning start on Merseyside.
A competitive first half saw Manchester United register the early attempts on goal. First, debutant Tobin Heath found space on the left but fired straight at Liverpool keeper Rylee Foster from six yards before Alessia Russo whipped a free-kick wide.
Heath saw a further effort blocked by a Liverpool body just before the half-hour and from the resulting corner kick, the ball eventually landed at the feet of Millie Turner whose mis-hit shot was planted into the net by the head of her defensive colleague McManus.
Liverpool were to go into the break level. Five minutes after United’s goal, Furness’ downward header from a corner kick was adjudged to have been handled by Jane Ross and the Northern Irish international sent visiting keeper Emily Ramsey the wrong way from the spot.
The visitors came out the sharper of the two sides after the break and Ella Toone fired an effort onto the crossbar before half-time substitute Leah Galton looped a shot into the stand.
It was Liverpool who were given a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 71st minute when Jess Clarke drew a foul from Millie Turner in the box. The referee correctly awarded the penalty which substitute Babajide successfully dispatched.
The home side added to their lead a little over 10 minutes later when a corner kick from the left found the reliable head of Furness at the back post and the player collected her second goal of the game to round off an excellent performance from the FA Women’s Championship side.
Liverpool sit at the top of their group at least for a few hours with Manchester City and Everton contesting their opening group fixture at The Academy Stadium this evening.
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