Preview: United Women v Aston Villa
Manchester United return to Women’s Super League action this weekend, with Aston Villa the visitors at Leigh Sports Village.
Marc Skinner and his side are looking to get back to winning ways after two losses on the bounce to Chelsea and Manchester City respectively.
We welcome the Villans LSV, going head-to-head with Carla Ward’s team for a second time this term, in which a Rachel Williams goal helped us collect all three points at Villa Park in our 2023/24 curtain raiser.
Ahead of Sunday’s 12:00 GMT kick-off, here's everything you need to know…
Highlights: Man City v United Women
Highlights | View the key moments from Wednesday's Conti Cup clash with crosstown rivals City...
HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE GAME?
Sunday’s showdown will be shown live on The FA Player, while we will have live radio commentary on MUTV, ManUtd.com, and in the United App, where updates throughout the 90 minutes will be provided.
A match report and post-match coverage can also be found across our platforms following the full-time whistle.
TICKET INFORMATION
With just six home games remaining, including this weekend, there is no time like the present to secure your seat at LSV. Those fixtures include Sunday's meeting with Villa, plus:
Brighton (4 Feb)
Bristol City (17 Mar)
Everton (31 Mar)
Spurs (21 Apr)
Chelsea (18 May, Old Trafford)
Click this link to buy your tickets now!
United's long-term absentees Gabby George, Emma Watson and Jess Simpson remain unavailable for selection due to their injuries, while Hinata Miyazawa is also still out of action.
Jayde Riviere was absent from our Conti Cup clash with City on Wednesday, with Skinner likely to provide an update on the Canadian in due course. Melvine Malard, who missed our defeat to Chelsea last weekend, returned to action in midweek by making an appearance from the bench.
Villa will be without two defensive reinforcements in the form of Dan Turner and Lucy Parker. The former suffered a knee injury in their defeat to Manchester City, but is expected to return in February. Parker, however, is expected to be out for the majority of the season with an ankle injury that requires surgery.
There will, however, be plenty of familiar faces when the two meet on Sunday, with ex-Reds Kirsty Hanson, Lucy Staniforth, Adriana Leon, and Ebony Salmon all now playing for the West Midlands outfit.
After a promising transfer window that saw them sign Dutch goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, expectations were high for Ward’s third season at the club. Things did not quite go to plan, however, as Villa lost their five opening fixtures, including a home clash with the Reds in which Lucia Garcia and Williams helped us complete the comeback. While things started to look up with a win against Bristol City in November, followed by West Ham, two more defeats would await at the hands of Everton and Man City.
Despite losing seven of their 11 games so far, winning four, Villa have climbed to midtable where they currently sit seventh, six points off United. A win on Sunday would see them close that gap to three, while we will be looking to extend that as we aim to make up ground on the leading pack.
Skinner: We created so many chances
Marc Skinner says United created enough opportunities to beat City, but just lacked the finishing touch to triumph...
It is all to play for at both ends of the WSL table, with crunch ties across the board.
SATURDAY 27 JANUARY
Brighton v Chelsea (17:30 GMT)
SUNDAY 28 JANUARY
UNITED v Aston Villa (12:00 GMT)
Everton v Leicester City (12:00 GMT)
Tottenham Hotspur v Man City (14:00 GMT)
Bristol City v West Ham (14:00 GMT)
Liverpool v Arsenal (16:30 GMT)