Women's Super League title hopefuls Manchester United and Arsenal played out a goalless draw in front of a record crowd at Leigh Sports Village.

Clear-cut chances were few and far between on an emotional afternoon where the 8,665 fans, the highest at the venue for a women's match, paid tribute to former Liverpool manager Matt Beard following his death.

The result means an end to the 100 per cent record of both teams, who now sit two points behind defending champions Chelsea.

Elisabeth Terland, who scored a hat-trick in United's Champions League victory over Brann in midweek, was left out of the starting line-up along with the injured Jayde Riviere.

Celin Bizet and Fridolina Rolfo started, while Arsenal also made two changes, with Olivia Smith and Stina Blackstenius replacing Beth Mead and Frida Maanum.

United had a sight of goal in the opening minute, Melvine Malard seizing on a long ball and forcing Daphne van Domselaar into a save from a tight angle.

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Van Domselaar was fortunate to get away with a spilled cross in the 15th minute, dropping the ball at the feet of Malard but recovering to block the striker's shot and then saving the follow-up from Bizet.

The closest either side came to a goal was in the 21st minute when Smith let fly from just outside the box but Phallon Tullis-Joyce got fingertips to the effort to push it on to the crossbar.

Arsenal began to dominate ball and territory but struggled to create anything of note until the final five minutes of the first half, when former United striker Alessia Russo shot straight at Tullis-Joyce before Caitlin Foord fired just past the near post.

The battle of attrition continued in the second half, with both managers turning to their benches but unable to force a breakthrough as defences stayed firmly on top.

When anyone did manage to create a shot on goal, it was invariably from outside the box, and the best of them came from United's Julia Zigiotti Olme in the 61st minute and Maanum for Arsenal seven minutes later.

Ella Toone set up Olme after a good move around the edge of the box, with the Swede firing over the bar, while Maanum had just come off the bench when she seized on a misplaced pass from Anna Sandberg but shot just wide.