Preview: Manchester United Women vs. Aston Villa Women - prediction, team news, lineups

Manchester United Women host Aston Villa Women at Leigh Sports Village on Sunday, when the Red Devils will be aiming to climb into the Women's Super League top three again.

Villa currently sit 10th in the table but nine points clear of Birmingham City, with defeat last time out for Carla Ward's side opening up a seven-point gap between the middle section of the division.

Match preview

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Marc Skinner's team continued their unbeaten run in the League Cup on Wednesday evening, when they collected three points against Everton with a 2-0 win.

Last weekend, Man United travelled to Crawley where they faced a high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion side, but the visitors collected a big three points in their hunt to break into the top three.

Hayley Ladd and Vilde Boe Risa were on target for the Red Devils as their 2-0 win ensured Manchester United went level on points with the Seagulls.

Consecutive 2-0 wins for Skinner's side this week should give Sunday's hosts the confidence to keep another clean sheet this weekend, against a side that has only managed to score six goals so far.

In contrast, Villa's confidence took a knock on Wednesday as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers, which has left Aston Villa bottom of Group A in the League Cup.

In gameweek nine of the WSL last weekend, Villa welcomed Tottenham Hotspur to the West Midlands and despite Remi Allen giving the home team a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute, Spurs claimed all three points with a second-half winner from Rachel Williams.

Ward's side have now only won once in the WSL since their three-game unbeaten start but they are unlikely to need to worry about the two teams below them in the table fighting relegation as they have already opened up a big gap.

Villa's goal difference is quite considerably worse than the nine teams above them, suggesting that they need to try and stop Man United from creating many chances on Hannah Hampton's goal.

Sunday's visitors' away record this season has been better than their form on home soil, picking up four more points on their travels, and they will need to continue that if they are to take anything from the game this weekend.

Man United completed the league double over Aston Villa last season, most recently winning 3-0 in March thanks to goals from Kirsty Hanson, Jessica Sigsworth and Katie Zelem.

Team News

Manchester United midfielder Ladd started just her second WSL game of the season against the Seagulls and sealed it with a goal, meaning that she could have earned her place in the starting 11 again this weekend.

Centre-back Millie Turner also played the full 90 minutes last weekend after she returned from an injury which kept her sidelined since the beginning of September, and she will line up alongside Aoife Mannion in the heart of defence.

Goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley was given her opportunity between the posts in the League Cup on Wednesday, but number one Mary Earps will return to the side on Sunday looking to keep her fourth clean sheet of the campaign.

Ward completely changed her side for Wednesday's League Cup outing against Blackburn, but a starting lineup which looks more like last weekend's team against Spurs is likely.

Striker Emily Gielnik made her return to the Villa starting lineup last Sunday, having not featured for the side since 20 November and she is expected to continue to lead the line for the visitors this weekend.

Midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn also featured for Aston Villa against Tottenham, her first WSL appearance in a month, and she could start with Chloe Arthur and Allen in the central area of the pitch.

Manchester United Women possible starting lineup:

Earps; Blundell, Turner, Mannion, Batlle; Risa, Zelem, Ladd; Staniforth, Russo, Toone

Aston Villa Women possible starting lineup:

Hampton; Pacheco, Sargeant, Asante, Mayling; Arthur, Littlejohn; Lehmann, Allen, Boye-Hlorkah; Gielnik

We say: Manchester United Women 2-0 Aston Villa Women

Man United will be lifted by a big result last weekend against a fellow top-three contender, and they will be confident of taking three points against Villa, who are struggling to find good form.

Another clean sheet for the hosts is likely given Villa's lack of goal power so far this season, while Man United should be able to find a way past Villa's defence.