Manchester United against Chelsea – Women’s Super League Fixture
Team Updates & Starting XIs
Man Utd introduced a single alteration in their lineup compared to the side that started last Sunday’s victory at Liverpool. Anna Sandberg steps in for top scorer Malard, who is among the substitutes.
Chelsea adjust a trio of players in and out of the starting eleven that began the 4-0 win against West Ham. Ellie Carpenter replaces Veerle Buurman in defense, Catarina Macario comes in for Oriane Jean-François in the middle of the park, and Baltimore claims Alyssa Thompson’s spot in attack. All of the three replaced are substitutes.
Confirmed Lineups
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, 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 it seems this feels like potentially a decisive fixture. Look! the table:
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 could take the lead if they win this evening. It’s a tough challenge, despite home advantage, especially since Chelsea haven’t lost in the Women’s Super League since the tail end of last season – and they went on to claim the championship. Moreover, Erin Cuthbert along with Beever-Jones are currently in impressive form that’s seen them pinging the ball into the top corner.
However despite that, Manchester United retain belief in their capacity to end the 500-day-plus undefeated streak of the top side in the land. Partly because their defence is formidable – they have allowed just one goal in their first four gamedays – and they possess impressive strikes in their arsenal as well: step forward Hinata Miyazawa, capable of launch a howitzer. With Melvine Malard joint top of the early goalscoring charts alongside the previously mentioned Aggie Beever-Jones, there is ample firepower on display for this to be a thriller. Should fate decide into serving up a goalless draw, apologies are in order ahead of time. Kick-off at Leigh Sports Village will be at 7.30pm BST. It’s on!
