Preview: Chelsea Women vs. Manchester United Women - prediction, team news, lineups

The Blues head into the top-of-the-table clash one point adrift of the Red Devils, who have played a game more.

Match preview

After losing out to Arsenal in the League Cup final last weekend, Chelsea bounced back with a 3-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion in midweek.

Guro Reiten opened the scoring from the spot before Jess Carter and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd both grabbed a goal apiece, and although Danielle Carter's late consolation goal denied Chelsea a clean sheet, they would have been pleased with a win that extends their unbeaten run to 12 league games.

Impressively, the Blues have now won 20 and drawn one of their previous 21 home league games - an unbeaten run which stretches back to February 2021.

Having won all six of their home league games this season, Chelsea know that if they can keep their 100% record intact this weekend then they will move to the top of the table.

The Blues will be encouraged by their head-to-head record, as they have never lost a competitive game to Man United, and they have emerged victorious in each of their last five meetings.

Man United are currently dreaming of winning their first WSL title, and they will head into Sunday's contest in a buoyant mood.

The Red Devils claimed a 5-1 victory over basement side Leicester City last weekend, thanks to an Alessia Russo hat trick, as well as goals from Leah Galton and Lucia Garcia.

As a result of their commanding win against the Foxes, Marc Skinner's side are unbeaten in 12 matches across all competitions.

Having won 11 of their 14 league games this season, Man United are just one victory away from equalling their total tally of league wins from last season.

Although their only WSL defeat of the current campaign took place against Chelsea in November, Man United will take confidence from the fact that they have not lost a top-flight away game this season.

Chelsea Women Women's Super League form:

W

W

W

D

W

W

Chelsea Women form (all competitions):

Manchester United Women Women's Super League form:

D

W

W

D

W

W

Manchester United Women form (all competitions):

Team News

Chelsea are unable to call upon the services of Pernille Harder, Katerina Svitkova and Fran Kirby due to injury issues.

Emma Hayes's rotated her side for the midweek win over Brighton, and as a result, she is expected to bring a number of key players back into the side, including Ann-Katrin Berger, Sophie Ingle and Lauren James.

Niamh Charles, Magdalena Eriksson and Erin Cuthbert are also set to return to the starting lineup for Sunday's contest.

As for the visitors, they have reported no fresh injury concerns, although January signing Jayde Riviere remains unavailable.

After coming off the bench to score Man United's fifth goal against Leicester, Garcia may have earned herself a place in the starting XI.

Russo will continue to lead the line for the Red Devils, and the England international will be looking to add to the eight league goals she has scored this season.

Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:

Berger; Perisset, Bright, Eriksson, Charles; Ingle, Cuthbert; James, Cankovic, Reiten; Kerr

Manchester United Women possible starting lineup:

Earps; Batlle, Le Tissier, Turner, Blundell, Ladd, Zelem; Garcia, Toone, Galton; Russo

We say: Chelsea Women 2-1 Manchester United Women

Although Man United are yet to lose an away league game this season, they are still searching for their first competitive victory over Chelsea.

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