Tactical tweak is bad news for two Manchester United players as midfield struggle laid bare

Manchester United remain undefeated so far in the Women’s Super League 2023/24 campaign, tying 2-2 with Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday evening.

The Seagulls took the lead twice in the game, Elisabeth Terland hit the target at the half-hour mark but Ella Toone replied with a worldy strike from outside the area to keep United in the game. But Guro Bergsvand proved too much for Mary Earps, her strike hitting the back of the Red’s net in the 89th minute.

But super sub Williams ditched her marker and got on the end of the corner to push the ball over the line, clawing back a point for the visitors in stoppage time. It was end-to-end action at Broadfield stadium which pushed United back a spot into sixth place in the WSL table rankings, here are the five major talking points of the game.

Mary Earps and Sophie Baggaley were phenomenal on Sunday night. If you’re not aware, Baggaley left United to join Brighton in the summer. She was a glorified cup keeper under Marc Skinner but showed the best of herself against her old team last night, surely an England call-up will soon follow. She had 23 shots to deal with and kept Brighton in the game with saves off the line, incredible diving efforts and confident clams to the ball one-on-one - thoroughly deserved player of the match.

Earps also had her fair share of work to do. She was tested from every shot and angle Brighton could throw at her from cheeky lobs to close-range efforts and set pieces. Just before conceding the second goal Earps pulled out an exquisite flying save but was swamped in the box moments later and conceded from a corner kick.

As a team performance, no. However, there's no denying Williams’ work rate and skill set hit the target almost every time. Give her