Chelsea Women vs Manchester United Women preview, predictions & possible XIs
FA Women’s Super League leaders Chelsea will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the table when they face Manchester United on Sunday.
Emma Hayes’ side are the only unbeaten team left in the division having won four and drawn one of their opening five games.
However, they face stern opposition in Manchester United who have performed slightly above expectations following their promotion to the WSL.
Casey Stoney’s side currently sit fourth in the league having overcome a slow start and could close the gap between themselves and Chelsea to just one point with a win.
Read on for our Chelsea Women vs Manchester United Women preview, predictions, team news, TV info and more.
When is Chelsea Women vs Man Utd Women and where can I watch live?
Competition: FA Women’s Super League
Venue: Kingsmeadow
Date: Sunday, 17 November 2019
Kick-off: 2:00 PM (UK time)
TV coverage (UK): FA Player
Recent form
Chelsea Women
02 November 2019: Lewes 1-2 Chelsea (Continental League Cup)
27 October 2019: West Ham 1-2 Chelsea (Women’s Super League)
20 October 2019: Crystal Palace 0-3 Chelsea (Continental League Cup)
13 October 2019: Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal (Women’s Super League)
29 September 2019: Bristol City 0-4 Chelsea (Women’s Super League)
Man Utd Women
03 November 2019: Everton 0-3 Man Utd (Continental League Cup)
27 October 2019: Man Utd 2-0 Reading (Women’s Super League)
20 October 2019: Man Utd 2-0 Man City (Continental League Cup)
13 October 2019: Tottenham 0-3 Man Utd (Women’s Super League)
28 October 2019: Man Utd 2-0 Liverpool (Women’s Super League)
Ones to watch
Chelsea Women: Guro Reiten
Chelsea have brought excitement to the Women’s Super League after announcing the signing of Sam Kerr on Wednesday morning, but the Australian striker will not join her new club until the end of December.
Until then, the Blues will be relying on the likes of Guro Reiten who has started life in England brilliantly. Joining Chelsea in the summer, the Norwegian has started to build an exciting understanding with Bethany England, Fran Kirby, Ji So-yun and Erin Cuthbert.
Reiten is the Blues’ top scorer in the WSL, managing three goals so far, and will be key if Chelsea are to break through one of the best defences in the division.
Key stat: Only Everton’s Chloe Kelly (4) has scored more goals in the WSL this season than Guro Reiten.
Man Utd Women: Mary Earps
As previously mentioned, Manchester United boast one of the best defences in the WSL, conceding just two goals in their five games so far. Those came in 1-0 defeats to Manchester City and Arsenal in the first two games of the season.
Since then, goalkeeper Mary Earps has kept her sheet clean in three consecutive WSL games, helping Manchester United move up the table.
The 26-year-old joined Manchester United from Wolfsburg in the summer and has been a reliable shot-stopper for Stoney’s side looking unbeatable at times. Even in the games United lost against last season’s top two, Earps was exceptional and kept the scoreline low – especially against Arsenal.
Chelsea have the best attack in the league, but they may struggle with Earps in form.
Key stat: Mary Earps has kept five consecutive clean sheets across all competitions for Manchester United Women.
Team news
Chelsea Women
Chelsea have plenty of depth in attack, so much so that the likes of Ramona Bachmann can only hope and pray for a starting place.
Hayes is likely to continue with the attacking quintet of Reiten, England, Ji, Cuthbert and Kirby, with the latter fresh having been left out of Phil Neville’s recent England squad.
Predicted XI: Berger; Eriksson, Bright, Mjelde, Andersson; Cuthbert, Ingle, Ji, Reiten; Kirby, England.
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Man Utd Women
Over both the WSL and Continental Cup this season Stoney appears to have built a favoured starting XI, making minor changes from game to game.
Therefore, it won’t be a surprise to see Manchester United line up in a similar XI to the one that beat Everton before the international break.
The only change could see Jessica Sigsworth return to lead the line with Kirsty Hanson dropping out, meaning Jackie Groenen should start in midfield against her former team.
Predicted XI: Earps; A.Turner, McManus M.Turner, Harris; Ladd, Zelem, Groenen; James, Sigsworth, Galton.
Squawka prediction
What happens when an unstoppable force meets a pretty much immovable object? We’ll find out this weekend when attack-minded Chelsea meet defensively strong Manchester United.
Despite scoring 11 goals in their five games so far, Chelsea have found stern defences hard to break down and Manchester United can really make them suffer.
Although, the league leaders may just have enough quality to sneak out a hard-fought win.
Scoreline prediction: Chelsea Women 1-0 Man Utd Women
