Manchester United v Manchester City: WSL – live!

United make one change from the team that beat Birmingham 2-0 last weekend, with Kirsty Hanson in for Lucy Staniforth. Alessia Russo is likely to play up front with Ella Toone as the No10.

Two changes for City from the side that was surprisingly beaten by West Ham: Bunny Shaw is preferred to Ellen White up front, and Georgia Stanway replaces Jess Park. Stanway will probably go to right-back, with Janine Beckie replacing Park on the wing. Jill Scott remains at centre-back, though Alanna Kennedy and Ruby Mace are on the bench.

Manchester United (possible 4-2-3-1) Earps; Blundell, Mannion, Thorisdottir, Batlle; Zelem, Groenen; Hanson, Toone, Galton; Russo.
Substitutes: Baggaley, Harris, Risa, Ladd, Fuso, Jones, Staniforth.

Manchester City (possible 4-3-3) Taieb; Stanway, Scott, Greenwood, Stokes; Walsh, Angeldahl, Weir; Beckie, Shaw, Hemp.
Substitutes: Keating, Coombs, Park, White, Kennedy, Mace.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Manchester derby at Leigh Sports Village. At the best of times, this is a big game. At the worst of times – and that’s what these are for City – it’s a huge one.

It’s hard to look at the WSL table without doing a double take: City are in ninth, having lost three of their first four games, and are probably already be out of the title race. There are mitigating circumstances, mainly dumb luck and a grotesque injury list, but it’s still a wretched start. If they lose today, there might be a P45 with Gareth Taylor’s name on it.

United have had a calmer start, winning three of their four WSL games, though they were taken apart by Chelsea last month. There was a danger they might get stuck on a mezzanine between the big three and the rest of the league. A win today would put them nine points clear of City, and – even at this stage – give them a serious chance of breaking new ground.

Kick off 1.30pm.