Lindsay Johnson
Ex-England defender on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

It's a really good start from Man Utd, putting pressure on Man City's back four. They'll be buoyed by the crowd here at Old Trafford.

Image source, Getty Images

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Old Trafford

Manchester United's chief executive officer Collette Roche, head of women's football Matt Johnson and defender Hannah Blundell - with newborn Romi - are here at Old Trafford to support the team.

Manchester City are probing for the gaps in the Manchester United defence.

Kerolin squares across the penalty box but it's cleared by Maya Le Tissier.

Katja Snoeijs tries her luck from 20 yards out, but it's a weak shot and the ball slowly trickles past Rachael Laws and out.

Lindsay Johnson
Ex-England defender on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

It's huge. For the injuries that Man City have had this season, it has been really impactful but Lauren Hemp, on her day is unplayable. She's got blistering pace, she loves that one-v-one against defenders, good crosses into the box and they have massively missed her this season.

Alex Greenwood, for me, there's not enough superlatives to describe her. Defender sometimes don't get the plaudits and for someone like Greenwood, she's so technically gifted.

Manchester United quickly on the front foot and it's all a little bit nervy at the back for Manchester City.

It's pinging around in the box and City can't clear, Leah Galton and Celin Bizet both have chances to get a shot off but it's eventually fumbled away.

We're under way in our derby matches in Manchester and Merseyside.

Image source, Getty Images

Lindsay Johnson
Ex-England defender on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

You'd have to say it'd be a disappointing season if Man City don't get a Champions League spot.

Finishing fourth in the league, not winning a trophy, disappointing against Chelsea in the Champions League, they'd have to go back to the drawing board and find that manager that they're looking for at the moment.

Manchester United have conceded just three goals in their 10 WSL home games this season, keeping seven clean sheets. They last conceded more than once in a home match in their final such game of 2023-24 – a 6-0 defeat to Chelsea.

Manchester United’s 1-0 loss against Chelsea on Wednesday was their first home league defeat of the season (W7 D2). Only once have they ever lost consecutive home games in the WSL, doing so in November/December 2023 against Man City and Liverpool.

Lindsay Johnson
Ex-England defender on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

It's brilliant. It's exactly want we want in the north west of England, and with a club with the history of Man Utd and the women have done phenomenal since they were established and came through the Championship.

To play here in front of 35,00 fans and play for a Champions League spot which both teams are playing for today.

Image source, Getty Images

On Friday afternoon, Liverpool captain Niamh Fahey announced she will retire at the end of the Women's Super League season.

A lifelong Reds fan, Fahey will complete her playing career when the Reds face WSL champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the last day of the season.

"It's hard to summarise into words the emotions that I feel as I'm retiring, there are probably too many," Fahey said.

"All I can say is how fortunate I feel for the career I've had and being able to finish it all off at my girlhood club Liverpool FC."

Read more.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool confirmed yesterday that Yana Daniels, Jasmine Matthews and Teagan Micah will leave the club when their contracts expire this summer.

Daniels has made 99 appearances since re-joining from Bristol City for a second spell with the Reds in 2021 - helping the club earn promotion back to the WSL in the 2021-22 season.

Defender Matthews, who joined in 2018, was also part of the promotion-winning team and could make her 97th appearance for Liverpool today.

Goalkeeper Micah leaves after playing 19 times for the Reds since joining before the 2023-24 season.

"All at LFC would like to thank Yana, Jasmine and Teagan for their contributions and wish them the very best for the future," the club said.

Manchester United

Manchester United manager Marc Skinner, speaking to Sky Sports:

"It's a big game and it's something everyone should get excited about but it's business for us. It's about the performance and we've got to play a Man City team that will want to come here and try and get a victory, and they have to get a victory. We have to try and get a victory and that's what we'll control.

"[Ella] Tooney brings a lot of creative flair and we don't want to come here and be defensive, even though we'll have to, we want to be creative and we want to score goals.

"We have to get it done, that's our job. We want to take our emotion out of it and see the job that's at hand. The reality is, when I spoke to the players after the [Chelsea] game, it energises us, it didn't take it out. They went toe-to-toe with Chelsea and, statistically, we were better than them, that's the first time.

"We grew from that game and we're ready for today. It's going to be difficult, we know Manchester City, they've got a lot of returning players as well. We've got to maximise, with this crowd, with these fantastic people, we've got to give absolutely everything today and I know the players will."

Manchester City

Manchester City manager Nick Cushing, speaking to Sky Sports: "It's a really important game. We've got two really important players back in the team, so it gives the team confidence. We've got more players back on the bench, so we're prepared today.

"We know we need the points to give us the best chance of qualifying for Champions League. Today is a critical game for us, we've prepared for an important game, it'll be difficult but we're ready."

On Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood returning: "It's critical to have our captain back, she is a really important player, a leader for us, and to have an attacking player like Lauren Hemp in the team gives us more of a chance of winning today."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Old Trafford

Around the corner from Old Trafford is the mosiac that was painted to celebrate former Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps.

She was a fan favourite here and the words "forget Paris" scribbled in the bottom prove some supporters were concerned when she left.

But there is a new goalkeeper in town and Phallon Tullis-Joyce has been one of the outstanding performers in the WSL this season.

Since taking over from Earps as United's number one, Tullis-Joyce has kept 13 clean sheets in the WSL - the most of any team.

Should they secure Champions League qualification today, her role in their results this season will have been significant.

The last time these two met in the Women's Super League Ella Toone scored a hat-trick as Manchester United secured a comfortable 4-2 victory.

More of that today?

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Old Trafford

There is already a great crowd at Old Trafford.

The club are hoping for around 36,000 and the concourse area was busy when I arrived over two hours before kick-off.

Merchandise stalls and burger vans were filling the streets and people were posing for photos by the United Trinity statue.

City have enjoyed previous derbies here but were humiliated by United at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season.

Will there be revenge?

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United want a "tangible reward" for their hard work this season by qualifying for the Women's Champions League, says manager Marc Skinner.

His side need three points from their final two league games to guarantee a spot in the competition.

They end the Women's Super League season at second-placed Arsenal before competing in the Women's FA Cup final on 18 May.

"It has to be the aim and we are not shying away from it. It's a game that Manchester City have to win, and it's a game that we have to win," said Skinner.

"We want to get the reward we feel we deserve. We have been excellent this season considering at the start we had to find out where we were.

"We want that tangible reward, of course we do, but we also have to earn it. Manchester City won't give us that reward.

"We have to take it and that is the mindset I want from our players. If the players give everything, then we give ourselves a chance to win, for sure."

It's a must-win game for Manchester City today if they are to have a hope of qualifying for next season's Women's Champions League.

They currently sit fourth in the WSL, four points off their city rivals United in third.

A win today would take it to the last day of the season, where City face already-relegated Crystal Palace and United take on Arsenal.