Manchester United host Everton on Sunday in an historic WSL conflict at Outdated Trafford.
United performed their solely earlier recreation on the iconic stadium behind closed doorways because of Covid-19 restrictions, however tens of hundreds of followers are actually anticipated on the Theatre of Desires.
United stay firmly within the race for Champions League qualification, however have had their cushion over Manchester Metropolis eradicated within the hunt for third place after dropping factors final outing towards West Ham and seeing their rivals win their recreation in hand – towards Everton because it occurs.
That can put added strain on them right here, though their future is finally nonetheless in their very own arms in the intervening time because of a barely superior purpose distinction.
Everton, in the meantime, do not come into this one in the very best kind after successive 4-0 defeats to Metropolis within the WSL and FA Cup, preceded by a 3-0 loss to Chelsea. They did, nevertheless, win back-to-back league video games towards Aston Villa and Leicester earlier than that.
United additionally should be cautious after a late Simone Magill purpose within the reverse fixture earlier within the season resulted in a 1-1 draw and dropped factors, regardless of the general mismatch in league place. A Continental Cup assembly between the 2 in December resulted in a 2-0 United win.
That is every thing that you must learn about Sunday’s recreation…
When is kick off? Sunday 27 March, 12:30 (BST)
The place is the match being performed? Outdated Trafford
TV channel/dwell stream? Sky Sports activities Fundamental Occasion (UK) FA Participant/ata soccer (worldwide)
Highlights? Sky Sports activities Soccer YouTube, FA Participant, BBC Sport web site
Referee? Helen Conley
The returns of Signe Bruun and Hayley Ladd to the squad after latest accidents will probably be a lift for United. Maris Thorisdottir has additionally recovered from the sickness that dominated her out towards West Ham final time, whereas teenage starlet Carrie Jones is offered as nicely.
Lucy Staniforth stays sidelined however there may be hope she may return to motion earlier than the top of the season, whereas Kirsty Smith can also be out. Aoife Mannion is within the early levels of ACL rehabilitation following profitable surgical procedure a number of weeks in the past.
After two heavy defeats in a row, Everton switched up their formation to a 5-4-1 towards Manchester Metropolis in midweek, however had been nonetheless on the receiving finish of one other one-sided scoreline. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see whether or not interim boss Chris Roberts perseveres or reverts to 4-2-3-1.
There is also adjustments, with Toni Duggan, Izzy Christiansen, Kenza Dali and Poppy Pattinson all vying for begins after showing off the bench a number of days in the past.
Man Utd: Earps; Batlle, Caldwell, Thorisdottir, Blundell; Zelem, Ladd, Toone; Thomas, Russo, Galton
Everton: MacIver; Turner, George, Finnigan, Pattinson; Graham, Galli; Emslie, Christiansen, Bennison; Duggan
United boss Marc Skinner has expressed wariness of Everton, citing the person high quality of a variety of gamers of their squad, however he will probably be nicely conscious this aspect is predicted to win this one.
“Everton can come right here, if we’re not 100% centered, and completely be in the identical competition as us in any second of this recreation. We’ve to be very understanding of this glorious event, but it surely’s enterprise for us,” Skinner has warned within the construct up.
He’s proper to be cautious, having seen the Toffees snatch a late level off his staff again in November. However Everton’s troublesome latest run of outcomes and inferior league place can’t be ignored, whereas the bounce and buzz of the event ought to work within the house aspect’s favour.
Prediction: Man Utd 4-1 Everton
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