Manchester Untied thrashed Aston Villa on WSL matchday 13 and Marc Skinner had plenty to say about one player even though she didn’t get on the scoresheet.
United won 4-1 and it was Lisa Naalsund who impressed Skinner the most on Sunday.
Marc Skinner praises Lisa Naalsund
Despite a disappointing first half, Manchester United came out impressive winners against Aston Villa.
The game was level at the break but three different United stars got on the scoresheet in the second period.
Hanna Lundkvist, Jess Park, Elisabeth Terland and Julia Zigiotti Olme all scored but it was Lisa Naalsund who earned her manager’s praise.
“I’ve got to say, Lisa Naalsund came on and made a massive difference as well,” Skinner said. “She opened up spaces for Jess to drift in, she was really, really pivotal in what I thought was a dominant second half.”
The Norwegian midfielder has been used sparingly so far this season, but she impressed off the bench against Villa.
Naalsund played just over half an hour on Sunday but still had two key passes setting up big chances for her teammates.
After an impressive cameo off the bench, United’s 30-year-old star will be hoping she has done enough to earn a start against relegation threatened Liverpool next weekend.
Skinner praises summer signings
Of United’s four goals, three of them were scored by summer signings.
Hanna Lundkvist opened the scoring at Villa Park and she earned praise from her manager immediately after the full time whistle.
“Hanna is class. She’s very classy.” Skinner said. “With the ball, without the ball, she knows what she’s doing, very quiet, but knows her role and gets on with it. The goal is a great finish from that angle.”
On the overlap 🏎️
Jess Park lays it off, Hanna Lundkvist sweeps it away 🧹@ManUtdWomen #BarclaysWSL pic.twitter.com/kXFZKtg48z
— Barclays Women’s Super League (@BarclaysWSL) January 25, 2026
After a fairly drab first half, the floodgates opened for United’s new stars following the break.
Jess Park gave her team the lead with her seventh goal since moving to Manchester in summer. Park was named player of the match after the game with a goal and an assist for the 24-year-old.
Julia Zigiotti Olme finished off the scoring in Birmingham with a nice finish for her first WSL goal since arriving from Bayern Munich.
