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

While the Red Devils sit in third position in the Women's Super League, the visitors occupy fifth place, and they will be aiming to claim their fourth consecutive victory in all competitions.

Match preview

After beginning the WSL with five successive victories without conceding, Man United were stopped in their tracks when they were beaten by reigning champions, Chelsea.

Man United responded to that defeat by showing great determination to return to winning ways against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Goals from Frida Maanum and Laura Wienroither gave the Gunners a slender advantage after Ella Toone had given Man United the lead, but Millie Turner managed to equalise in the 85th minute before Alessia Russo scored a stoppage-time winner.

The 3-2 victory keeps Marc Skinner's side firmly in the title race, with goal difference separating them from second-placed Arsenal, while they are only three points of league leaders Chelsea with a game in hand.

Prior to the defeat to Chelsea, the Red Devils enjoyed a run of nine consecutive victories in the WSL, where they scored 32 goals and only conceded on one occasion, which will give them the confidence to claim three points on Saturday.

Aston Villa are currently experiencing an impressive run of form after recording three consecutive victories in all competitions.

After beating Liverpool and Reading in the WSL, the Villans edged out Durham thanks to Rachel Daly's 75th-minute strike, helping her side secure a 1-0 win in the League Cup.

As a result of her winner against Durham, Daly has scored all of Aston Villa's last six goals, including a hat-trick in the 3-1 victory over Reading.

Carla Ward's side currently sit in a respectable fifth place, and although they may find it tough to improve on that position with a number of top-quality sides above them, they can reduce the gap to Manchester United to three points with a win on Saturday.

Aston Villa have fared reasonably well on their travels this season, winning two of their three away league games.

Manchester United Women Women's Super League form:

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L

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Manchester United Women (all competitions) form:

Aston Villa Women Women's Super League form:

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Aston Villa Women (all competitions) form:

Team News

With no game for two weeks, Man United's squad will be well-rested ahead of Saturday's game at Old Trafford, and Skinner could be tempted to select the same lineup that started the win over Arsenal.

An unchanged starting XI would see Ona Battle retain her place at right-back after returning from a short spell on the sidelines to feature against the Gunners.

Russo will continue to lead the line for the hosts, and she will be looking to add to the three goals she has scored this season.

As for the visitors, Natasha Harding is ruled out after undergoing surgery on a ruptured quad tendon, and she joins a lengthy injury list that includes Simone Magill and Evie Rabjohn.

Meaghan Sargeant, Remi Allen and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah are also sidelined, while Kirsty Hanson is ineligible to face her parent club.

Emily Gielnik returned from injury to be an unused substitute in Aston Villa's last two games, but Ward has indicated that the Australian will be given some minutes on Saturday, although she is expected to begin the contest on the bench.

Manchester United Women possible starting lineup:

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

Aston Villa Women possible starting lineup:

Leat; Mayling, Patten, Turner, Pacheco; Blinkilde, Corsie, Dali; Lehmann, Gregory, Daly

We say: Manchester United Women 3-1 Aston Villa Women

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