Manchester United boss Marc Skinner refused to make excuses for his side's 2-1 defeat to rivals Liverpool in the Women's Super League.

The Red Devils took the lead early on at Leigh Sports Village through in-form playmaker Ella Toone but were pegged back before the break by an own goal from Millie Turner.

And despite United enjoying 59% of the possession, it was Liverpool who grabbed a crucial second goal after the break through the impressive Taylor Hinds.

Skinner believes United lost on the "fundamentals of football", with the result meaning his side go into the winter break level on points with Matt Beard's Reds in the WSL table.

The 40-year-old manager said: "We lost on the fundamentals of football.

"Liverpool are not nice to play against and today we did not match them in that physicality, we were too passive in the final third.

"Once they got ahead in the game they started to block up and the reality is we got beaten.

"You need a sharp reminder that you can play all the pretty football you want but if you don't want to head a ball [you're in trouble]. I think [Sophie] Roman Haug won every header.

"You cannot blame fatigue, that is just an excuse. For me it is a desire to win the ball and desire to go and compete.

"When you play for Manchester United everyone wants to beat you, that is the reality, and Liverpool have done that today. They did it with the fundamentals of football and we cannot be beaten like that.

"It is something we will address and they [the players] can have a break now but when they come back they better be fired up because we have a big part of the season to go."