Na big wahala dey for Old Trafford today as Manchester United women team go face Manchester City for Women Super League derby. The match wey go start by 1:30pm GMT na serious one because City dey lead the table with eight points clear. If City win today, dem go dey closer to win the league title wey dem never win since 2016.
Manchester City dey enter this match with strong form. Dem just beat Tottenham 5-2 for last match where Khadija Shaw score hat-trick wey break record as the fastest for WSL history. City no lose for their two previous visits to Old Trafford – dem win 3-1 and draw 2-2.
For Manchester United side, dem dey return to their home ground after dem lose 3-2 to Bayern Munich for midweek European match. United dey second for table but only three points separate dem from Arsenal wey dey fourth place. Manager Marc Skinner team get six consecutive home victories for all competitions, but dem only win one home WSL derby against City since May 2023.
Team news show say Manchester United get some players wey fit return. Elisabeth Terland and Jayde Riviere don recover from injury wahala. Hinata Miyazawa don return from Japan Asian Cup victory. But Ella Toone still dey sideline with hip injury until after international break. Leah Galton, Dominique Janssen, and Anna Sandberg no go play.
For Manchester City side, four international stars don return from Asian Cup. Yui Hasegawa, Ayaka Yamashita, Aoba Fujino, and Mary Fowler all dey available for selection. But Grace Clinton still dey sideline with minor lower-body injury. Khadija Shaw dey enter this derby with record-breaking form after her hat-trick performance last week.
Manchester United form for league dey show resilience. Dem win Everton 2-1 with stoppage-time goal recently. But dem struggle against Bayern Munich for Europe. Their domestic form still dey keep dem for Champions League race. United finish sixth for previous league phase but dem don become strong home team.
Manchester City dey dominate WSL this season. Dem don win 15 of their 18 league matches. Dem na the only team with perfect home record for the division. City don score 37 home goals this season. Today dem dey look for their first away victory since January.
Referee for the match na Kirsty Dowle. The last time both teams meet na November 2025 when City beat United 3-0 for WSL match. BBC One and BBC iPlayer go show the match live for UK with coverage wey go start by 1:00pm GMT.
Manchester United predicted lineup dey show 4-2-3-1 formation with Tullis-Joyce as goalkeeper. Defenders na Riviere, Le Tissier, Turner, and Lundkvist. Midfielders na Zigiotti Olme, Awujo, and Naalsund. Attackers na Park, Malard, and Schuller.
Manchester City predicted lineup also dey show 4-2-3-1 formation with Yamashita as goalkeeper. Defenders na Casparij, Rose, Knaak, and Greenwood. Midfielders na Hasegawa and Coffey. Attackers na Kerolin, Miedema, Hemp, and Shaw as striker.
The match na crucial one for WSL title race. If City win, dem go extend their lead at the top. If United win, dem go close the gap and strengthen their position for top three. Both teams get quality players wey fit decide the match.
For other football news wey dey around, Fabrizio Romano don talk say Arsenal no get chance to sign Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from PSG. PSG say dem no wan sell the player wey join dem from Napoli 14 months ago. Romano talk say PSG love Kvaratskhelia attitude and professionalism.
Manchester United dey also show interest for Ferran Torres from Barcelona. Reports say United hierarchy dey intrigued by the opportunity to sign the versatile forward. Torres previously play for Manchester City so he sabi Premier League demands.
United dey also plan formal approach for Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United. This show say INEOS dey plan big rebuild for the club. The interest for Torres and Tonali dey show strategic shift for United recruitment.
For Liverpool side, dem dey in complete control for their match against Everton. Ceri Holland don score penalty and Martina Fernandez score own goal to give Liverpool 2-0 lead. Holland later score brilliant strike to make am 3-0 for Liverpool.
Julie Griffiths, former Liverpool captain for BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, talk say Ceri Holland goal na brilliant one. She talk say Holland just dey run and run until space open for her to place shot for top corner. She talk say the goal na exactly what Liverpool deserve.
Ceri Holland don score her third goal for WSL this season. This na first time she score WSL double since 23 April 2023 when she score twice for 2-1 home win over Brighton. Liverpool performance show improvement for their game.
Everton struggle for the match but dem show some improvement later. Michelle Hinnigan, former Everton captain for BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, talk say Everton defensive strategy dey wrong. She talk say distance from their defence to midfield dey too big and Liverpool dey capitalise on am.
Everton don concede six goals for first 15 minutes of first half this season. Only Aston Villa and London City Lionesses (seven each) concede more for WSL this season. This na problem wey Everton need to solve.
The football world dey watch all these matches with interest as season dey enter crucial stage. Today derby between Manchester United and Manchester City na one of the biggest matches for women football calendar.
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