Liverpool Women 3-5 Man Utd Women: Griffiths and Schüller fire United to thrilling win despite Kapocs hat-trick fightback
Man Utd Women survived a late scare to beat Liverpool Women 5-3 at St Helens Stadium in the WSL Players Cup, a result that keeps them top of Group A with a perfect record of three wins from three.
United tore into their hosts from the start and led inside 11 minutes when Lea Schüller finished smartly to open the scoring. Mared Griffiths then took over, doubling the lead on 41 minutes and adding a second of her own three minutes later to send United in at the break 3-0 up and firmly in control.
The visitors continued to push after the restart and looked to have the game wrapped up when Monica Jusu Bah made it 4-0 on 72 minutes. But Liverpool substitute Cornelia Kapocs, who had only just come on, sparked a remarkable fightback, pulling a goal back in the 76th minute. United responded almost immediately though, as Maya Le Tissier restored their four-goal cushion with a goal on 78 minutes to make it 5-1.
That strike proved crucial, because Kapocs was not finished. She struck again in the 85th minute and completed her hat-trick in the 88th to drag Liverpool back to 5-3, setting up a nervy finish, but United held on for the win.
United's only blemish on the night was a yellow card for Scarlett Hill in the 68th minute, while they made full use of their bench, bringing on Anna Sandberg, Andrea Medina, Hinata Miyazawa, Ellen Wangerheim and Ella Toone across the match. Liverpool also rang the changes, with Kapocs' introduction alongside Mari Ward, Jenna Clark, Natalia Ramos and Zara Shaw ultimately reshaping the closing stages.
The win moves United to the summit of the group standings on nine points from three games, level with Aston Villa but ahead on goal difference, while Liverpool remain down in sixth position having now lost one of their three fixtures in the competition. It continues an excellent run of form for United, who go into the game on the back of four straight wins, while Liverpool's recent form has been shakier, having lost their previous two outings before this contest.
Ahead of kick-off, ManUtd.com had reminded fans the match would be available to watch live, telling supporters to tune in for "Liverpool v United Women: Watch it live on YouTube" (ManUtd.com).
While goals from Schüller, Griffiths, Jusu Bah and Le Tissier did the damage for United, Kapocs' hat-trick in the space of just twelve second-half minutes will be the abiding memory for Liverpool, offering real promise even in defeat. For United, though, the result was further proof of their firepower on the road, as they strengthen their position at the top of the Players Cup group table heading into the next round of fixtures.
Written with the help of AI, using the match facts and the headlines from the publishers credited above. Each point links to the original report — tap the source name to read it in full.
