Ella Toone has scored twice in four WSL games this season
At a glance
Early Miyazawa rocket opens scoring
Toone doubles lead late in first half
Liverpool improve but remain winless
Manchester United continued their fine start to the Women's Super League season with a dominant 2-0 victory against winless Liverpool at St Helens Stadium.
It took just four minutes for Marc Skinner's side to take the lead, as Hinata Miyazawa met a Jess Park cross at the edge of the penalty area with a thumping strike that flew past WSL debutant Rafaela Borggrafe in the Liverpool goal.
In first-half injury time, Ella Toone finished calmly after Elisabeth Terland selflessly squared the ball to her to double United's lead, just moments after Ceri Holland forced United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce into a smart stop.
It has been an emotional week for Liverpool after the death of their former manager Matt Beard last Saturday.
As they did during their League Cup win against Sunderland on Wednesday, the home fans sang the name of their former manager in the 13th and 14th minutes, this time in the presence of Beard's wife Debbie and mother Margaret.
United dominated the first half, with Marc Skinner's side enjoying 68.3% possession and taking 10 shots on goal.
Liverpool were presented with chances to get back into the game in the second half, but Cornelia Kapocs fired wide when through on goal before Tullis-Joyce denied Mia Enderby from close range.
Gareth Taylor's side improved as the game went on, but still could barely lay a hand on a United side they had beaten in three of their previous four WSL meetings.
United go top of the table - with Chelsea playing West Ham later on Sunday - with 10 points from four games.
Liverpool remain pointless after three games with only goal difference keeping them off the bottom of the table.
United analysis: Skinner's side look like title challengers
Speaking during his pre-match news conference on Friday, United boss Marc Skinner said the best tribute he and his team could pay to Beard would be to "go out and put on a fantastic performance and try to win the game because that is what he always tried to do".
United's players certainly took that message on board in the first half with a dominant display that showed just why they should be considered serious title challengers.
As spectacular as Miyazawa's opener was, it was a finish enabled by slick team play.
Summer signing Jess Park timed her run to perfection when running on to Toone's through ball, before her cross found its way to her onrushing Japanese team-mate.
Skinner often speaks of the unity in his squad, and that was evident when Toone doubled her side's lead.
United's top scorer last season Elisabeth Terland has found minutes harder to come by so far this term thanks to the form of Melvine Malard, but she ignored her striker's instincts to slide the ball across to Toone when she could have taken the glory herself.
Skinner may be concerned with the way Liverpool grew into the second half as United ceded control, but when you have a goalkeeper as formidable as Tullis-Joyce, does it matter?
The American made two great saves to preserve her 16th clean sheet since the start of last season, the most of any goalkeeper in the WSL.
Liverpool analysis: Positives for Taylor but gulf remains
Liverpool looked much more like a side in Gareth Taylor's image during their midweek League Cup thrashing of Sunderland, but against United he was reminded of the size of the task at hand.
Taylor's Manchester City side used to dominate possession, but in the first half against United, his new side could barely get a kick.
That said, Liverpool were much improved in the second half.
The half-time introduction of Mia Enderby made a big impact, as the young forward repeatedly caused problems for United's backline.
Their performance arguably deserved a goal, but when Kapocs fired wide when through on goal after pouncing on Riviere's mistake, it felt like Liverpool's wastefulness would cost them.
One more chance came their way, but Enderby's shot was too close to Tullis-Joyce. In the end, quality told.
While there are positives to take, Taylor will know his side need to secure a first league win of the season sooner rather than later.
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