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Just as Storm Claudia tore through the northwest the night before, Manchester City blew United away at the their home ground. It was a statement three goal triumph for their manager's side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a result that clearly signaled their championship potential as they consolidated their position at the WSL pinnacle.

Successive Defeats for United

This scoreline signalled successive league defeats for Skinner's side for the initial occasion since last May, placing them a significant margin off the top team with their title hopes hanging by a thread.

The Red Devils' capability to juggle domestic and continental football with a small squad has been a widely debated subject since they earned a place in the UCL. Looking at the fixture list, it always appeared this was the matchday that would truly test this ability. Regrettably for the away side, they seemed weary all game, the historic win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having had an impact.

Lineup Adjustments

Marc Skinner had attempted to freshen things up with a handful of alterations. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Leah Galton all added energy, although the omission of the in-form Melvine Malard to the bench raised a few eyebrows.

Manchester City, in contrast, have no similar workload worries. The City coach made one adjustment from last week’s win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her initial starting appearance since healing from a fitness issue.

Overpowering Start

The storm clouds started to accumulate for the United boss and his squad from the first whistle. This was a show of the strength from Manchester City whose dynamic attack controlled and pulled the visitors apart with a excellent initial 45 minutes display that saw them put three past the keeper in under half an hour.

This put the hosts firmly in control and saw the visitors all at sea. Before this encounter, United had conceded just a handful in this domestic competition but they fell apart in the wake of City’s attacking flair.

Opening Threats

The warning signs came quickly when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to push Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot past the post. Lauren Hemp was at the core of everything from the start, taking advantage of the room left by Riviere down the visitors' wing. Her crosses were posing a threat and led to an chance for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg cleared off the line.

The Red Devils had a number of forays forwards, their straightforward approach giving them alternatives in the wings but they could not challenge the City goalkeeper. Manchester City, meanwhile, controlled the ball, teasing their opposition and trying to pull them out of their structure.

Scoring Spree

They turned chances into goals with almost thirty minutes played when Fujino won the hosts a corner. A cross to the back post was headed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to head in. It was City’s seventh headed goal of the campaign.

They increased their advantage with an additional two goals just before the interval. When Jade Rose was allowed to maraud through the midfield from the back, the field widened for City. The prominent Kerstin Casparij picked the ball up on the wing before delivering a accurate driven ball for Bunny Shaw to force home. A short time later, they had a third after a rapid turnover in possession saw Lauren Hemp afforded the opportunity to strike a shot home from distance.

After the Break

The clearest adjustment came from the United manager at the break as Malard was introduced for Terland but by this time it was too late to change the course of the game. Former Manchester City player Park came closest, striking the post, but the away team were offensively poor and did not manage to record a single shot on goal.

The hosts, in contrast, could have extended their lead when a delightful Miedema long ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it was insignificant to the winning team. Having failed to beat any opponent who placed above them in the prior term, the manager's side now have successes against the Gunners and Manchester United to place them in a commanding situation after nine games.