Manchester United return to Women’s Super League action this weekend with the visit of Tottenham Hotspur.
Marc Skinner’s side had a weekend off after their league meeting with Chelsea was postponed, while Spurs suffered a last-gasp 3-2 defeat at home to Liverpool. This will be the first meeting between the two teams this season.
They last met in a competitive fixture back in May for the FA Cup final, a game United won comfortably. Robert Vilahamn’s side have had a strong start to the new campaign in terms of performances, but results haven’t always gone their way.
Here’s 90min’s preview of Sunday’s clash at Leigh Sports Village.
Man Utd vs Tottenham H2H Record (All Games)
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Man Utd team news
Melvine Malard was substituted in the 2-0 win over Liverpool in the League Cup last week, but Skinner described her withdrawal as precautionary post-match. The boss made eight changes for that one but could revert to something like the team that narrowly beat Everton last month.
Summer signing Anna Sandberg is yet to make her debut due to what has been described in recent weeks as minor irritation and swelling. Emma Watson has recovered from the anterior cruciate ligament injury that sidelined her last season but a recent knock in training has kept her out so far.
Experienced full-back Hannah Blundell is sitting out this season, stepping away after announcing her pregnancy. Evie Rabjohn is the other long-term absentee as the 19-year-old continues her recovery from the ACL blow she suffered on international duty in the summer.
Man Utd predicted lineup vs Tottenham
Man Utd predicted lineup vs Tottenham (4-3-3): Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier, Turner, George; Janssen, Clinton, Naalsund; Geyse, Terland, Toone.
Tottenham team news
Summer signing Ella Morris suffered a small setback in her recovery from an injury and missed their last WSL meeting against Liverpool. Kit Graham, Amy James-Turner and Shuang Wang remain the longer-term absentees.
Defender Luana Buhler picked up her first minutes of the campaign in the League Cup victory over Charlton Athletic last week, but was an unused substitute in the defeat against Matt Beard’s side over the weekend.
Tottenham predicted lineup vs Man Utd (4-2-3-1): Spencer; Neville, Bartrip, Hunt, Nilden; Oroz, Summanen; Raso, Spence, Naz; Thomas.
Tottenham suffered an agonising 3-2 loss at the hands of Liverpool last time out and only managed a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa prior to that. While they started the season strong, results haven’t gone the way of Vilahamn’s side.
United, on the other hand, won both of their opening league fixtures and dismantled Liverpool 2-0 in the League Cup last week. Skinner will hope his side’s strong start to the season continues this weekend.
While the Manchester club cruised past Spurs in the FA Cup final last season, their pre-season meeting in September was an entirely different story. It will likely be a closely contested game, but the hosts should come out on top with the home advantage.
