Man Utd versus Chelsea FC – WSL Matchup

Team Updates and Starting XIs

Man Utd introduced one change to the lineup from the side that began last Sunday’s 2-0 win at the Reds. Anna Sandberg enters the lineup for leading scorer Malard, who is among the substitutes.

The Blues make changes to a trio of players in and out of the XI that started last weekend’s victory against West Ham United. Carpenter takes over from Buurman at the back, Catarina Macario comes in for Jean-François in the middle of the park, and Baltimore takes Thompson’s place up front. All of the players dropped are on the bench.

Confirmed Team Sheets

Manchester United: Tullis-Joyce (GK), 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.
Subs: Peng, Reiten, Thompson, Buurman, Kerr, Hamano, Jean-Francois, Nusken, Potter.

Build-Up

Just four games in, and already this appears to be it could be 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

Man Utd may climb to first place with a victory this evening. It’s a tough challenge, despite home advantage, not least because the visitors are unbeaten in the WSL since the tail end of the 2023-24 season – and they still went on to claim the championship. Moreover, Erin Cuthbert and Aggie Beever-Jones are displaying impressive form that’s seen them pinging the ball past goalkeepers.

However having said all that, United will still have confidence in their capacity to halt the long undefeated streak of the top side in the land. Partly because their defence is formidable – they have allowed just one goal so far this season – and they possess impressive strikes in their arsenal too: step forward Miyazawa, who can unleash a powerful shot. Since Melvine Malard joint top of the early goalscoring charts alongside the aforementioned Beever-Jones, there is ample firepower on display for this to be an exciting match. Should the Football Gods decide to deliver a 0-0, I can only apologise ahead of time. The match starts in Leigh, Greater Manchester will be at 7.30pm BST. It’s on!