Match reportLiverpool suffer WSL defeat away at Manchester United
An even opening 45 minutes at Leigh Sports Village gave way to a flurry of goals in a second-half spell.
Across the space of eight minutes, United's Lisa Naalsund scored either side of a response from Alice Bergstrom for the Reds.
Fridolina Rolfo then extended the hosts' lead three minutes from the end to secure the points.
The home team had early possession and territorial dominance, which drew two saves from Jennifer Falk.
Both were to deny Elisabeth Terland efforts from left of goal - the first a rudimentary catch, the second a more eye-catching stretch to prevent the ball from hitting the bottom corner.
Liverpool grew into the game as its quarter point neared and were unable to produce the key final pass from several counter-attacks.
Back at the other end, they needed a good block by captain Grace Fisk from another Terland strike after a little overplaying in defence.
Real scoring chances remained limited but the visitors were having joy down the flanks and via the hold-up work of Martha Thomas.
Terland was able to send another shot at goal as half-time approached and this one was too high to concern Falk.
Melvine Malard then flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal after intricate passing inside the area - but Liverpool cleared.
United mounted a spell of pressure in the remainder of the half but the interval arrived with stalemate still in place.
The deadlock was to be broken just seven minutes after the restart, however.
Malard darted infield from her left-wing position and spread play out to the far right for Jess Park.
Park identified Naalsund in a pocket of space at the centre of the area and the latter clinically dispatched a strike high into the goal.
Liverpool responded quickly and levelled the score from a scramble in front of the United goal shy of the hour.
A corner kick from the left led to pinball that was settled when Cornelia Kapocs nodded to Bergstrom and she tucked home.
Parity was frustratingly short, though. United instantly restored their advantage from a high press, Naalsund giving Falk no chance with her second strike.
The Reds kept searching for a second equaliser of the afternoon, but it was the hosts who were coming closest to changing the scoreline again.
A swerving Anna Sandberg corner from the right almost went all the way in as Falk tipped it off the crossbar.
The Liverpool 'keeper also had to push away a Park half-volley in the closing stages.
United ultimately confirmed the points would be theirs in the 87th minute, Rolfo rasping in a finish from Hanna Lundkvist's near-post cross.
Team
Liverpool: Falk, Shimizu (Woodham, 82), Clark, Fisk, Bernabe (Enderby, 81), Nagano, O'Sullivan, Kapocs (Olsson, 86), Bergstrom (Csillag, 66), Thomas, Holland.
Unused subs: Kirby, Parry, Evans, Maclean, Bonner.
Next up
The Reds are back in WSL action on home soil next Sunday (February 8), with Aston Villa the visitors to St Helens Stadium.
Kick-off is 12pm GMT. Tickets and free coach travel can be booked here.