Liverpool Women continued their impressive pre-season form with a 2-1 victory over Manchester United at Carrington on Sunday. The win marks a fourth consecutive friendly triumph for the Reds as they build towards the new Women's Super League campaign, aiming to improve on last season's 11th-place finish.
According to a report from the club's official website, www.liverpoolfc.com, the match was a tight affair. The first half saw few clear-cut chances. Liverpool's first opportunity came from a cross by left-back Anna Josendal, while Marie Höbinger had a shot blocked by Maya Le Tissier. On the right flank, Germany international Vivien Endemann posed a consistent threat for the visitors. United's best first-half efforts saw Elisabeth Terland shoot wide and Cornelia Kapocs force a fine save from goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who tipped the Swedish forward's effort around the post.
How did Liverpool come from behind to win?
The game sparked into life early in the second half. Manchester United took the lead in bizarre fashion when a back-pass from Maya Le Tissier, touched by Liverpool's Aurélie Csillag, was miscontrolled by goalkeeper Janina Leitzig and rolled into her own net. The home side's parity lasted barely a minute, however, as Ella Toone equalized, assisted by Elisabeth Terland.
Liverpool regained the lead just after the hour mark. The winning goal was a well-worked team move. Fuka Nagano set up Vivien Endemann, whose delivery was headed across goal by Aurélie Csillag for Ceri Holland to finish. Manager Matt Beard made a host of substitutions throughout the half, introducing players like Bergstrom, Maclean, and Agrez. In the final ten minutes, academy prospects Izzie Breen, Ella Jones, and Vic Jones were given valuable minutes. United's Lea Schuller had a late chance to level but shot over the bar.
What does this result mean for pre-season preparations?
This fourth straight win provides a significant confidence boost for Liverpool Women. The team conceded 34 goals last season in the WSL, so building defensive resilience while finding a cutting edge is vital. Scoring twice against a top-tier opponent like Manchester United, who are managed by Gareth Taylor, is a positive sign. The performance integrated new faces and gave game time to a mix of experienced players and youth, which is essential for squad depth.
Liverpool ended the 2025 WSL season in 11th place with 17 points from 22 games, recording four wins, five draws, and 13 losses. Their goal difference of -13, with 21 scored and 34 conceded, is an area they will be focused on strengthening. You can track the team's progress and upcoming matches on our fixtures page.
What are the key takeaways from the match?
Several individual performances stood out. Ceri Holland's match-winning contribution will be welcomed, while the creative link-up between Fuka Nagano, Vivien Endemann, and Aurélie Csillag for the goal showed promising attacking chemistry. Defensively, the team limited a strong United attack for large periods, though they will want to cut out the errors that led to the equalizer. The run-out for academy players at a competitive venue like Carrington is also a major positive for long-term development.
With the new season approaching, every minute on the pitch counts. The team's recent form of L-L-L-W-D in the final games of last season is now a distant memory, replaced by a winning pre-season mentality. The current squad, which you can view in full on our squad page, is showing signs of gelling effectively.
What's next for Liverpool Women?
Liverpool's pre-season schedule continues this Sunday, August 30, with a fixture against Durham at the St Helens Stadium. This will be another important test as the coaching staff finalizes plans for the WSL opener. The team knows the scale of the challenge ahead; they finished 38 points behind champions Manchester City W last term. Building momentum now is critical for a stronger league campaign. Fans can follow the team's league position once the action starts on our standings hub.
