Women's match preview: Reading v United

Two weeks on from our last WSL outing, which saw Casey Stoney's side win 3-0 against Tottenham Hotspur at Leigh Sports Village, we refocus on the league for the remainder of the campaign, as we hope to pick up back-to-back league victories for the first time this calendar year.

United will be eager to replicate the scoreline from when we faced the Royals back in October 2019, when goals from Kirsty Hanson and Jess Sigsworth settled an evenly-fought contest on home turf.

Ahead of our second visit to High Wycombe this weekend, here's everything you need to know ahead of the game...

HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE GAME?

Sunday's match will be streamed live on the FA Player, with kick-off taking place at 14:00 GMT. 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 in our Official App. MUTV will also show the match in full at 16:00 GMT on Sunday, while video highlights will be available on the website.

FORM GUIDE

Due to United's last two away fixtures in the WSL being postponed due to adverse weather, Sunday will see us contest our first league match away from home since our 3-2 defeat to West Ham United on 1 December. Our only three points on the road so far came at Tottenham Hotspur on 13 October, thanks to goals from Hanson, Jane Ross and an Ashleigh Neville own goal.

As for our hosts, Reading's home form has remained strong throughout the season so far. Although Kelly Chambers's side have lost to Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea on home turf, the Royals are undefeated in their other four matches at Adams Park.

OUR RECORD V READING

This will be our fourth meeting with the Royals, and the previous three have been in three different competitions. The first clash was our second-ever match back in August 2018, in the Continental League Cup, which saw us lose 2-0. The two sides faced each other again last season in the quarter-finals of the Women's FA Cup, when we were agonisingly knocked out in extra time.

However, our home WSL game in October gave us our first victory against Reading, a confidence booster for this Sunday's trip to Adams Park -our second visit in the space of 12 months.

ONE TO WATCH

With four league goals to her name this term, Fara Williams is Reading's top scorer. The 36-year-old central midfielder is the most capped player in the history of English football, with 172 caps, 47 more than the men's record holder, Peter Shilton.

Williams played for Chelsea, Charlton, Everton, Liverpool and Arsenal before moving to Reading in 2017, where she has made 50 WSL appearances and scored 22 goals.

RIVALS WATCH

Elsewhere in the WSL, the standout fixture of the weekend away from Adams Park sees Manchester City face Arsenal, with the winners moving to the summit of the table. Liverpool are at home to Birmingham City while there is an all-London clash as Chelsea host West Ham. Also, Tottenham play Bristol City and Brighton & Hove Albion are at home to Everton.

The full list of fixtures is as follows:

SUNDAY 2 FEBRUARY

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

Kick-offs at 14:00 GMT unless otherwise stated.

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