Man Utd vs Brighton - Women's FA Cup preview: TV channel, live stream, team news & prediction
Manchester United and Brighton are both vying to reach the Women's FA Cup final for the first time when they go head to head in the last four this weekend.
Brighton were beaten in the semis by Arsenal two years ago, while United are playing at this stage of the competition for the first time ever. A Wembley date against either Chelsea or Aston Villa awaits.
Neither club has actually yet faced top flight opposition in the cup so far this season. United have seen off Sunderland, Durham and Lewes, including two lengthy away trips, while Brighton put a combined 14 goals past West Brom, Coventry United and Birmingham without conceding.
There is plenty of familiarity and crossover in this one. United defender Maya Le Tissier joined from Brighton last summer, while head of women's football Polly Bancroft was previously Seagulls general manager. Alessia Russo also briefly turned out for Brighton in her teens.
The visitors recently appointed Melissa Phillips as their new permanent head coach, relieving interim boss Amy Merricks, who is leaving altogether to take charge of England Under-19s. Former London City Lionesses boss Phillips returns to England from her native United States after a spell as an assistant coach with NWSL club Angel City earlier this year.
Where to watch Man Utd vs Brighton on TV and live stream
- When is kick off? Saturday 15 April, 17:15 (BST)
- Where is the match being played? Leigh Sports Village
- TV channel/live stream? BBC Two/iPlayer (UK), FA Player (International)
- What time does TV coverage start in the UK? 17:00 (BST)
- Referee? Kirsty Dowle
Man Utd team news
Lisa Naalsund likely won't return until at least the final two or three weeks of the season after an injury less than half an hour into her United debut in the previous round. Maria Thorisdottir also got injured in that game and will miss the rest of the campaign and the World Cup.
This competition has been Vilde Boe Risa's platform to shine so there could be another start for her. A number of key United players - including Katie Zelem, Leah Galton, Ona Batlle, Lucia Garcia and Millie Turner - weren't involved in international football and should be fresh.
Adriana Leon sealed a short-term loan move to Portland Thorns on Thursday.
Brighton team news
New boss Phillips has had just a week to prepare for this game and only led her first full training session on Thursday. She will still at least be able to draw on the support of Merricks, who hasn't immediately departed, but will have her own personnel decisions to make, with once key players like Victoria Williams and Megan Walsh having slipped down the pecking order this season.
Kayleigh Green, Guro Bergsvand and Dejana Stefanovic were missing from the squad that faced United in the WSL at home earlier this month.
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Man Utd vs Brighton score prediction
This is a clash between the WSL leaders and its bottom club, which immediately makes the hosts favourites. On top of that, Marc Skinner's team have been close to impossible to beat at Leigh Sports Village since the start of last season, while the recent league meeting prior to the international break ended in a 4-0 United win - it was the same score-line when they played in the league at Leigh too.
Phillips has had precious little time to put her stamp on Brighton, but even 'new manager bounce' is unlikely to be a major factor in deciding this one.
Prediction: Man Utd 3-0 Brighton
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