Match preview: City v United Women

Tuesday 14 January 2025 13:41

Our Barclays Women's Super League season resumes this weekend with no less than a Manchester derby against City at the Etihad Stadium.

United returned from the mid-season winter break in style last Saturday, defeating West Bromwich Albion 7-0 in the fourth round of the Adobe Women's FA Cup, and now attentions turn back to the league.

Sunday's crosstown clash will be our first WSL outing since a victory away to Crystal Palace on 15 December, and the first of two back-to-back clashes with the Blues, as the teams are due to meet again in the Subway Women's League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.

But, for now, it is all focus on this weekend's trip to the Etihad Stadium, and, below, you can find everything you need to know ahead of the 18:45 GMT kick-off...

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HOW TO WATCH AND FOLLOW

Tickets in the away section for Sunday's game are available to United supporters here. We were allocated a total of 3,131 safe-standing tickets for the fixture, including 21 wheelchair pairs.

If you cannot make it to the Etihad, you can keep across the action via MUTV's live radio commentary and rolling match blog in the United App and on ManUtd.com.

Meanwhile, Sky Sports will be televising the derby for supporters in the UK, with the broadcast coverage due to begin on Sky Sports Premier League at 18:30 GMT.

 

TEAM NEWS

United head coach Marc Skinner is set to provide a fresh update on his squad when he addresses the media in his pre-match press conference later this week.

Goalkeeper Kayla Rendell, who joined the Reds from Southampton on Saturday, could be included in our matchday squad for the first time, while Ella Toone may be poised to continue building up her minutes after scoring on her return from injury at the weekend.

Skinner told reporters that it is expected to be a few weeks before long-term absentee Lisa Naalsund is back on the grass following a foot injury, while Evie Rabjohn is continuing her rehabilitation after rupturing her anterior-cruciate ligament with England Under-19s last July.

For City, the Blues were boosted by the return of the WSL's all-time top goalscorer to their ranks last time out, with Vivianne Miedema netting in her first appearance since October, during Sunday's 3-0 victory at home to Ipswich Town.

Recent injury absentees Lauren Hemp, Tara O'Hanlon, Khadija Shaw and Risa Shimizu were all missing for the cup win but did travel to Abu Dhabi for a recent warm-weather camp and, speaking last week, head coach Gareth Taylor seemed particularly hopeful that primary goal-getter Shaw would be able to return soon, saying: “'Bunny' was with us last week, she was training separately. From what I saw, she looks really good. Hopefully, she can be back sooner rather than later.”

The home side look set to be without their captain and former United defender Alex Greenwood however, after she underwent successful surgery on a knee injury in December.

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OPPOSITION REPORT

Like United, City made a successful return from the international break last weekend with victory in the FA Cup, defeating third-tier side Ipswich 3-0 at the Joie Stadium.

Taylor's team only missed out on the WSL title to Chelsea on goal difference in 2023/24, and have made a strong start to their pursuit of the trophy again, taking 22 points from their opening 10 matches.

Occupying second position, the Blues are six points behind the champions, who lead the way, and one ahead of United, who are level on points with third-placed Arsenal heading into the upcoming round of games.

Top-scorer Shaw has 14 goals across all competitions so far this season - nine more than her closest team-mate's tally - so the question mark over her availability will be a big topic in the build-up to the game.

Jamaica international Shaw scored in last season's Etihad derby, but has missed City's last four games.

WHO ELSE IS PLAYING?

Our game is the last of six on this weekend's top-flight schedule, which kicks off with a Friday night clash at the Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens.

FRIDAY 17 JANUARY

Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion (19:00)

SATURDAY 18 JANUARY

Everton v Aston Villa (17:30)

SUNDAY 19 JANUARY

Tottenham v Leicester City (12:30)
Arsenal v Crystal Palace (14:00)
West Ham v Chelsea (15:00)
Man City v UNITED (18:45)

All kick-off times are listed in GMT.

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