Man Utd vs Aston Villa WSL: TV channel, live stream, team news & prediction
Manchester United will play at Old Trafford for the third time this weekend, hoping to welcome a record crowd as Aston Villa make the trip north from the west Midlands.
United bounced back from defeat to Chelsea at the start of November by beating Arsenal in a thrilling 3-2 comeback at the Emirates Stadium in their last outing a fortnight ago. The time off has been a good opportunity for rest, although it has risked the momentum from that momentous win fading.
Villa have been a force to be reckoned with in the WSL so far this season. They beat Manchester City back in September and have the league's joint top scorer in Rachel Daly. Carla Ward's side have also been in action more recently, narrowly beating Durham in the Continental Cup last weekend.
Where to watch Man Utd vs Aston Villa WSL on TV/live stream
When is kick off? Saturday 3 December, 12:30 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Old Trafford
TV channel/live stream? Sky Sports Main Event/Football (UK), FA Player, DAZN (International)
Referee? Louise Saunders
Man Utd team news
United played a behind closed doors friendly since beating Arsenal but have been able to rest regular starters, give minutes to fringe players and have no new injury concerns to worry about.
Aoife Mannion, expected back from an ACL injury in January, is the only confirmed absentee.
- Marc Skinner press conference - full transcript
- Katie Zelem discusses the 'catch 22' Man Utd face ahead of Old Trafford return
Aston Villa team news
Emily Gielnik is in contention to return after injury. She was an unused substitute in the Conti Cup in midweek. Hannah Hampton and Ruesha Littlejohn returned in that game after time out and had no issues. But Tash Harding will be out for some time after surgery on a ruptured quad tendon.
Remi Allen, Simone Magill and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah (all ACL) are also long-term absentees, with Evie Rabjohn nursing an ankle injury. On-loan United winger Kirsty Hanson is ineligible.
Man Utd vs Aston Villa score prediction
Manchester United have won both previous times they have played at Old Trafford - a 2-0 win over West Ham in 2021 and a 3-1 victory against Everton last season. But Aston Villa are arguably the strongest side yet they have have hosted at the famous stadium and cannot be taken lightly.
Having made progress ever since promotion in 2020, Villa have a decent claim to be the 'best of the rest' outside the WSL's established top four this season and have already nearly matched their league win tally from the whole of 2021/22 just seven games into 2022/23.
United named a rotated side when these teams met in the Conti Cup in October. That game ended in a 1-1 draw and a penalty shootout victory for Villa. But with a full strength side and the likes of Ella Toone and Alessia Russo in fine form after the Arsenal game, a United win is to be expected this time.
Prediction: Man Utd 3-1 Aston Villa
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