Olivia Smith struck twice to inspire Liverpool to a 3-1 victory over Manchester United and earn their first Women’s Super League win at Anfield.

The Canada international opened the scoring with the hosts’ first touch inside United’s penalty area with three minutes remaining in the first half.

Fuka Nagano added another in first-half stoppage time before Smith, who scored Liverpool women’s first goal at Anfield in October, converted a 67th-minute penalty.

Captain Maya Le Tissier clawed one back late on for United, who suffered only their second loss of the league campaign. Before this defeat they had conceded just six WSL goals this season.

The visitors dominated possession early on and had a chance to open the scoring when Liverpool gave the ball away, allowing Celin Bizet to force Rachael Laws into a good, low save.

Liverpool were able to clear Ella Toone’s dangerous inswinging corner before Grace Clinton had a deflected shot tipped over by the Reds goalkeeper.

The speedy Smith then fired the hosts in front, latching on to the ball on the right, outpacing Clinton and tucking a left-footed shot under United keeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who probably should have kept it out.

Cornelia Kapocs seized on the positive momentum, stinging Tullis-Joyce’s palms, before the action returned to deep inside Liverpool’s half, where Dominique Janssen took a shot from range which eventually went out to a corner.

The hosts doubled their lead on a quick counter-attack, Smith again involved when she found Sam Kerr, who in turn provided a perfect pass for Japan international Nagano to score into the far corner with a first-time finish.

Liverpool had a couple of penalty shouts ignored after the break but were awarded a spot-kick when Alejandra Bernabe went down under the challenge of Jayde Riviere.

Riviere’s compatriot Smith stepped up to the spot and coolly sent Tullis-Joyce the wrong way for the Reds’ third.

Lawes denied substitute Hinata Miyazawa but was unable to keep out the effort from Le Tissier, who carved open the Liverpool defence before firing in a low consolation.