Man United have already made history but hard work is only just beginning

With a deft back-post finish, Lizzie Arnot wrote her name into the annals of Manchester United history. The date was August 19, 2018 and the Scotland international ensured the Reds' long-awaited renaissance began in style by netting a last-gasp winner against bitter rivals Liverpool in the League Cup.

The setting - in front of just 829 fans at an overcast Prenton Park - belied the enormity of the occassion. This was United's first competitive game in 13 years, their first competitive outing since the Glazer regime opted to disband their senior women's team after deeming it not to be part of the club's "core business".

The team was peppered with familar faces. Alex Greenwood, now captain of Manchester City, teed up Arnot to score the winner. Lauren James, who returned to childhood club Chelsea for what was - in 2021 - a British record fee, started in midfield, while current United stars Ella Toone, Millie Turner and Leah Galton also featured.

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"For a team that has only been together for six weeks they weathered the storm quite well," manager Casey Stoney told BBC Radio 5 Live after the game.

"I recruited from the second tier, they've stepped up and shown they are more than capable of playing a level above that. There's no pressure from the club to get promotion but these players want to be playing in the top flight. They're history makers now."

In spite of Stoney's measured assessment of United's ambitions, the Reds did achieve promotion at the first time of asking, subsequently finishing fourth in their first season in the Women's Super League (WSL). And now, just six years on from that League Cup