Manchester United v Manchester City: Women’s FA Cup fourth round – live! | Football

20 min: Both these sides have strong defensive records – City have conceded just five goals in the WSL this season – so no surprise we’re goalless so far.

18 min: Georgia Stanway slotting in at right-back for City today and she’s had a few bursts down the right. Will that be a specialist position for the midfielder in the future?

16 min: City probing around the United box but Houghton’s ball in has too much oomph and the hosts have a goalkick. Apart from the chance for White, City’s final ball has been a little sloppy so far.

13 min: City just occasionally overplaying at the back. United haven’t cashed in yet but they’re pressing and that could be something to watch.

11 min: First opportunity of the game. Wullaert plays in White, who opens up her body and goes for the far corner but Mary Earps parries it away. Earps then does well to punch away a City corner.

10 min: Late tackle by Caroline Weir who lunges in on Zelem. Hmmm. Could easily have been a yellow that but the referee settles for a severe word.

9 min: A few crunching early tackles. It may not have the history yet but both sides know they’re in a Manchester derby.

7 min: City mirroring the men’s team in their desire to play out from the back. They work it well to Hemp out on the left who has two chances to cross. Both are dealt with by United’s rearguard.

5 min: Steph Houghton tries to spray a diagonal pass to Lauren Hemp as City try to use the width of the pitch. Nothing comes of it but the pattern is set. Lots of the ball for City.

3 min: Ellen White, who likes to run the channels, gets space down the left but has to turn back infield. Some early possession for City now.

1 min: Early foul allows Katie Zelem to float a free-kick into the City box but the visitors clear.

1 min: Careless early ball from the City defence goes out of play for a United throw.

Here come the teams. And it’s the familiar rousing anthem of ‘This Is The One’ by the Stone Roses as they run out.

A little more pre-match reading:

The Twitter battle: Manchester United men’s twitter account has about three times as many followers as City’s.

As for the two women’s accounts, @ManUtdWomen is catching up (let’s bear in mind they’re in just their second season), with 117k followers to @ManCityWomen’s 123k.

Essential pre-match reading, via Suzanne Wrack:

And for balance, here’s the superb free-kick from Katie Zelem in United’s 2-0 win in the most recent meeting. Listen and you’ll hear one of United’s ‘Barmy Army’ call it. “Top corner Katie.”

No place for Pauline Bremer, City’s top scorer in the WSL this season with nine. The German striker is on the bench. But Caroline Weir does start and City fans will remember this from the first encounter this season…

With Manchester United Women in just their second season of existence, this is only the third derby clash with their more established neighbours.

Both were earlier this season so welcome to Part III of this 2019/20 battle for bragging rights.

The Women’s Super League table shows Manchester City top on goal difference over Arsenal, with United in fourth although 14 points behind third-placed Chelsea.

However, if the league table doesn’t suggest parity, the head-to-head record shows one win apiece after United ran out 2-0 winners here at Leigh Sports Village last time.

City boss Nick Cushing, no relation to Peter, has just two more games in charge after Saturday’s showdown before he heads off to pastures new at New York City.

Cushing has won the FA Cup twice before (2017 and 2019) while United manager Casey Stoney will be hoping to guide the Red Devils to their first Wembley final.