Match preview: Brighton v United Women

The Reds will put a 100 per cent record on the line in the 12:30 BST kick-off at the Amex Stadium, with an in-form Seagulls side the opponents for our final game before the October international break.

Below you can find all the information you need ahead of the lunchtime clash on the south coast, from ticket and live coverage info to team news and more...

HOW CAN I WATCH THE GAME?

Tickets for the away end at the Amex Stadium remain available, and can be purchased by any United fans wishing to make the trip at tickets.manutd.com. We received an initial allocation of 1,579 tickets, including 14 wheelchair pairs, which will be situated in the south-east corner of the stadium.

Alternatively, supporters not in attendance can watch the fixture for free on the WSL's official YouTube channel. Live radio commentary will also be available on ManUtd.com, while there will be rolling coverage and updates in our app. Highlights will be viewable across club platforms from Sunday.

WHAT'S THE TEAM NEWS?

Reds head coach Marc Skinner is expected to provide a fresh update on his squad when he conducts his pre-match press conference on Thursday, but is hopeful of having Geyse and Jaye Riviere back, after the pair missed the win over Spurs last time out with knocks.

Melvine Malard (hamstring) and Anna Sandberg (knee) were also absent for last weekend's triumph but have already been ruled out for this one by Skinner, while Evie Rabjohn (also knee) remains sidelined.

For Brighton, full-back Poppy Pattinson could return from a one-game suspension that kept her out of the recent victory over Crystal Palace. Serbian midfielder Jelena Cankovic was forced off in the first half of that 1-0 triumph on Sunday with an apparent injury, and her availability for this weekend's encounter remains unclear. 

Bex Rayner, Charlize Rule and Dejana Stefanovic are still to play in 2024/25 as they continue rehabilitation from their respective injuries.

OPPOSITION ANALYSIS

Former Australia international Dario Vidosic took the managerial reins from interim boss Mikey Harris over the summer, and has since led his new side to three wins from their opening four WSL games.

The Seagulls have deployed a three-at-the-back system under Vidosic, which centres on having plenty of possession, as shown by having more than 55 per cent of the ball in league victories over Everton (4-0), Aston Villa (4-2) and Crystal Palace (1-0) already this term.

Only Manchester City have got the better of Brighton so far in 2024/25 - they've also beaten Birmingham City in the League Cup - but Brighton were able to frustrate the current WSL leaders for large parts, ensuring that Khadija Shaw's 44th-minute goal was the only mark on the scoresheet.

The south-coast side are level on points in the table with United, behind only on goal difference, while only Chelsea have found the net more frequently in the competition so far this season. Kiko Seike, who was named WSL Player of the Month for September, has the majority of those strikes (three) after her opening-weekend hat-trick, on debut, against Everton.

CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE CLUBS

As many as five players that have made the direct switch between the clubs over the last three summers could be involved in Saturday's early kick-off.

Goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley and defender Maria Thorisdottir both departed the Reds for Brighton in 2023, before Nikita Parris reunited with her old team-mates with a deadline-day move to the south coast last month.

Earlier in the window, striker Elisabeth Terland - Brighton's top scorer in each of the last two WSL seasons - made the move to Manchester, following the path of Seagulls Academy graduate and now-United captain Maya Le Tissier, who has played every one of our 68 matches since joining the club in 2022.

RIVALS WATCH

Our trip to the Amex Stadium is the only fixture on Saturday, before five games take place across the division on Sunday. Here's the schedule, which concludes with a London derby between Chelsea and Tottenham...

SATURDAY 19 OCTOBER

Brighton v UNITED (12:30)

SUNDAY 20 OCTOBER

Man City v Aston Villa (12:15)
Liverpool v Crystal Palace (14:00)
Leicester City v Everton
West Ham v Arsenal
Chelsea v Tottenham (18:45)

All times are listed in BST.