Chelsea v Manchester United: Women’s Super League – live! | Football

2 min: A quiet start, but one in which United have pressed hard. Casey Stoney can be heard to urge on the press.

1 min: Chelsea get the game underway with the kick-off after the players and staff take the knee.

The teams take to the field at Kingsmeadow to the tune of the Harry J Allstars’ The Liquidator.

Manchester City stepped off the gas against Aston Villa, and won 7-0, having led 6-0 after the first half.

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes speaks.

I know I shouldn’t be saying this with all the social distancing and that, but these are the days you want the fans in. This is the message, we will make sure we will give you entertainment. We are both deserving of where we are. It will be a cracker. Too many good players for it not to be. The way the league has gone there’s been three cancellations. I’m just grateful we can get the game underway. She [Casey Stoney] knows what she’s doing, she will be ready for this.

Manchester United manager Casey Stoney speaks.

Every game is a big name and this is not more important than playing Reading. If you want you be in and around the top three you need you win. Earlier in the season, we took a point off Chelsea and beat Arsenal, and that breeds belief. We know we will have to be clean in possession. No different than normal. We’re here to get a win. [First game in 2021]. It’s not ideal preparation but that was beyond our control. I think it’s gong to be about both boxes, defending well in our box and attacking well in theirs.

Both teams have big names to come off the bench, with Beth England there for Chelsea as Sam Kerr and Fran Kirby start, while Tobin Heath and Lauren James are options for Casey Stoney.

Those teams again:

Chelsea: Berger; Mjelde, Andersson, Bright, Eriksson (capt), Ji, Leupolz, Harder, Cuthdert, Kirby, Kerr.
Subs: Telford, Blundell, Ingle, England, Reiten, J Fleming, Charles, Spence.

Manchester United: Earps; Batlle, A Turner (capt), M Turner, Smith, Ladd, Groenen, Hanson, Toone, Galton, Press.
Subs: Bentley, Harris, McManus, Zelem, Fuso, Heath, James, Ross, Sigsworth.

Chelsea are unbeaten in 30 WSL matches, having not lost since January 2019. They are defending their title, of course.

There is much respect between the two managers today, as reported by Louise Taylor.

In the other WSL matches being played today, Manchester City are leading Aston Villa 6-0. At half-time, while Everton are leading Bristol City 1-0. Reading v Arsenal kicks off at 2pm as does Birmingham v Brighton and West Ham and Tottenham begin their London derby at 3pm. After last week, it’s good to see the matches being played.

This is one that could go some way to deciding the destiny of the WSL title. A Chelsea win would put Emma Hayes’ team in the box seat, as they have an extra game in hand. Casey Stoney’s United squad were one of those who made their way to Dubai, but unlike Manchester City and Arsenal returned without any positive tests. After last weekend, all but blank save for one fixture, Chelsea’s 5-0 thumping of Reading, this is the match of the season so far, and two unbeaten records are being placed at stake. United didn’t play last week due to Covid cases among Everton’s players. This is their first match of 2021, in fact.

Kick-off is 2.30pm, join me.