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Much like the recent storm swept through the north-west the night before, Manchester City overwhelmed the visitors aside at the Etihad. It was a emphatic three goal victory for their manager's side thanks to goals from Knaak, Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a display that clearly signaled their title credentials as they strengthened their place at the league summit.

Back-to-Back Losses for Manchester United

This outcome signalled successive Women's Super League losses for Skinner's side for the maiden instance since last May, putting them seven points off the top team with their trophy ambitions hanging by a thread.

United’s capacity to balance domestic and continental football with a limited squad has been a hotly discussed topic since they qualified for the Champions League. Reviewing the calendar, it always felt like this was the matchday that would fully examine this ability. Regrettably for the away side, they looked weary all game, the landmark win against PSG clearly having had an impact.

Tactical Shifts

Skinner had sought to make changes with a handful of alterations. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all added freshness, although the dropping of the in-form Melvine Malard to the substitutes was questioned.

City, in contrast, have no such fitness issues. Andrée Jeglertz made a single alteration from the previous win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her first start since returning from injury.

Dominant First Half

The trouble started to gather for the United boss and his side from the first whistle. This was a demonstration of the power from Manchester City whose potent attack controlled and tore United open with a sublime initial 45 minutes showing that saw them put three past the keeper in under half an hour.

This put the hosts in a commanding position and saw the visitors all at sea. In advance of this fixture, United had let in just a handful in this WSL season but they disintegrated in the face of City’s attacking flair.

Early Chances

The warning signs came soon when Miedema used her power to push Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot past the post. Hemp was at the core of everything in the beginning, taking advantage of the gap left by Jayde Riviere down United’s right flank. Her crosses were creating danger and led to an opportunity for Hasegawa that Sandberg cleared off the line.

The Red Devils had several sorties ahead, their direct style giving them choices in the flanks but they could not test the City goalkeeper. City, meanwhile, dominated the ball, probing their opponents and trying to draw them out of their structure.

Scoring Spree

They made their pressure count with almost the first period played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a corner. A delivery to the back post was headed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to head in. It was Manchester City's 7th goal from a cross of the campaign.

They added to their lead with two more goals just before the break. When Jade Rose was permitted to drive through the midfield from the back, the pitch widened for City. The prominent Kerstin Casparij received possession on the right side before sending a pinpoint low cross for Shaw to bundle home. Shortly later, they had a third goal after a swift shift in the ball saw Hemp given the opportunity to strike a attempt home from distance.

After the Break

The primary change came from Skinner at the interval as Malard was introduced for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was ineffective to change the course of the match. Ex- Manchester City player Park came nearest, striking the post, but the away team were lacking in ideas and were unable to register a solitary shot on target.

The home side, in contrast, could have extended their lead when a superb Vivianne Miedema through ball sent Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it did not affect the result to the hosts. Having failed to beat any team who ended above them the previous campaign, City's side now have victories against Arsenal and United to place them in a strong standing after the opening fixtures.