Match preview: United Women v Everton

Casey Stoney’s side conceded more than once in a top-flight game for the first time last weekend, falling to a 3-2 defeat to West Ham United.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of our next fixture, including how you can watch it live on MUTV...

HOW CAN I WATCH IT?

If you can’t get down to Leigh Sports Village on Sunday, MUTV will be showing live coverage of the match from 11:30 GMT, with kick-off scheduled for midday. As usual, we’ll be providing updates on our official Twitter account @ManUtdWomen and, after the game, a full match report will be published on ManUtd.com and on our Official App. If you can’t watch the game live, MUTV will be showing the full 90 minutes again at 20:00 GMT. Video highlights will also be available on the website.

FORM GUIDE

United suffered a fourth league defeat of the season at West Ham United last Sunday. Goals from Kirsty Hanson and Lauren James had us in the lead twice at Rush Green Stadium, but last season’s Women’s FA Cup finalists restored parity quickly on both occasions, before securing all three points through Katharina Baunach’s late free-kick. Our form at home is good, however, with wins against Liverpool, Reading and Brighton & Hove Albion following on the heels of our September loss to title-chasing Arsenal.

Everton’s match against Chelsea on Sunday was postponed due to a frozen pitch, but Willie Kirk’s women are currently on a three-match winning run in the Women’s Super League, having seen off Brighton, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks. The Blues sit fourth in the top-flight table, three points and one position above United.

KEY PLAYERS

United’s 18-year-old forward Lauren James has four goals in her last five appearances, including an effort against the Toffees in early November, while WSL Player of the Month for October Kirsty Hanson has made an impressive start to life in the top flight, netting her third goal in eight games against West Ham at the weekend. Everton’s key players going forward are midfielder Lucy Graham, signed from Bristol City in the summer, and forward Chloe Kelly. The additions of Tinja-Riikka Korpela and Kika van Es have also helped the Merseysiders change their fortunes in the league this year – the 15 points they’ve recorded in their opening seven games is already higher than their total for the entire 2018/19 season.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

Casey Stoney’s side have a perfect record against Everton, winning both of our previous meetings against the Merseysiders. A 3-0 FA Women’s League Cup victory in December 2018, courtesy of goals from James, Katie Zelem and Leah Galton helped us qualify for the competition’s quarter-final, and the Reds served up a repeat of that scoreline last month, with James, Zelem and Amy Turner on target in a comprehensive success at Walton Hall Park in Southport, again in the League Cup. Sunday’s fixture will mark the first time we’ve taken on the Toffees in the Women's Super League.

RIVALS WATCH

Second and third collide in the Women’s Super League this weekend, as Manchester City travel to Chelsea aiming to end Emma Hayes’ side’s unbeaten start to the season. Meanwhile, leaders Arsenal make the trip to Reading a week after thrashing Bristol City 11-1. The Robins haven’t recorded a win in the league so far this season, but host Birmingham City Women in what could be a key clash at the bottom of the table. Here is a full list of fixtures...

SUNDAY 8 DECEMBER

Chelsea Women v Manchester City Women (12:00 GMT)
Manchester United Women v Everton Women (12:00 GMT)
Liverpool Women v West Ham United Women (14:00 GMT)
Tottenham Hotspur Women v Brighton & Hove Albion Women (14:00 GMT)
Reading Women v Arsenal Women (14:30 GMT)
Bristol City Women v Birmingham City Women (15:00 GMT)

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