Olivia Smith likes playing on the right wing.
That is exactly what the 20-year-old Liverpool winger said through a wry smile after Liverpool’s 3-1 Women’s Super League (WSL) win against Manchester United. As a statement, it was hardly radical or profound and, in reality, there was no need for the Canadian to say anything at all. Her performances over the last two games have spoken louder than words.
For much of Arsenal’s 1-0 FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Liverpool last Sunday, Katie McCabe was chasing after a ghost-footed puma. Five days’ later and, 41 minutes into the first half, United midfielder Grace Clinton found herself enduring the same fate as she contemplated how Smith simply liking the right wing translated to Liverpool going from not having a single touch in United’s 18-yard box for almost an entire half to 1-0 up in a matter of seconds.
The answer, of course, was Smith.
She scored twice at Anfield on Friday night; her first, a sensational solo goal to give Liverpool that unlikely lead. Her 67th-minute penalty made it 3-0 after Fuka Nagano had doubled the home team’s advantage just before half-time.
The irrepressible Smith runs at United (Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Friday’s victory was Liverpool’s first in the…
