Liverpool stun Man Utd to seal first WSL win at Anfield

Liverpool stunned Manchester United at Anfield to dent their rivals' slim Women's Super League title hopes.

Olivia Smith's brilliant solo goal shocked the visitors, who had dominated possession, before Fuka Nagano added a quickfire second for the hosts on the stroke of half-time.

United, who had won seven straight league games, struggled to recover and Liverpool came out after the break with more purpose, buoyed by the home crowd.

They were rewarded as Smith added a third goal from the penalty spot when WSL debutant Alejandra Bernabe was tripped in the box by Jayde Riviere.

United managed to grab a late consolation through captain Maya Le Tissier but it was too late to unsettle the hosts.

Victory continues a remarkable start to interim Liverpool manager Amber Whiteley's tenure, just days after they booked their place in the FA Cup semi-finals with victory at Arsenal.

"I'm just so proud of the team. We prepared well this week and they went out there and executed the gameplan so, so well," said Whiteley.

"We had to weather a bit of a storm in the first half. The two goals just before half-time gave us huge confidence.

"[The fans] have been waiting for that. We want to play football that they can get behind and be proud of. We did that tonight."

Marc Skinner's United side had only conceded six goals in the WSL prior to Friday's defeat, which all-but ends their chances of catching runaway leaders Chelsea.

Whiteley leads Liverpool resurgence

Japan midfielder Fuka Nagano scored her first goal for Liverpool

Having gone 41 minutes without a touch in the opposition box, the hosts opened the scoring thanks to a piece of individual brilliance from Smith.

As she has done so often this season, Smith drove at the visitors' defence, burst into the box and caught out goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce at her near post.

The Kop roared in celebration and Liverpool fans had barely had chance to sit down before Nagano doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time, with her first goal for the club.

United had dominated the ball and came close on a couple of occasions - with Liverpool keeper Rachael Laws denying both Celin Bizet and Grace Clinton in the first half.

But for all their possession, the visitors struggled to create any clear-cut chances - and were ruthlessly punished.

It was to get even worse in the second half as Smith netted her second from the spot after good footwork from on-loan full-back Bernabe.

The 23-year-old had been drafted into Liverpool's starting XI amid illness in the squad, which meant they were without key players Gemma Bonner, Grace Fisk, Ceri Holland and Leanne Kiernan.

"We've had a massive boost in confidence," said Smith afterwards when asked what influence Whiteley has had on the team.

"That goes with her just giving us more clarity on our roles, switching the formation, allowing us to be ourselves and bringing out our individual qualities.

"I think we're on the right track. We just have to keep our momentum and stay sharp. It just felt unreal for me. I'm still in shock now.

"I haven't really processed it fully, but definitely super happy to celebrate with my team-mates."

This was a damaging result for United which leaves them eight points behind leaders Chelsea and third in the table - having been overtaken by Arsenal, on goal difference, after the Gunners beat Everton on Friday.

"We drop [points] tonight, other teams have dropped too, but it was probably unlikely that Chelsea were going to drop for a long time," said United boss Skinner.

"Look, it's disappointing. You can tell I'm disappointed, but I've got to find that little detail just to dial it up again."

Liverpool, however, continue their remarkable resurgence under interim boss Whiteley, who has guided her side to back-to-back wins in the WSL and an FA Cup quarter-final victory over Arsenal.

It is also a first WSL win at Anfield for Liverpool, who had lost all four of their previous league matches at the ground by an aggregate score of 7-1.