Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Leigh Sports Village

Image source, Michael Emons

Everton are the lowest scorers in the WSL, with 14 goals from 17 games, but boss Brian Sorensen believes they have to quality to get through United's defence.

"Our Achilles' heel is we just don't score enough goals," he said. "That's something we have to improve on and we're working so hard on the training pitch to make that happen - there are many more goals in our team.

"They [United] are not untouchable, their weakness has been conceding too many goals. Compared to last season we're getting into good situations so it's about finishing it off."

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Leigh Sports Village

Image source, Michael Emons

Manchester United have already put 12 goals past Everton this season - with a 5-0 away WSL win on 22 October followed by a home 7-0 thumping on 9 November in the League Cup.

But Marc Skinner's side go into this match after the disappointment of losing 3-1 in the Manchester derby against Manchester City on 23 March at the Etihad.

"We're all hurting, of course we are but we can't lick our wounds," Skinner told the club's website. "We have to move forwards into action, that's what has been great about this team that when we take a setback we move forwards.

"We have to give absolutely everything in this game and it's not going to be easy. Anyone watching it expecting it to be like the other games, it won't be like that.

"We have to be calm, composed and aggressive in our 1v1 duels. We have to show that energy and that hurt and move that forwards into the performance."

Manchester United won't want to be reminded about their last fixture.

They were beaten 3-1 at Etihad Stadium by rivals Manchester City and have slipped to being nine points adrift of third-placed Arsenal.

With just five games remaining any hopes of securing a top three spot and Champions League football are slim at best.

Manchester United

Manchester United have enjoyed a lot of success when they've played Everton this year.

They've met once in the WSL and once in the League Cup, with United winning by an aggregate scoreline of 12-0.

However, Red Devils manager Marc Skinner doesn't think history is a good way to predict what will happen this afternoon.

"I am definitely expecting nothing like the previous games," he said in his pre-match news conference.

"They've been more solid in defence. You have to be patient, you have to be composed, you have to concentrate.

"If you do that, you know they'll leave you opportunities to create chances yourself. I'm not expecting the same level of goals and it to be free flowing."

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Leigh Sports Village

Image source, Michael Emons

For Manchester United, last season's WSL runners-up and beaten finalists in the FA Cup at Wembley, this campaign will be defined by their next match at Leigh Sports Village, not this one today.

They entertain Chelsea on Sunday, 14 April in the semi-final of this year's FA Cup as they look to return to Wembley after losing 1-0 to Emma Hayes' side in front of 77,390 there in last year's final.

Chelsea also denied United the WSL title on the last day of 2022-23, but United are down in fifth in 2023-24 with any hopes of becoming champions long gone. But that's not to say there's nothing to play for.

United will go above Liverpool and into fourth if they avoid defeat today, while a win will keep up their slim hopes of overtaking Arsenal to finish third and secure a place in the Champions League qualifiers.

Everton are 10th, but seemingly in no danger of going down as bottom-placed Bristol City are nine points behind them, having only won once all season and with matches against each of the current four still to come before ending the season at home to the Toffees.

A win for Everton today could see them end the day in eighth, but a loss followed by West Ham winning at home against Brighton could leave Brian Sorensen's side in 11th out of 12 teams.

There are two games in the Women's Super League today, but much of the attention will be on Molineux, where Chelsea face Arsenal in the Women's League Cup final from 15:00 GMT.

You can watch that game live on BBC Two, listen to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra commentary and follow live text updates by clicking here.

BBC Sport's Emma Smith spoke to Arsenal's Alessia Russo and Chelsea's Ashley Lawrence to preview the game:

• Debut Arsenal campaign has been 'tough' - Russo
• 'We talk about it' - quadruple on Chelsea's minds

A Champions League place is surely out of reach for Manchester United, who are nine points adrift of the European qualification places with five games remaining.

Fortunes couldn't be more different for their rivals Manchester City, who top the WSL after beating Liverpool yesterday.

With Emma Hayes' Chelsea playing Arsenal in the League Cup final today, City are guaranteed to remain at the summit going into the international break.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton have struggled to find form this season while struggling with a number of injuries and are 10th.

Top-flight safety seems a certainty for Brian Sorensen's side, with them sitting nine points clear of the drop.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton are struggling with injuries at the moment - so much so that manager Brian Sorensen says the priority is "just trying to put a team out there".

Thankfully for the Toffees, there's some good news on the fitness front, this weekend.

Heather Payne and Hannah Bennison had both "been struggling" but both start.

Twin midfielders Sara Holmgaard and Karen Holmgaard are on the bench, while defender Katrine Veje is back and on the bench.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Leigh Sports Village

Image source, .

Marc Skinner makes one change from the Manchester United side that began the 3-1 loss to Manchester City with Aoife Mannion coming in for Jayde Riviere.

Striker Nikita Parris has already scored five goals against Everton this season - two in the 5-0 away WSL win in October then a hat-trick in the 7-0 League Cup thrashing a few weeks later.

Manchester United XI: Earps, Blundell, Turner, Le Tissier, Mannion, Naalsund, Zelem, Geyse, Toone, Garcia, Parris.

Subs: Tullis-Joyce, Evans, Rabjohn, Guerrero, Miyazawa, Ladd, Galton, Malard, Williams.

Image source, .

One change too for Everton from the team that played in the goalless Merseyside derby against Liverpool.

Elise Stenevik is in for Emma Bissell, while the Toffees are boosted with the news that England striker Toni Duggan is fit enough for a place among the substitutes.

Everton XI: Brosnan, Hope, Finnigan, Wheeler, Stenevik, Bennison, Vanhaevermaet, Moller Kuhl, Galli, Snoeijs, Payne.

Subs: Ramsey, Biossell, Veje, K Holmgaard, S Holmgaard, Hobson, Duggan, Dale, Piemonte.

Image source, Getty Images

It's time for the final two Women's Super League games of the weekend.

We kick off the day's action at Leigh Sports Village, where Manchester United host Everton.

Later, we've got West Ham v Brighton - and there's also the small matter of a League Cup final this afternoon too.

I'll be here to talk you through it all, let's start by finding out how the teams line up for our opening game.