Key events
5 min: Terland appeals for a penalty after being tripped in the box by Saez, but the referee dismisses her claims and play continues.
3 min: West Ham are struggling to progress forward in these early stages, with Manchester United relentlessly crowding out the midfield and winning the ball in the centre third.
Kick-off
We’re under way at Old Trafford on this beautiful Saturday afternoon!
The teams are out at Old Trafford! Kick-off is just a few moments away!
Karen is confident Manchester United will be back competing at the top this season despite losing some key players…
“I got a good feeling about United team this season. Sure Earps is gone but lets not forget we already had a phenomenal goalkeeper in our squad and she’s gonna show it this season. Zelem’s gone but the view was always to integrate Clinton. They didn’t put unnecessary pressure of captaincy on our star Ella; the signings look good so I’ll say bring it on!”
Some of our women’s football correspondents gave their 2024-25 predictions in the latest episode of Women’s Football Weekly. Give it a listen here…
Following two successful loan spells, Grace Clinton finally makes her first WSL appearance for Manchester United today. The 21-year-old was named the PFA’s young player of the year last month following her impressive 2023-24 campaign with Tottenham, and now she is ready to establish herself as an indispensable member of Marc Skinner’s squad.
Reigning WSL champions Chelsea kicked off the campaign with a 1-0 win over Aston Villa last night. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd scored the decisive goal with a stunning strike, but Villa attempted to mount a late comeback in the final minutes. Goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo came agonisingly close to equalising in added time, but Hannah Hampton kept the clean sheet with a fantastic stop.
With the new WSL season finally underway, I want to hear from you! Feel free to email me with some of your predictions for this season. Top goalscorer, player of the season, you know the drill. And the all-important question – who will lift the trophy in May?
Team News
Manchester United starting XI: Phallon Tullis-Joyce; Maya Le Tissier (C), Millie Turner, Dominique Janssen, Jayde Riviere; Ella Toone, Grace Clinton, Lisa Naalsund; Leah Galton, Elisabeth Terland, Geyse. Substitutes: Safia Middleton-Patel, Gabby George, Aoife Mannion, Simi Awujo, Hayley Ladd, Hinata Miyazawa, Celin Bizet, Melvine Malard, Rachel Williams.
West Ham starting XI: Kinga Szemik; Amber Tysiak, Anouk Denton, Camila Saez, Shannon Cooke, Li Mengwen; Dagný Brynjarsdóttir, Katrina Gorry (C); Riko Ueki, Viviane Asseyi, Emma Harries. Substitutes: Megan Walsh, Oona Siren, Marika Bergman-Lundin, Manuela Pavi, Shelina Zadorsky, Kristie Mewis, Halle Houssein, Seraina Piubel.
Preamble
We’re back! Hello and welcome to coverage of Manchester United vs West Ham. The Women’s Super League finally returned last night as reigning champions Chelsea clinched a 1-0 win over Aston Villa in a highly competitive opening fixture.
FA Cup winners United return to action today as they target an improvement on last season’s fifth-place finish. But with the likes of Mary Earps, Katie Zelem, Lucia Garcia and Nikita Parris now gone, Marc Skinner will have to make some huge selection calls.
Meanwhile, West Ham finished 11th in the table last season – nine points above relegated Bristol City. Rehanne Skinner’s side struggled throughout the campaign and they could be in for another rocky ride this time around.
Kick-off is at 12pm BST – join me!