Women's Preview: United v Manchester City

United, who are unbeaten and sit top of the WSL after six games, have the chance to extend the gap down to City to eight points with a win.

Ahead of this season's first Manchester derby, we’ve rounded up all you need to know…

IS IT ON TV?

Yes, the match, which kicks off at 12:30 GMT, will be shown live on BT Sport - and on BT Sport’s YouTube channel for free - in the UK.

You can also watch the match in full on MUTV from 14:30 GMT.

TEAM NEWS

Casey Stoney has a vast array of talent to choose from, however, our manager will have to cope without Alessia Russo. The forward unfortunately picked up an injury ahead of the Arsenal game last week and will be out for a few weeks.

Ivana Fuso also missed the Arsenal game but was training with the squad ahead of the derby and will be hoping to make her debut for United soon, having arrived from FC Basel in the summer.

As for City, Aoife Mannion, Megan Campbell and Lauren Hemp are unavailable having succumbed to long-term injuries.

FORM GUIDE

Our Women’s superb league form continued last weekend with a 1-0 triumph over Arsenal, thanks to a late Ella Toone winner. That win saw us go top of the WSL table with five straight league wins after the opening day draw with Chelsea.

Our crosstown rivals are currently fifth in the table. In their last five league games, City have won two, drawn two and lost once, but come into the game against United having thrashed Brighton 8-1 in their last outing.

HEAD TO HEAD

Since our team was formed in 2018, we have played our Manchester rivals on three occasions, in three different competitions.

In our first WSL meeting in September 2019, we lost 1-0 but were unable to play the home match due to the season ending prematurely because of COVID-19.

A month later we got our revenge as we beat City 2-0 in the FA Women’s League Cup, thanks to strikes from Katie Zelem and Jess Sigsworth. In an FA Cup clash in January, United lost a dramatic encounter 3-2, thanks to Lauren James and a Lauren Hemp own goal.

We face City again in the Continental Cup on Thursday 19 November.

WHO ELSE IS IN ACTION?

As well as the Manchester derby, there are other exciting fixtures coming up in the WSL this weekend - among them, a London derby between Chelsea and Arsenal. Here is the full list of games...

SATURDAY

UNITED v Manchester City (12:30 GMT)
Aston Villa v Birmingham City (14:30 GMT)
Everton v Reading (16:30 GMT)
Bristol City v Tottenham Hotspur (18:30 GMT)

SUNDAY

West Ham v Brighton & Hove Albion (12:30 GMT)
Arsenal v Chelsea (14:30 GMT)