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Just as Storm Claudia swept through the north-west the prior day, the home side overwhelmed the visitors away at the Etihad. It was a emphatic three goal triumph for their manager's side due to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a performance that firmly established their title credentials as they reinforced their position at the WSL pinnacle.

Successive Defeats for United

This scoreline represented successive Women's Super League setbacks for Skinner's side for the initial occasion since last May, placing them a significant margin off the league leaders with their trophy ambitions severely dented.

The Red Devils' ability to manage league and continental football with a small team has been a hotly discussed topic since they secured entry to the UCL. Reviewing the fixture list, it always felt like this was the period that would seriously challenge this ability. Regrettably for the away side, they looked tired all game, the memorable win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having had an impact.

Tactical Shifts

Marc Skinner had tried to freshen things up with a several alterations. Toone, Terland, Janssen and Galton all brought vigor, although the omission of the in-form Melvine Malard to the substitutes was questioned.

Manchester City, in comparison, have no similar workload concerns. Jeglertz made one change from the previous win over Everton with Hemp making her initial starting appearance since returning from a physical setback.

Overpowering Start

The trouble started to build for the United boss and his team from the opening minute. This was a exhibition of the quality from Manchester City whose dynamic offense played with and dismantled the opposition with a sublime first half display that saw them score three goals in just over twenty minutes.

This put the hosts in a commanding position and saw the visitors all at sea. In advance of this encounter, the away side had let in just a handful in this domestic competition but they fell apart in the presence of City’s offensive ingenuity.

Initial Opportunities

The omens came soon when Miedema used her physicality to bundle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot wide. Lauren Hemp was at the heart of everything in the beginning, using the space left by Jayde Riviere down United’s right flank. Her crosses were creating danger and led to an chance for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg kicked off the line.

The Red Devils had several attacks forwards, their straightforward approach giving them alternatives in the wide areas but they could not trouble Ayaka Yamashita. Manchester City, in the meantime, controlled the ball, taunting their opponents and trying to pull them out of their defensive shape.

Goals Galore

They converted their dominance with almost the first period played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a corner. A delivery to the back post was headed across goal by Shaw for Knaak to score. It was City’s seventh goal from a cross of the term.

They increased their cushion with an additional two goals just before the interval. When Jade Rose was permitted to drive through the center from central defence, the field widened for City. The key Kerstin Casparij received possession on the wing before sending a accurate driven ball for Shaw to force home. Shortly later, they had a third goal after a quick change in the ball saw Lauren Hemp allowed the room to drive a attempt home from distance.

After the Break

The primary change came from the United manager at the half-time as Melvine Malard entered for Terland but by this time it was ineffective to change the course of the game. Ex- City player Park came most likely to score, rattling the upright, but the away team were lacking in ideas and were unable to produce a one shot on target.

The hosts, meanwhile, could have increased their lead when a delightful Vivianne Miedema long ball sent Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it mattered little to the winning team. Having failed to defeat any team who ended above them last season, the manager's side now have wins against the Gunners and United to position them in a commanding position after the opening fixtures.