Leeds United Women midfielder Rebecca Hunt expecting tight encounter with Liverpool Feds

If they can avoid a defeat tomorrow, the Whites will head into Christmas guaranteed a place in the FA Women’s National League Division One’s top three.

United know a draw would take them up to third, while a win would mean they would kick-off 2021 in second place – and just three points off the top spot.

After four consecutive fixtures on the road, it’ll be their first game since early October at their new, temporary ground in Tadcaster, where they have yet to lose a match.

But Hunt knows tomorrow’s opponents could threaten their unbeaten home form.

She said: “Liverpool are a bit of a bogey team for us, I think.”

Now in her fourth term with United, Hunt has faced Feds six times since her arrival and the Whites have claimed just four of a possible eighteen points during that period, with their most recent meeting last August resulting in Leeds’ first win since 2015.

She said: “I enjoy playing them because it’s a challenge, but I also don’t enjoy playing them because they’re very good.

“When we play them, the result can tend to go either way and usually, if we win, it’s only by a goal, if they win, it’s only by a goal.”

But Leeds will be prepared, after last weekend’s visit to Stockport demanded they take their chances to seize a narrow advantage.

In a gripping cat-and-mouse spectacle, the hosts took the lead three times but Leeds matched them at every step, finding three equalisers before Hunt provided the crucial goal to ensure the Whites left with something to show for their fighting spirit – all three points.

Hunt said: “It felt quite controlled – we were only ever behind by one goal. After my goal went in at 60 minutes, it was nail-biting, and there was a lot of defending.

“I think the overall performance was great, we were just punished for a few small errors.

“We maybe edged it, just – I think it was deserved.”

Four different goalscorers stepped up to answer recent questions over the side’s firepower, with Aaliyah Nolan’s stunning 20-yard strike, the summer signing’s first competitive goal for the club, putting her on the scoresheet alongside Olivia Smart and Molly Havard before Hunt nabbed the decider.

The seven-goal thriller more than doubled Leeds’ league goal tally, as they netted as many times in the first half as they have in all four previous Division One matches combined. Leeds will do well to keep this up tomorrow against Liverpool Feds, who boast the best defensive record in the league. The Merseyside outfit will be looking to extend their run of four successive wins in all competitions.

Last weekend, they progressed to the second round of the FA Cup by dispatching FC United of Manchester, conceding their first goal since the opening day of the season when Brighouse Town became only team to beat them so far.

Hunt said: “You know that you’re going to have to be on top form, really, to get anything from them.”

Leeds United Women take on Liverpool Feds tomorrow at the Global Stadium, Tadcaster, kick-off 2pm. Entry is £4 or free for under-16s.

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