Manchester United settle for second despite victory over Liverpool | OneFootball

Manchester United have ended the season as Barclays Women’s Super League runners-up despite recording a 1-0 win over Liverpool at Prenton Park this afternoon.

It was not to be for The Red Devils. While they were able to claim the victory that they needed over Liverpool, Chelsea’s 3-0 win against Reading earned the South West Londoners their fourth consecutive league title at Manchester United’s expense.

The first half passed without incident for the most part with only Ona Batlle’s cross troubling the Liverpool goal as the ball rebounded off the woodwork. That was until the game entered stoppage time when a long ball over the top of the Liverpool defence from Katie Zelem found Nikita Parris. The forward sweetly struck the bouncing ball but Liverpool keeper Rachael Laws  was able to brush it onto the far upright with her fingertips.

The second half continued in much the same vein with neither team able to carve out too many clear-cut chances. Emma Koivisto had Liverpool’s best opportunity when she met a low cross into the box, however, Mary Earps got across well and parried the ball away to safety.

Manchester United’s season looked to be dwindling out to a limp finale until Lucía García entered the game. It is something that the Manchester United faithful have come to expect from the Spaniard and she popped up with a winning goal once again from the bench. The attacker got on the end of a long ball and while her first attempt completely bypassed the ball, she drilled her effort beyond Laws at the second time of asking.

That single goal was enough to earn Manchester United the three points but sadly for them, they could do nothing to stop Chelsea claiming top spot once again. Nevertheless, it is The Red Devils’ highest-ever finish in the Barclays Women’s Super League and with UEFA Women’s Champions League football coming to Leigh next season, it could give them the lift needed to close the gap. As for Liverpool, they finish seventh, a more than respectable placing in their first year back in the top flight.