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Just as bad weather hit the north-west the prior day, City blew Manchester United away at the Etihad. It was a statement three goal victory for Andrée Jeglertz’s side thanks to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a result that firmly established their title credentials as they consolidated their standing at the WSL pinnacle.

Successive Setbacks for Manchester United

This scoreline marked back-to-back Women's Super League setbacks for the United manager's side for the first time since last May, leaving them seven points off the top team with their championship aspirations in serious doubt.

The Red Devils' capability to balance league and European soccer with a thin squad has been a widely debated issue since they earned a place in the UCL. Considering the calendar, it always felt like this was the period that would fully examine this ability. Unfortunately for the away side, they appeared weary from start to finish, the historic win against PSG clearly having left its mark.

Team Changes

The United manager had tried to make changes with a several alterations. Toone, Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all added freshness, although the dropping of the high-performing Melvine Malard to the bench was questioned.

City, in comparison, have no similar fitness concerns. The City coach made one change from last week’s win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her first start since recovering from a fitness issue.

Overpowering Start

The storm clouds started to gather for Skinner and his team from the first whistle. This was a demonstration of the strength from Manchester City whose potent forward line controlled and tore United open with a superb initial 45 minutes showing that saw them score three goals in under half an hour.

This placed City firmly in control and left United all at sea. In advance of this match, United had let in just few in this domestic competition but they disintegrated in the face of the hosts' attacking flair.

Early Chances

The warning signs came soon when Vivianne Miedema used her strength to bundle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot off target. Lauren Hemp was at the heart of everything from the start, exploiting the gap left by Jayde Riviere down United’s right side. Her passes were posing a threat and led to an opportunity for Hasegawa that Sandberg kicked off the line.

United had multiple sorties forwards, their straightforward approach giving them choices in the flanks but they could not test the City goalkeeper. City, meanwhile, controlled possession, probing their opposition and trying to draw them out of their structure.

Scoring Spree

They turned chances into goals with almost half an hour played when Fujino won the hosts a corner. A ball to the back post was headed across goal by Shaw for Knaak to score. It was Manchester City's seventh header of the term.

They extended their advantage with two more goals just before the half-time. When Jade Rose was allowed to advance through the center from the back, the play widened for City. The prominent Kerstin Casparij collected the pass on the right side before delivering a pinpoint ground pass for Shaw to force home. Four minutes later, they had a additional score after a rapid shift in possession saw Lauren Hemp allowed the space to fire a effort home from outside the box.

After the Break

The most obvious change came from Skinner at the interval as Malard came on for Terland but by this time it was futile to change the course of the game. Ex- Manchester City player Jess Park came nearest, hitting the woodwork, but the visitors were lacking in ideas and were unable to register a solitary shot on goal.

The hosts, meanwhile, could have increased their lead when a excellent Miedema pass sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it mattered little to the hosts. After failing to beat any opponent who placed above them the previous campaign, the manager's side now have victories against the Gunners and Manchester United to put them in a favorable standing after the opening fixtures.