Manchester City lost their opening two games in the Women's Super League this season, but have won their next six.

They have also won their three games in the League Cup so are currently on a nine-game winning run.

Defender Esme Morgan has told BBC Sport that they believe they are still in the title race - and nobody should be writing them off yet.

"After our slow start people wrote us off straight away, from the inside we were looking at that saying 'don't write us off too soon' because we know what we have in this dressing room," she said.

"We've gone under the radar, we've just been picking up points and chipping away and it's maybe crept up on people that we are only three points behind United and Arsenal and six points behind Chelsea but with a game in hand.

"The league title is very much in our sights and in our hands, and that's a really exciting position to be in with the confidence and belief we have in the squad.

"Before our game against Brighton, Gareth [Taylor] said we will win the league this season and I looked around at everyone's face and you could see we all believe it and we're willing to fight for each other to make that happen. I truly believe that the squad we've got this year is capable of doing it."

Image source, BBC Sport/Getty Images

Jess Anderson
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

Good afternoon from freezing cold Manchester!

There were a mixture of blues and reds on the tram on my way in so hopefully we'll have close to a full house today with the club saying earlier this week they have sold around 43,000 tickets.

Blue sky, don't be fooled. Walking over the bridge to the Etihad this morning I was simply thinking, are my six layers going to be enough?

But, nothing better than a derby day to get you excited and this one is going to be an absolute corker.

Honestly, I wouldn't like to make a prediction today. Two teams in form, two teams fighting for the same goal, it's all to play for.

Image source, BBC Sport

Manchester City make one change from their 3-1 win over Brighton last weekend.

It is a big one too, with Lioness Lauren Hemp returning from injury to replace Julie Blakstad on the left wing.

Hemp came off the bench in the League Cup win against Liverpool in the week, playing 20 minutes, but hasn't featured in the league since 6 November.

Manchester City XI: Roebuck, Casparij, Aleixandri, Greenwood, Ouahabi, Hasewaga, Coombs, Castellanos, Kelly, Shaw, Hemp.

Subs: MacIver, Stokes, Houghton, Fowler, Angeldahl, Raso, Morgan, Kennedy, Blakstad.

Unsurprisingly, considering their dominant performance, Manchester United are unchanged from their 5-0 win over Aston Villa last weekend.

It means winger Nikita Parris will come up against her former side. The 28-year-old played 127 games for City, scoring 62 goals.

Manchester United XI: Earps, Batlle, Turner, Le Tissier, Blundell, Ladd, Zelem, Toone, Parris, Russo, Galton.

Subs: Baggaley, Thorisdottir, Moore, Bee Risa, Thomas, Garcia, Tounkara, Williams, Staniforth.

Shall we move onto focusing on the first game of the day?

It's a big one too. A Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium. It doesn't get much bigger.

Here's the team news...

Today could be a pivotal day in the Women's Super League title race.

Chelsea could end the day six points clear of Manchester United - and potentially Arsenal - or all three could be on 24 points.

Manchester City can join neighbours Man Utd on 21 points and really be back in the Champions League and title hunt.

There is going to be little to no movement at the bottom of the league today with three of the bottom four not in action now.

Image source, BBC Sport/Getty Images

Ah, the English weather.

We were meant to have a full fixture list today, with all 12 sides in action, but the weather has put pay to two games.

You still won't need to move all day, though. We've got back-to-back action for the next nine hours or so...

• Man City v Man Utd (12:30 GMT)

• Tottenham v West Ham (14:00 GMT)
• Aston Villa v Arsenal (16:15 GMT)
• Chelsea v Reading (18:45 GMT)

Brighton's home game against Everton was postponed on Saturday because of a frozen pitch, while Liverpool's game against Leicester has been called in the last half an hour because of some areas of concern on the Prenton Park pitch.

We've had nine rounds of fixtures.

Sunday represents the last full round before the winter break.

We've got two derbies - one in Manchester and one in London.

Settle down and get comfy. We've got nine hours of Women's Super League action to bring you.

Image source, Getty Images