Manchester United versus Chelsea FC – Women’s Super League Fixture
Squad Changes and Starting XIs
Man Utd introduced a single alteration in their starting XI compared to the side that started the previous weekend’s 2-0 win at the Reds. Anna Sandberg comes in replacing leading scorer Malard, who is among the substitutes.
Chelsea make changes to a trio of players in/out of the starting eleven that began last weekend’s victory at West Ham United. Carpenter takes over from Veerle Buurman in defense, Macario is included instead of Jean-François in the middle of the park, and Baltimore claims Thompson’s spot up front. All of the players dropped are substitutes.
Confirmed Team Sheets
Manchester United: Tullis-Joyce, 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, Bjorn, Bright, Carpenter, Kaptein, Cuthbert, Walsh, Baltimore, Kaneryd, Macario, Beever-Jones.
Substitutes: Peng, Reiten, Thompson, Buurman, Kerr, Hamano, Jean-Francois, Nusken, Potter.
Match Preview
Only four matches into the season, and already this feels like potentially a crucial match. 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 can go top with a victory tonight. It’s a big ask, despite home advantage, not least because Chelsea are unbeaten in the WSL since late in last season – and they still managed to claim the championship. Moreover, Cuthbert and Aggie Beever-Jones are currently in the sort of form that has them firing shots into the top corner.
Yet despite that, United retain belief in their ability to end the 500-day-plus undefeated streak of the best team in the land. This is partly due to their defence is strong – they have allowed just a single goal so far this season – and they possess spectacular goals in their arsenal as well: including Miyazawa, capable of unleash a powerful shot. With Malard sharing the lead of the early goalscoring charts alongside the previously mentioned Beever-Jones, there is ample in-form attacking talent on show for this to be a thriller. Should fate decide to deliver a goalless draw, apologies are in order ahead of time. Kick-off at Leigh Sports Village is at 19:30 BST. It’s on!
