Man Utd against Chelsea FC – WSL Matchup
Team Changes and Lineups
Man Utd introduced a single alteration to the starting XI from the side that started the previous weekend’s 2-0 win at the Reds. Anna Sandberg steps in for leading scorer Melvine Malard, who is among the substitutes.
Chelsea rotate a trio of players in/out of the starting eleven that started last weekend’s victory at West Ham. Carpenter replaces Veerle Buurman in defense, Catarina Macario comes in for Oriane Jean-François in midfield, and Baltimore claims Thompson’s spot in attack. All of the players dropped are substitutes.
Official 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.
Subs: Peng, Reiten, Thompson, Buurman, Kerr, Hamano, Jean-Francois, Nusken, Potter.
Match Preview
Just four games in, and already this feels like potentially 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 could take the lead with a victory this evening. It’s a tough challenge, despite home advantage, especially since the visitors haven’t lost in the WSL since late in the 2023-24 season – and they still went on to win the title. Additionally, Cuthbert along with Aggie Beever-Jones are currently in impressive form that’s seen them pinging the ball past goalkeepers.
Yet having said all that, Manchester United retain belief in their ability to halt the 500-day-plus undefeated streak of the best team in the league. This is partly due to their backline is formidable – they have allowed just one goal so far this season – and they possess impressive strikes in them as well: including Hinata Miyazawa, who can launch a howitzer. Since Melvine Malard sharing the lead of the early goalscoring charts with the aforementioned Beever-Jones, there’s enough firepower on display for this to be an exciting match. If fate decide into serving up a 0-0, apologies are in order in advance. The match starts in Leigh, Greater Manchester is at 19:30 BST. It’s on!
