Liverpool must avoid repeating Man United mistake after transformational season

What a difference a year makes.

It was only 12 months ago that Manchester United condemned Liverpool to their 11th Women's Super League (WSL) defeat of the season at Prenton Park, with Lucia Garcia's strike sealing the points for the high-flying visitors. Though the margin of victory was small, the gulf between the two teams could scarcely have been bigger.

The result ensured Matt Beard's side would finish the campaign 33 points behind their much-vaunted archrivals, who had also beaten them 6-0 in the reverse fixture a few months prior. Fast forward to Sunday afternoon, though, and it was Liverpool who were celebrating in the May sunshine on Merseyside, having beaten United 1-0 thanks to a Jenna Clark header.

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It was no smash and grab either. Though Marc Skinner's side edged the possession, the hosts had dominated in almost every conceivable metric, recording 19 shots to United's 10 and creating double the amount of big chances as their visitors.

That the result saw Liverpool leapfrog their opponents to move up to fourth in the table speaks volumes about the immense progress that has been made at Prenton Park this term. Though there can be no denying United have underperformed in the WSL this season, the fact they now find themselves three points behind Beard's side demonstrates just how impressive Liverpool's second campaign back in the top flight has been.

The Reds' transformation has been so seismic, in fact, that Sunday's triumph was not even their most noteworthy victory of the week. That particular honour was reserved for the last-gasp 4-3 win which had