The 6-0 scoreline and the sheer ruthlessness of Manchester City’s defeat of Brighton has kicked the troubled club’s 2022 off in style, but it is the return to action of Lucy Bronze and Steph Houghton that will matter more. They were forced to sit out the majority of the first half of the season but the return of the England duo is a sign that the end of a catastrophic injury crisis, during which Gareth Taylor’s job as manager has appeared to be in danger, is in sight.
“We’re making steady progress now,” Taylor said. “We need to back this performance up with another one. One game at a time.”
