Manchester United Women will look to take the title race to the final game of the season when they face local rivals Manchester City Women on Sunday.

The hosts occupy second position in the Women's Super League table, while the Citizens will enter the derby fixture in fourth place.

Match preview

Man United boss Marc Skinner is tasked with picking his players up from last weekend's narrow defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup final.

Sam Kerr's second-half strike condemned Man United to a 1-0 loss at Wembley, but the Red Devils will look to use that disappointment as motivation for the final two games of the 2022-23 campaign.

Once again, WSL leaders Chelsea are standing in the way of Man United ending the season with a piece of silverware, with the second-placed side two points adrift of the West London club.

If Chelsea beat Arsenal in Sunday's lunchtime kick off then the Red Devils will need to win to send the title race to the final day, while three points against Man City would move them to the top of the table if Emma Hayes's side drop points against the Gunners.

Having won their last four home league games by a combined 13-1 scoreline, the hosts will be hoping that the home support at Leigh Sports Village can spur them onto a derby victory.

Manchester City's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League are left hanging by a thread following their 2-1 away defeat to Liverpool in their most recent outing.

Lauren Hemp restored parity after Natasha Dowie had given Liverpool the lead, but a Missy Bo Kearns strike in the opening moments of the second period proved enough to guide the Reds to a 2-1 victory that leaves Man City in fourth position.

With two games left to play, Gareth Taylor's side are three points adrift of Arsenal, who occupy third place and boast a superior goal difference compared to Man City.

Although their Champions League fate may be out of their hands, Man City will be targeting maximum points in their final two games against Man United and Everton as they look to give themselves the best possible chance to take advantage of any Arsenal slip-ups.

Man City are unbeaten in their last three competitive Manchester derbies, and they emerged victorious on their last trip to Leigh Sports Village, claiming a 4-1 victory in the FA Cup in February 2022.

Team News

Manchester United have a near-fully fit squad for Sunday's derby, although Maria Thorisdottir remains sidelined for the rest of the season.

Despite finishing on the losing side last weekend, Man United boss Skinner could select the same side that started the FA Cup final.

Alessia Russo will continue to lead the line for the Red Devils, and the England international will be looking to add to the 10 league goals that she has scored this season.

As for the Citizens, they are unable to call upon Sandy McIver and Laia Aleixandri, who were both ruled out for the rest of the season in April.

Alanna Kennedy signed a two-year extension with Man City until June 2025 on Monday, but she is also sidelined for the final two games of the campaign.

There is also doubt over the availability of Mary Fowler, who was unavailable for the defeat to Liverpool on May 7.

Manchester United Women possible starting lineup:
Earps; Battle, Le Tissier, Turner, Blundell; Ladd, Zelem; Parris, Toone, Galton; Russo

Manchester City Women possible starting lineup:
Roebuck; Casparij, Houghton, Greenwood, Morgan; Hasegawa, Angeldal; Kelly, Coombs, Hemp; Shaw

We say: Manchester United Women 2-1 Manchester City Women

Man United would have been disappointed with the FA Cup final result, but we think that they will bounce back by claiming a narrow victory over a Man City side that have lost their last two away league fixtures to Arsenal and Liverpool.

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