Zigiotti Olme Gives Manchester United Victory Over Liverpool in 250th WSL Game

Manchester United beat Liverpool 1-0 in the Women's Super League on Saturday, marking the club's 250th game in a narrow win.

Julia Zigiotti Olme scored the only goal after six minutes. She pounced on a poor pass out from the back by Liverpool goalkeeper Khiara Keating and lofted the ball into the net while Keating was stranded.

Liverpool grew into the game after that. United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce made a superb double save to stop Cornelia Kapocs and then Beata Olsson from close range. She also denied Olsson again with a good save at the near post. At the other end, Jess Park hit the crossbar, and Andrea Medina thumped the rebound towards the near post, but Keating tipped it behind.

With the last kick of the first half, Ella Toone, who was left out of the England squad for this month's World Cup qualifiers, threaded a ball through to Medina. Keating reacted quickly to smother the shot. Elizabeth Terland also tried to make it 2-0 with a curling effort, but Keating pushed it clear.

The win is United's second in a row in the league and lifts them to sixth, behind Liverpool on goal difference.

It was also a big step forward for Eva Olid's side defensively. They had conceded late goals against Arsenal and West Ham, in the 95th and 92nd minutes, but did not make that mistake again. This was United's first clean sheet in all competitions this season. Tullis-Joyce made eight key saves, and Anna Sandberg and Maya le Tissier each made six clearances in a solid back line. United have now gone 31 league games without defeat when scoring first, since a 2-1 loss to Liverpool in December 2023.

For Liverpool, it was a costly lapse. They have conceded four first-half goals in five games, and only Charlton, with five, have let in more in the league this season. 

The Reds had the better of the chances, with an expected goals total of 1.41 to United's 0.59. Olsson, Kapocs and Marie Hobinger each had two shots on target but could not beat Tullis-Joyce. It was Liverpool's second league defeat of the season.