It's a strong start by Chelsea, winning an early corner. Lauren James, sporting a very eye-catching new afro hair-do, takes it short.

Chelsea can't fashion a chance and they have to work it all the way back to keeper Hannah Hampton.

Here we go. The big one is underway.

Manchester United

Manchester United manager Mark Skinner speaking on BBC One: "We're aiming to try and win the game, we can only do that. Whatever happens after that we can deal with but we have to put all our energy into trying to win the game.

"Chelsea are the champions and we're at their home ground so it's not an easy game but we have to be ready to do everything to win the game.

"All my energy goes into preparing the team to win rather than worrying about what comes afterwards."

Ellen White
Former England and Man City striker on BBC Two

Mia Fishel holds the ball up really well, she has great aerial ability.

I really liked the goal she scored in the cup against West Ham last week, the way she used her body to make space, and what a finish it was. Unbelievable.

I would like to see more of that again today please. She is a really exciting prospect for Chelsea and something a bit different.

Rachel Brown-Finnis
Ex-England goalkeeper on BBC Two

Ten years ago we would have all welcomed this pressure for a manager and a team to perform.

With what is at stake now in the WSL, last year Manchester United were fighting on all fronts, fell away at the end and finished second in the league. Just two points in it in the end, but that is the benchmark.

Now fans have seen other teams progress, build better bigger squads, and some of the side's best players have left, Ona Batlle, Alessia Russo for example. I think that is where the unrest is.

Pressure is certainly on for the manager and his side.

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes speaking to BBC One: "Mia Fishel has got her opportunity, that's for sure, she has to play to her strengths. she can hold the ball up quite well and her and Lauren James link up naturally so it's important for them to establish that relationship. They did in the second half of the game last week and they have to build on that.

On Hannah Hampton starting in goal: "I view every player in the squad as vying for a place in the starting line up. Her distribution from the deepest spaces against a really aggressive pressing team will be vital for us. She's been training unbelievably well. Again all three of them [Chelsea's goalkeeper's] are good to start but today I chose Hannah."

Ellen White
Former England and Man City striker on BBC Two

I think if you asked me at the start of the season if Chelsea were missing Sam Kerr I would say yes that would impact the title race.

She has scored nine goals this season, out of her 58 goals overall 21 of them have been match winning goals. She will clearly be a massive miss.

You never want to do that injury, bitterly, bitterly disappointed for her. But she has everyone behind her.

You have to look at the other players coming in, Lauren James has to step up, Mia Fischel, Aggie Beever-Jones. It is tough but someone is going to have to step up.

5 Live Sport have launched Women's Football Weekly - a new podcast dedicated to all things women's football.

Ben Haines and Ellen White will be joined by current Women's Super League players to discuss the latest news in the domestic and international leagues, as well as the latest issues and talking points in the game.

Episodes are available every Wednesday and this week Ellen and Ben were joined by Aston Villa's Rachel Corsie and Chelsea winger Niamh Charles to preview the return of the WSL after the winter break.

Listen to episode one now

Chelsea's Millie Bright, Erin Cuthbert, Jess Carter and goalkeeper Zecira Musovic have their phones 'Unlocked' by BBC Sport's Liam MacDevitt to reveal their group chat etiquette, whose DMs they'd like to delve into and their pre-game playlists.

Adam Millington
BBC Sport at Stamford Bridge

Melvine Malard isn't in the squad for Manchester United today after picking up a niggle in training yesterday.

She is expected to be back in time for their League Cup game against Manchester City on Wednesday.

During her WSL downtime, Mary Earps has been busy collecting almost every individual award available to her.

The Manchester United keeper was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortly before Christmas, then earlier this week won Fifa's Best Women's Goalkeeper award for the second successive year.

Norwegian winger Guro Reiten talks about how the Chelsea squad will "need to step up" after Sam Kerr's injury.

Chelsea suffered a massive blow during the winter break as star striker Sam Kerr suffered an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury during their training camp in Morocco.

Kerr, the latest women's football star to suffer an ACL injury, will miss the rest of the season and this summer's Olympics.

Chelsea, in their first game following Kerr's injury, toiled to an FA Cup fourth round win over West Ham, needing extra time and to come from behind in their 3-1 victory. Will they cope any better today?

Last season's top two meet in the capital, a match which could end up having huge ramifications in the title race.

United are battling just to keep in touch. They sit fourth in the WSL, seven points off leaders Chelsea after losing to Liverpool before the winter break.

"Not many go to Chelsea and win," said United boss Marc Skinner. "We're just taking on one of the hardest tasks. We will give everything."

The champions, who are chasing a fifth consecutive WSL title, will be without star striker Sam Kerr and skipper Millie Bright who both have knee injuries.

"My whole approach to things is to take nothing for granted," said Chelsea manager Emma Hayes. "Entitlement for me is probably linked with complacency.

"We're playing against hungry teams who are looking to take that title off us."

BBC Two

Live TV coverage of Chelsea v Man Utd has just begun on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and on this live page - just click the play button near the top.

The Women's Super League returns after its winter break - so how have clubs got on so far and are they in a good place to meet their expectations in the second half of the season?

After today, every club will have played 11 matches, marking the official half-way point in the league season.

You can rank every club's season so far, and predict where they will finish come May, right here.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport

Manchester United's two defeats have been painful ones against rivals Manchester City and Liverpool and they have been compounded by costly draws which could derail their title challenge.

A lack of ruthlessness against Leicester City, Brighton and Arsenal means they had already lost ground on the leaders and defeat by Liverpool - the fifth time in 10 matches United have dropped points this season - leaves them seven adrift of Chelsea.

New signings were given time to settle but there will not be the same level of patience after Christmas. On too many occasions, United have lacked the finishing touch in the final third despite creating plenty of chances and controlling possession.

They need to have an exceptional second half of the season - but they have not shown enough yet to suggest they are capable of winning the WSL.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport

It is so far, so good for Chelsea and the defence of their title, but it has not been plain sailing. A draw at Manchester City, who went down to nine players, in October felt like a missed opportunity and they were beaten 4-1 at Arsenal last month.

Manager Emma Hayes rightly pointed out that teams rarely go unbeaten in a season, but Chelsea cannot afford to drop many points in those head-to-head battles with their rivals if they hope to win a fifth successive crown. There is the possible advantage that three of their remaining four games against the other expected top-four sides are at home.

There is still a long way to go and Chelsea are exactly where they want to be. But the loss of key striker Sam Kerr to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury this month is a major blow and could turn the tide in City or Arsenal's favour.

Image source, Getty Images

We're keen to hear your thoughts about today's action, and anything women's football in general.

You can get in touch using the details above.

Adam Millington
BBC Sport at Stamford Bridge

Image source, Getty Images

The scarf sellers are out in full force and fans have been piling in around the ground over the last few hours.

Will they see Chelsea restore their advantage at the top of the WSL as they work towards a fifth successive title? Or will Manchester United be victorious for the first time in this fixture?

Home advantage is on the Blues' side - they've won each of their last 20 home league matches. In this meeting, Manchester United have lost every away game.