Manchester United strengthened the push for the Women's Super League title race with a 3-1 win over Liverpool, as Lisa Naalsund struck twice at Leigh Sports Village. The result moved Marc Skinner's side up to second place, at least for a few hours, and cut the deficit to the league leaders to eight points.
The match opened slowly for United, who struggled before half-time against disciplined Liverpool defending. Elisabeth Terland spurned the clearest opening, failing to stretch goalkeeper Jennifer Falk. The contest changed after the break. Naalsund finished a low cutback from Jessica Park on 52 minutes, before Alice Bergstrom levelled after a scramble, then Naalsund guided a precise shot into the bottom-left corner.
FOUR WINS ON THE SPIN pic.twitter.com/tMLYLFio32Manchester
United Women (@ManUtdWomen) February 1, 2026
Data from the Women's Super League meeting underlined United's control, with 19 shots to Liverpool's eight. Expected goals also stayed close, at 2.03 for United against 1.56 for Liverpool. Fridolina Rolfo came off the bench and scored from close range on 87 minutes, and five of United's last nine league goals have now come from substitutes, a league-high eight this season.
United's victory lifted the team above Chelsea, pending the Blues' clash with Manchester City later on 1 February. The Red Devils sit two points clear of Arsenal and Tottenham. Arsenal did not play this weekend and hold a game in hand, while Tottenham are level in that battle for European qualification after another narrow success.
Tottenham stayed on track in the Women's Super League European chase with a 2-1 comeback win against West Ham in a tense London derby. Shekiera Martinez struck early for West Ham, before Matilda Vinberg equalised. Olivia Holdt then decided the contest on 78 minutes with a clever lob over Megan Walsh, and Spurs survived late pressure after Drew Spence received a stoppage-time red card for fouling Riko Ueki.
The London City Lionesses also recorded a 2-1 victory, defeating Brighton to climb above the opponents into sixth place in the Women's Super League standings. Brighton slipped one spot after that defeat, while the Lionesses tightened the upper-mid-table pack. The result added further congestion behind the leading quartet chasing the main European positions.
Everton matched that scoreline with a 2-1 success over Aston Villa at Goodison Park in another Women's Super League fixture. Martina Fernandez scored both Everton goals, including an 89th-minute header that settled the contest late on. That brace lifted Everton into ninth position and opened a four-point cushion over bottom club Liverpool, who remain rooted to the foot of the table.
| Women's Super League match | Score |
|---|---|
| Manchester United vs Liverpool | 3-1 |
| Tottenham vs West Ham | 2-1 |
| London City Lionesses vs Brighton | 2-1 |
| Everton vs Aston Villa | 2-1 |
The weekend programme left the Women's Super League table tightly packed behind the leaders, with Manchester United closing the gap and gaining a short-term hold on second spot. Tottenham and the London City Lionesses strengthened European hopes, while Everton eased pressure near the bottom, where Liverpool now face a growing task to close a four-point deficit.
