Liverpool Women 3-5 Manchester United Women: Kapocs hat-trick not enough as Reds fall in seven-goal thriller
Liverpool Women suffered defeat in a dramatic WSL Players Cup clash at St Helens Stadium, going down 5-3 to Manchester United despite a stunning late hat-trick from substitute Cornelia Kapocs. The result means the Reds stay sixth in Group A on six points, while Manchester United move top with a perfect three wins from three.
Manchester United raced into an early lead through Lea Schüller after just 11 minutes, and the visitors doubled their advantage before the break with two goals in quick succession from Mared Griffiths, either side of the 40-minute mark, at 41 and 44 minutes. Liverpool went in 3-0 down at half-time and facing an uphill task.
The second half began brightly enough from United's perspective as Monica Jusu Bah made it 4-0 in the 72nd minute, seemingly putting the game beyond Liverpool's reach. But substitute Cornelia Kapocs, who had come on in the 64th minute for Mao Itamura, sparked a remarkable fightback with a goal in the 76th minute to give Liverpool hope.
Manchester United responded almost immediately through defender Maya Le Tissier in the 78th minute to restore their four-goal cushion at 5-1. However, Kapocs was not finished, adding two further goals in the 85th and 88th minutes to complete her hat-trick and give the scoreline a respectable look, with the final score finishing 5-3.
Manchester United's Scarlett Hill picked up a yellow card in the 68th minute, the only booking of the match. Both sides made full use of their substitutes as the game opened up in the closing stages, with Liverpool bringing on Mari Ward, Jenna Clark, Natalia Ramos, Zara Shaw and the influential Kapocs during the contest.
The defeat was Liverpool's first loss in the competition this term, following wins over Sunderland and Birmingham City, and leaves them with work to do in the group phase. Manchester United, by contrast, continue their perfect start to the campaign, having also beaten Sheffield United and Durham in this competition, and head the standings on goal difference ahead of Aston Villa.
Cornelia Kapocs' second-half intervention will be the main talking point from a Liverpool perspective, with her treble coming inside just 12 second-half minutes after coming off the bench. It offers something to build on for the Reds despite the loss, with Manchester United's strength in depth and clinical finishing ultimately proving the difference at St Helens Stadium.
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.
