Manchester United against Chelsea – WSL Matchup
Squad Updates & Lineups
Man Utd introduced one change in their lineup compared to the side that started the previous weekend’s victory against the Reds. Sandberg steps in for leading scorer Malard, who drops to the bench.
Chelsea make changes to a trio of players in/out of the XI that began the 4-0 win against West Ham United. Carpenter replaces Veerle Buurman at the back, Catarina Macario comes in for Oriane Jean-François in the middle of the park, and Sandy Baltimore takes Alyssa Thompson’s place up front. The players dropped are substitutes.
Official Lineups
Manchester United: Tullis-Joyce (GK), Riviere, Le Tissier, Janssen, Rolfo, Sandberg, Miyazawa, Park, Toone, Zigiotti Olme, Terland.
Subs: 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.
Substitutes: Peng, Reiten, Thompson, Buurman, Kerr, Hamano, Jean-Francois, Nusken, Potter.
Build-Up
Only four matches into the season, and already this feels like it could be a pivotal encounter. Check out 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
Man Utd may climb to first place with a victory this evening. It’s a tough challenge, despite home advantage, especially since the visitors haven’t lost in the WSL since late in the 2023-24 season – and they went on to win the title. Additionally, Erin Cuthbert and Beever-Jones are displaying impressive form that has them pinging the ball into the top corner.
However despite that, United retain belief in their capacity to halt the 500-day-plus undefeated streak of the top side in the league. Partly because their defence is formidable – they have allowed just one goal so far this season – and they possess spectacular goals in their arsenal as well: including Hinata Miyazawa, capable of unleash a powerful shot. With Malard joint top among the top scorers with the aforementioned Aggie Beever-Jones, there’s enough firepower on display to make this a thriller. If fate tempt into serving up a 0-0, I can only apologise ahead of time. Kick-off in Leigh, Greater Manchester will be at 7.30pm BST. Let’s go!
