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Much like bad weather swept through the north-west the night before, City blew Manchester United aside at the Etihad. It was a statement three goal victory for Andrée Jeglertz’s side due to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a result that firmly established their leadership claims as they reinforced their place at the WSL pinnacle.

Successive Defeats for United

This scoreline signalled consecutive league losses for Skinner's side for the first time since last May, putting them seven points off the league leaders with their championship aspirations severely dented.

Manchester United's capability to juggle league and continental football with a thin team has been a hotly discussed topic since they secured entry to the Champions League. Reviewing the schedule, it always seemed this was the week that would seriously challenge this fortitude. Unfortunately for the away side, they appeared fatigued from start to finish, the memorable win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having taken a toll.

Tactical Shifts

Marc Skinner had tried to make changes with a a few changes. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all added energy, although the dropping of the on-form Malard to the bench caused surprise.

The hosts, in opposition, have no similar workload concerns. Jeglertz made a single alteration from the previous win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her first start since recovering from injury.

Dominant First Half

The storm clouds started to build for the United boss and his team from the opening minute. This was a exhibition of the strength from City whose potent attack played with and dismantled the opposition with a excellent opening period display that saw them put three past the keeper in under half an hour.

This put the hosts completely dominant and had Manchester United disorganized. Prior to this encounter, United had conceded just six in this league campaign but they disintegrated in the wake of the hosts' offensive ingenuity.

Opening Threats

The omens came quickly when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to muscle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot wide. Lauren Hemp was at the core of everything from the start, taking advantage of the gap left by Riviere down the visitors' wing. Her passes were creating danger and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg kicked off the line.

United had multiple sorties ahead, their long-ball tactic giving them alternatives in the wide areas but they could not challenge Yamashita. Manchester City, on the other hand, commanded possession, teasing their opponents and trying to draw them out of their organization.

Triple Strike

They made their pressure count with almost half an hour played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A ball to the far post was headed across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to nod home. It was City’s seventh headed goal of the term.

They added to their lead with another pair of goals just before the break. When Jade Rose was able to maraud through the middle from the back, the play became spacious for the hosts. The key Kerstin Casparij collected the pass on the wing before delivering a accurate low cross for Shaw to force home. A short time later, they had a third goal after a quick turnover in possession saw Hemp given the space to strike a attempt home from distance.

Final Period

The clearest adjustment came from Skinner at the break as Melvine Malard entered for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was too late to shift the momentum of the match. Ex- Manchester City player Jess Park came most likely to score, rattling the post, but the away team were creatively abject and were unable to produce a solitary shot on goal.

The hosts, meanwhile, could have added to their cushion when a delightful Vivianne Miedema through ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it mattered little to the winning team. Having failed to overcome any side who ended above them in the prior term, the manager's side now have wins against the Gunners and Manchester United to put them in a commanding position after nine games.