Match preview: Chelsea v United Women

The Reds must pick up all three points at Kingsmeadow (12:00 BST) and rely on Manchester City to drop points at Reading to have a chance of leapfrogging the Blues and getting into the top three. 

Our crosstown rivals currently occupy the all-important final European position following their victory over Birmingham on Wednesday, and therefore United will be hoping for a repeat of our last outing, a win over West Ham, in order to give us a shot of getting in.

Sunday's visit to Chelsea makes for a game with plenty on the line, as the hosts will also be looking to be crowned league champions for a third successive season.

So, ahead of the crucial clash, here are all the key details for you to know...

HOW TO WATCH 

There are a limited number of tickets remaining in our away allocation for fans looking to make the trip down to the capital on Sunday. Adults are priced at £9, while over-65s and under-20s can gain entry for just a £1. Alternatively, you can watch the game live on Sky Sports and the FA Player, while there will be radio commentary on MUTV. We will also have coverage throughout the afternoon for you in the app, on ManUtd.com and via our dedicated women’s team social media channels (@ManUtdWomen).

TEAM NEWS

Marc Skinner will provide an update on how we’re shaping up for the final-day clash during his preview interview with MUTV later this week. If we have developed no fresh injury concerns in training for the game, the boss will likely have a full squad available to choose from once again, barring long-term absentees Aoife Mannion and Millie Turner. 

THE OPPOSITION 

Under the guidance of manager Emma Hayes, Chelsea will play for their fifth WSL title in total and third in a row on Sunday. The Blues currently top the table ahead of chasing Arsenal by a point knowing that victory over United would be enough to lift the silverware in front of their home fans. Hayes’s side have only lost once in the league in 2021/22 since an opening day defeat to the Gunners and have not come off of their own patch empty handed in the competition since they were on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline against Brighton in February 2021. The London club were runners-up in this season’s Continental Tyres League Cup final to Manchester City and will contest with the latter again next weekend at Wembley, for the right to lift the FA Cup.

FORM GUIDE

The hosts go into the season finale off the back of a 1-0 victory at Birmingham City last weekend, a result that ensures they have won each of their last 10 games in all competitions, conceding just three times across that spell.

As for United, last Sunday’s 3-0 triumph over West Ham was the perfect way to build some further momentum ahead of this weekend’s visit south. It’s now six unbeaten for Skinner’s side in the competition, who have also not conceded in any of our last three outings.

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD

The Reds will be hoping to record a first win in the fixture's history when we visit the capital this weekend. Chelsea have got the better of five of the six clashes to date, the first coming back in 2019, with a 1-1 draw on the opening day of last season’s WSL the exception, as Leah Galton got on the scoresheet for United. In 2021/22, we have gone head-to-head twice already, with Hayes’s team triumphing 6-1 at Leigh Sports Village early on in the league campaign and 3-1 in February’s Continental League Cup semi-final at Kingsmeadow.

RIVALS WATCH

Our game is one of six to be played on the WSL’s final day, all of which are set to kick off simultaneously at 12:00 BST.

SUNDAY 8 MAY

Aston Villa v Birmingham City
Brighton & Hove Albion v Everton
Chelsea v UNITED
Reading v Manchester City
Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City
West Ham United v Arsenal