Manchester United against Chelsea FC – Women’s Super League Clash
Team Changes & Starting XIs
Man Utd introduced a single alteration to the starting XI from the side that started last Sunday’s victory at the Reds. Anna Sandberg enters the lineup for top scorer Malard, who is among the substitutes.
The Blues make changes to three players in/out of the starting eleven that started the 4-0 win at West Ham United. Carpenter takes over from Veerle Buurman in defense, Catarina Macario is included instead of Oriane Jean-François in midfield, and Baltimore claims Alyssa Thompson’s place in attack. All of the three replaced are on the bench.
Confirmed Team Sheets
Manchester United: Tullis-Joyce, 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.
Match Preview
Only four matches into the season, and it seems this feels like it could be a pivotal encounter. Check out 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
Manchester United may climb to first place if they win this evening. It won’t be easy, 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 claim the championship. Moreover, Cuthbert and Aggie Beever-Jones are displaying impressive form that has them pinging the ball into the top corner.
However despite that, Manchester United will still have belief in their ability to halt the 500-day-plus unbeaten WSL run of the top side in the land. Partly because their backline is solid – they have allowed just a single goal in their first four gamedays – and they possess spectacular goals in their arsenal as well: step forward Miyazawa, who can launch a howitzer. Since Melvine Malard sharing the lead among the top scorers with the previously mentioned Beever-Jones, there’s enough in-form attacking talent on display to make this an exciting match. Should the Football Gods 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!
