Manchester United versus Chelsea – WSL Matchup
Team Changes & Starting XIs
Man Utd introduced a single alteration in their lineup from the side that started last Sunday’s 2-0 win at Liverpool. Sandberg steps in for top scorer Melvine Malard, who drops to the bench.
The Blues adjust a trio of players in and out of the starting eleven that started last weekend’s victory against West Ham. Ellie Carpenter replaces Buurman in defense, Catarina Macario comes in instead of Jean-François in the middle of the park, and Sandy Baltimore claims Thompson’s spot in attack. The players dropped are substitutes.
Confirmed Lineups
Man Utd: 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, Bjorn, Bright, Carpenter, Kaptein, Cuthbert, Walsh, Baltimore, Kaneryd, Macario, Beever-Jones.
Subs: Peng, Reiten, Thompson, Buurman, Kerr, Hamano, Jean-Francois, Nusken, Potter.
Match Preview
Just four games in, and already this appears to be potentially a pivotal encounter. Look! the standings:
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 tough challenge, even with home advantage, especially since the visitors are unbeaten in the WSL since late in the 2023-24 season – and they managed to claim the championship. Moreover, Erin Cuthbert and Aggie Beever-Jones are currently in impressive form that’s seen them firing shots into the top corner.
However despite that, United will still have confidence in their ability to halt the 500-day-plus unbeaten WSL run of the top side in the league. This is partly due to their defence is formidable – they’ve only conceded a single goal so far this season – and they possess spectacular goals in them too: step forward Hinata Miyazawa, capable of launch a howitzer. Since Melvine Malard joint top of the early goalscoring charts with the aforementioned Aggie Beever-Jones, there’s enough in-form attacking talent on show to make this an exciting match. Should fate tempt to deliver a 0-0, apologies are in order ahead of time. Kick-off in Leigh, Greater Manchester is at 7.30pm BST. It’s on!
