Arguably the biggest game of the weekend was the derby between Manchester United Women and Liverpool Women. This highly anticipated fixture had more than just points at stake. Both teams started the season in lacklustre fashion registering no wins or goals in both of their opening FAWSL matches. Manchester United Women had lost the opening two league fixtures away to Manchester City and at home to Arsenal by the slenderest of margins. Liverpool had also been beaten 1-0 by Reading and Spurs, before losing 3-2 at home to Sheffield United in the Continental League Cup last Sunday. Rooted to the bottom of the league, both Liverpool Women and Manchester United Women needed points to kickstart their season and look to leave the other in their wake.
This tactical analysis will look to analyse and dissect the tactics used by both teams and how both managers tried to win the game.
Lineups and Squad
Manchester United Women made a couple of changes from their narrow loss to Arsenal Women last week with Lotta Ökvist and Lauren James coming in for Amy Turner and Jane Ross making way. The Red Devils were without summer signings Jackie Groenen and Jane Ross, due to injury and illness, so this gave a chance to 17-year-old James to make her first start and prove her credentials as worthy to start as the centre-forward for Casey Stoney’s side. Stoney kept faith in her 4-2-3-1 formation with Jessica Sigsworth continuing in her right wing berth.
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Artwork by @chapulana
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