Man Utd versus Chelsea – WSL Matchup

Team Updates and Starting XIs

Manchester United introduced a single alteration to the lineup from the side that began the previous weekend’s 2-0 win against the Reds. Sandberg comes in for leading scorer Malard, who is among the substitutes.

Chelsea adjust three players in and out of the starting eleven that began last weekend’s victory against West Ham. Carpenter replaces Buurman at the back, Macario is included for Jean-François in the middle of the park, and Sandy Baltimore takes Alyssa Thompson’s place 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.

Chelsea: 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 already this feels like it could be a decisive fixture. 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

Manchester United can go top if they win tonight. It’s a big ask, despite playing at home, especially since Chelsea are unbeaten in the WSL since late in the 2023-24 season – and they went on to claim the championship. Additionally, Cuthbert along with Aggie Beever-Jones are currently in the sort of form that has them firing shots into the top corner.

Yet having said all that, United will still have belief in their ability to halt the long undefeated streak of the top side in the league. This is partly due to their defence is strong – they have allowed just a single goal in their first four gamedays – and they’ve got impressive strikes in them as well: including Miyazawa, who can launch a howitzer. With Melvine Malard sharing the lead among the top scorers with the previously mentioned Beever-Jones, there’s enough in-form attacking talent on show for this to be a thriller. Should fate decide into serving up a 0-0, I can only apologise in advance. Kick-off at Leigh Sports Village will be at 7.30pm BST. It’s on!