Manchester United

Manchester United manager Marc Skinner speaking to Sky Sports: "It's always tough when you play Liverpool. They are hard to beat and they can be deadly in different ways.

"We have to be at our best. I want to see energy. I want to see everything from us. We have to be more deliberate with out actions - be it attacking or defending."

Manchester United’s Geyse has both attempted (39) and completed (19) more dribbles than any other player in the 2024-25 Women’s Super League; the Brazilian recorded 14 dribbles against Chelsea last time out, the most by a player in a WSL game in exactly five years.

Image source, Getty Images

Following their 1-0 loss to Chelsea last time out, Manchester United could lose back-to-back WSL games for the first time since their final two matches of last season - which also came against Chelsea and Liverpool.

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Matt Beard speaking to Sky Sports on injuries: "It provides other players in the squad with opportunities. It's been a frustrating season with injuries. We can't seem to catch a break.

"But it's a big game today. Zara Shaw has been excellent for us and she deserves this opportunity.

On Manchester United: "They are difficult to break down and do not concede many goal. But we have got goals in the team and fingers crossed, we can do it."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Zara Shaw, 17, starts against United as Liverpool hope to close the six-point gap their rivals currently have on them.

"I thought she was excellent against Newcastle and she had a fantastic [under-17s] World Cup," said Liverpool manager Matt Beard of Shaw in his pre-match media conference on Friday.

"She's a dream to work with. When she did her anterior cruciate ligament, the way she went about it was so mature and so positive.

"She's a fantastic talent. She's going to be a great player in the future. If I could have played her at 15 years old, I would have because she was ready then."

Image source, Getty Images

Jen Beattie
Former Scotland defender on Sky Sports

On comments by Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe...

As much as you try to focus on football, you hear the noise. But all you want is investment, backing and support. When you are not getting that, it's hard to stay focused.

But there are some big players in that dressing room. They are a driven team. They won a trophy last season and they will want go out and do better this time around.

Three changes for United today marks a radical departure from Marc Skinner's usual attitude to team selection.

Before today, no team had made fewer changes to their starting lineups in the WSL this season than Manchester United - just nine changes across eight matches.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Leigh Sports Village

It feels like it’s always an unsettling time at Manchester United these days and it’s another match day in the WSL that kicks off under a bit of a cloud due to things happening off the pitch.

Earlier this week, part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was asked by the United Stand about his plans for the women’s team.

His response was far from convincing and the uncertainty has been made worse by the news this morning that sporting director Dan Ashworth is leaving the club after just five months.

Manchester United season ticket holder Natalie Burrell told BBC Sport: "He was someone who turned up regularly and was supporting the women's team.

"I do worry that now he has gone, has that ethos gone? He was trying to push for it. He was at Leigh Sports Village a lot. Now he's not here, it's disappointing."

Throw in the mix the defeat by Chelsea in their last WSL match and the ever-growing scrutiny of manager Marc Skinner - it’s not a smooth ride at United.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool did the double over Manchester United last season, on their way to finishing above them in the WSL for the first time.

The Reds won 2-1 at Leigh Sports Village in December 2023, Taylor Hinds and a Millie Turner own goal cancelling out Ella Toone's early opener.

Then last May, Jenna Clark scored the only goal to ensure Liverpool scooped six points from the Red Devils in 2023-24 - the margin by which the finished above United in the table.

They have met once this season however, in the League Cup where United won 2-0 on 2 October. They will look to back that up with a WSL victory here.

Image source, Getty Images

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Liverpool are without midfielder Marie Hobinger for today's game at Manchester United due to a groin injury.

The 23-year-old Austrian international will have a scan this weekend.

Matt Beard's side are also without defenders Gemma Evans and Hannah Silcock, who both sustained concussion on international duty with Wales and England's under-23s respectively.

"It's a big blow. We haven't got any of the others back that were injured, apart from Jasmine Matthews," said manager Beard on Friday.

"It has been a bit frustrating. The injuries just keep mounting up."

It could hardly be closer at the bottom of the league, with two points separating the bottom six.

A couple of heavy defeats mean newly promoted Crystal Palace are propping up the pile, but face second-bottom West Ham in the later game. That is definitely one to keep your eyes on.

Image source, Getty/BBC Sport

It is looking very ominous at the top of the league, with Chelsea boasting a perfect record from their opening eight games. They lead second-plced Manchester City by five points and have a vastly superior goal difference.

It is tight between second and fifth as clubs battle for a top three finish and Champions League qualification. Manchester United can steal a march and move third if they win today's early kick-off.

Image source, Getty/BBC Sport

As always, we would love to hear what you have to say about today's games, and on women's football generally.

Send your thoughts down the usual avenues, using the details above.

Man Utd v Liverpool - 12:00

Man City v Leicester - 13:00

Tottenham v Everton - 13:00

Arsenal v Aston Villa - 14:00

Chelsea v Brighton - 14:00

West Ham v Crystal Palace - 14:30

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Leigh Sports Village

Marc Skinner makes three changes to the Manchester United side who lost to Chelsea in their last WSL game.

Celin Bizet, Rachel Williams and Simi Awujo all drop to the bench with Hinata Miyazawa, Eliabeth Terland and Leah Galton all return.

Manchester United XI: Tullis-Joyce, George, Le Tissier, Clinton, Galton, Riviere, Janssen, Terland, Miyazawa, Turner, Geyse.

Subs: Middleton-Patel, Sandberg, Simpson, Awujo, Ladd, Watson, Bizet, Malard, Williams.

Matt Beard has an injury-hit squad so there are changes to the Liverpool side.

They have lined up in a 4-3-3 formation with defenders Gemma Evans and Hannah Silcock both out with concussion.

Marie Hobinger has a calf injury so teenager Zara Shaw makes her first WSL start in midfield.

Gemma Bonner and Jasmine Matthews return at centre-back with Niamh Fahey dropping to the bench.

Liverpool XI: Micah, Hinds, Matthews, Bonner, Fisk, Holland, Nagano, Shaw, Kapocs, Smith, Enderby.

Subs: Kiernan, Clark, Daniels, Fahey, Duffy.

Sundays just don't feel quite right without a deluge of WSL goodness. And after the international break, we are back today with a full slate of six fixtures, starting with Manchester United v Liverpool at noon.

So plug in and tune out the rest of the world for the next few hours, as we bring you every goal and moment of note right here on BBC Sport.

Image source, Getty Images