Zigiotti Olme's early strike gives Manchester United derby win over Liverpool
Manchester United beat Liverpool 1-0 at home in the Women's Super League on 3 October 2026.
Julia Zigiotti Olme scored the only goal in the sixth minute. It was early. It was enough. And it decided a tense north-west derby.
The goal came from pressure. Liverpool goalkeeper Khiara Keating tried to play a pass out. Zigiotti Olme, a United midfielder, stepped in, intercepted it and chipped the ball home. One mistake. One sharp finish. The Guardian
The Women's Super League is England's top division. Goals are often scarce when these two meet. United knew they had to protect what they had.
Liverpool pushed back before the break. United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce made a double save from Cornelia Kapocs and Beata Olsson to keep the lead intact. At the other end, United's Jess Park rattled the crossbar just before half-time. The woodwork shook. The scoreline did not move.
United held on in the second half. There were no more goals, but there was no panic either. The home side defended in numbers and saw the game through.
For head coach Eva Olid, it was a second league win of the season. It followed a first league win against West Ham, and it gave United back-to-back victories in the league. Across all competitions, the run now stands at four straight wins and five matches unbeaten.
That form has tightened the table. The win moved United level with Liverpool. Both sides now sit three points off the European places, the spots that bring qualification for continental competition next season.
The occasion carried extra weight. The match was United's 250th since the women's team reformed in 2018. It ended with a win, a clean sheet and three points over old rivals.
Gareth Taylor was in charge of Liverpool for the game. His team had chances, particularly in that first-half spell, but could not find a way past Tullis-Joyce.
What makes this stand out is the simplicity of it. One high press. One early goal. One goalkeeper standing firm when it mattered. United did the hard jobs well, and that is often what wins derbies.
