Manchester United and Manchester Metropolis go face to face this weekend within the first Manchester derby of the WSL season.
United have made an inexpensive begin to the season in what might have been troublesome circumstances following a tumultuous and difficult summer season. They put a 6-1 thrashing by Chelsea behind them final weekend by comfortably beating Birmingham for a 3rd win in 4.
Metropolis, in the meantime, have struggled. From pushing Chelsea all the best way to the road final season, accidents and an absence of pre-season have taken a large toll. They’ve misplaced three of their opening 4 WSL video games up to now and have been knocked out of the Champions League within the qualifying rounds.
That is all the things you’ll want to know concerning the recreation…
What time is kick off? Saturday 9 October, 13:30 (BST)
The place is it being performed? Leigh Sports activities Village
TV channel? BBC One/BBC iPlayer (UK), FA Participant (US/worldwide)
Referee? Rebecca Welch
United boss Marc Skinner has near a totally match squad obtainable to him, which implies that his greatest calls will come right down to which gamers are tactically finest for this recreation.
Senior centre-back Millie Turner stays sidelined with a knee damage. Striker Martha Thomas can be nonetheless out with a knee drawback, whereas full-back Kirsty Smith will not be able to return both.
Metropolis proceed to be with no host of gamers after an injury-plagued begin to the season. Captain Steph Houghton continues to be sidelined, whereas Lucy Bronze continues her restoration from knee surgical procedure. Esme Morgan is one other defender lacking and Alanna Kennedy was additionally absent final time.
Midfielder Keira Walsh solely lasted 45 minutes towards West Ham final weekend and Metropolis have been solely capable of title 4 substitutes on the bench.
Man Utd: Earps; Blundell, Mannion, Thorisdottir, Batlle; Zelem, Groenen, Staniforth; Hanson, Toone, Galton
Man Metropolis: Taieb; Beckie, Scott, Greenwood, Stokes; Angeldal, Walsh, Weir; Stanway, White, Hemp
Manchester derby video games since United have been fashioned in 2018 have tended to be tight affairs.
In a primary ever assembly, these two sides performed out a historic match within the opening recreation of the 2019/20 WSL season in entrance of greater than 31,000 individuals on the Etihad Stadium, with Metropolis successful 1-0 because of a surprise strike from Caroline Weir.
United went on to win 2-0 in a Continental Cup tie shortly afterwards, whereas Metropolis received 3-2 after they met within the FA Cup later that season. United additionally edged a Conti Cup recreation on penalties after a 0-0 attract November 2020. Final season’s league conferences have been a 2-2 draw and a 3-0 Metropolis win.
Metropolis have at all times been favourites on this fixture over the past two years owing to their extra established historical past on the prime of the ladies’s recreation. However kind suggests this is likely to be United’s first alternative to beat their native rivals within the WSL, having solely ever performed it within the Conti Cup.
Regardless of their accidents, Metropolis nonetheless have a squad flush with proficient gamers and so to jot down them off due to a the dearth of numbers obtainable to Gareth Taylor could be fallacious.
That being mentioned, United are in higher kind, with a latest thrashing by Chelsea showing to be a blip at most. That is their huge probability towards Metropolis, however the query is can they take it?
Prediction: Man Utd 2-2 Man Metropolis
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