Goals from 17-year-old Lauren James and captain Katie Zelem gave Manchester United their first win as a Women's Super League club when they faced bitter rivals Liverpool at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday.
The two sides went into the match level on points at the bottom of the WSL table, but it was the home side who prevailed, moving them into the top half ahead of the international break.
Playing in her third different position of the season so far, Wales' Hayley Ladd played on the right side of a midfield three, alongside Zelem and Ella Toone. They managed to keep the visitors quiet for most of the first half, before Ladd played a key part in United's first ever WSL goal, robbing Liverpool's Rinsola Babajide of the ball in a dangerous, before Jess Sigsworth laid it on for James to slot home.
Ladd almost turned provider herself in the 82nd minute, but Leah Galton could only head against the bar from a narrow angle. Toone's shot from the rebound also struck the crossbar, before Kirsty Hanson fired wide.
United's advantage was eventually doubled in injury time when Galton was brought down in the box by Niamh Fahey. Zelem, who spent four years with Liverpool at the start of her career, stepped up and sent goalkeeper Anke Preuss the wrong way to seal the win for the Red Devils.
The international break comes at a welcome time, as it should give the injured Jackie Groenen and Jane Ross extra recovery time ahead of United's next game on 13 October, when they travel to Tottenham Hotspur, who currently sit a place above them in the WSL table.
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