🔗 Share this article

Squad Changes and Starting XIs

Manchester United have made one change to the lineup compared to the one that started the previous weekend’s victory against Liverpool. Anna Sandberg steps in replacing leading scorer Malard, who drops to the bench.

The Blues make changes to a trio of players in and out of the XI that started the 4-0 win against West Ham United. Ellie Carpenter replaces Buurman in defense, Macario comes in for Jean-François in the middle of the park, and Baltimore takes Alyssa Thompson’s spot in attack. The three replaced are on the bench.

Confirmed Team Sheets

Man Utd: Tullis-Joyce (GK), Riviere, Le Tissier, Janssen, Rolfo, Sandberg, Miyazawa, Park, Toone, Zigiotti Olme, Terland.
Substitutes: Middleton-Patel, Rendell, Blundell, George, Awujo, Ildhusoy, Naalsund, Malard, Williams.

The Blues: Hampton (GK), Bjorn, Bright, Carpenter, Kaptein, Cuthbert, Walsh, Baltimore, Kaneryd, Macario, Beever-Jones.
Subs: Peng, Reiten, Thompson, Buurman, Kerr, Hamano, Jean-Francois, Nusken, Potter.

Build-Up

Just four games in, and it seems this feels like it could be a pivotal encounter. Look! the league positions:

Pos	Team	P	GD	Pts
1	Chelsea Women	4	8	12
2	Man Utd Women	4	10	10
3	Man City Women	4	7	9
4	Tottenham Hotspur Women	4	0	9
5	Arsenal Women	4	7	8

Manchester United may climb to first place with a victory tonight. It’s a big ask, despite home advantage, not least because Chelsea are unbeaten in the Women’s Super League since the tail end of the 2023-24 season – and they still managed to win the title. Additionally, Erin Cuthbert and Beever-Jones are displaying impressive form that has them firing shots into the top corner.

Yet despite that, Manchester United will still have belief in their ability to end the 500-day-plus unbeaten WSL run of the top side in the league. Partly because their backline is strong – they have allowed just a single goal in their first four gamedays – and they’ve got impressive strikes in their arsenal as well: including Miyazawa, capable of unleash a powerful shot. With Melvine Malard sharing the lead of the early goalscoring charts alongside the aforementioned Aggie Beever-Jones, there is ample firepower on display for this to be a thriller. Should fate decide to deliver a 0-0, apologies are in order ahead of time. The match starts at Leigh Sports Village will be at 7.30pm BST. Let’s go!