Manchester United Women look to bounce back from their midweek Champions League disappointment when they host fifth-placed Tottenham at Leigh Sports Village on Sunday afternoon.

The Red Devils sit just one point ahead of Spurs in third place, making this a crucial encounter in the race for European qualification.

Kick-off: 14:30 GMT, Sunday, December 15, 2025
Venue: Leigh Sports Village (Progress With Unity Stadium)
TV: BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Online

Form Guide

United suffered a crushing 3-0 home defeat to Lyon in midweek, their heaviest loss of the season, but bounced back from previous setbacks with a 2-1 victory over West Ham last weekend. Marc Skinner’s side have endured a difficult run recently, winning just twice in their last six matches across all competitions, including heavy defeats to Manchester City (3-0) and Wolfsburg (5-2).

Tottenham arrive in good spirits after edging Aston Villa 2-1 last Saturday thanks to goals from Bethany England and Olivia Holdt. Martin Ho’s side have impressed this season with their tactical discipline, holding Arsenal to a goalless draw in their last league outing before the international break. However, their recent away record shows vulnerability with defeats at Chelsea and London City Lionesses.

Team News

United’s Elisabeth Terland remains doubtful after picking up a knock against West Ham, though Marc Skinner will assess her availability on matchday. Phallon Tullis-Joyce has now made consecutive starts after returning from her fractured eye socket, marking her 50th United appearance against Lyon. Millie Turner could finally return from her three-month knee injury layoff, providing a timely defensive boost.

Tottenham face a significant injury crisis with Jessica Naz the latest casualty after suffering an ACL rupture against Aston Villa. She joins Ella Morris and Maite Oroz, who are both recovering from the same devastating injury. Charlotte Grant, Olga Ahtinen, Cathinka Tandberg and Luana Buhler are all unavailable until after Christmas.

Head-to-Head History

United boast a dominant record against Spurs, unbeaten in their last 11 WSL meetings with eight victories. The only blemish came in last season’s corresponding fixture which ended 2-2, representing Tottenham’s only point from five visits to Manchester. United have scored in all 11 encounters while keeping seven clean sheets, demonstrating their historical superiority in this fixture.

Predicted Lineups

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier, Turner, Sandberg; Zigiotti Olme, Naalsund; Park, Toone, Malard; Terland

Tottenham (4-3-3): England; Hunt, Bartrip, Nilden, James; Spence, Summanen, Bizet; Raso, Thomas, England

Also read: Jess Naz Suffers Devastating Second ACL Injury of Career! How Long is the Tottenham Star Ruled Out for?

Manchester United Women ended their first-ever threat of three consecutive WSL defeats with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over West Ham at Leigh Sports Village on Sunday.

Dominique Janssen’s sublime free-kick proved decisive after Shekiera Martinez’s stunning overhead kick had cancelled out Elisabeth Terland’s 10th goal of the season.

The Red Devils desperately needed to bounce back after consecutive losses to Aston Villa and Manchester City, and they delivered exactly that, leapfrogging Arsenal back into third in the WSL table.

Goalkeeper & Defence

Phallon Tullis-Joyce (6/10): Showed understandable rust on her return from a fractured eye socket that kept her out three weeks. Wore a protective mask throughout and was generally solid despite the adjustment. Couldn’t do anything about Martinez’s spectacular overhead kick.

Jayde Riviere (7/10): Buzzed up and down the right flank with relentless energy. Delivered dangerous crosses that created several chances and helped stretch West Ham’s defence.

Maya Le Tissier (7/10): Carried confidence from a positive England camp into another strong captain’s performance. Handled the lively Martinez effectively and marshalled United’s backline well.

Dominique Janssen (8/10) : Produced the moment of brilliance that won the game. Her perfectly executed free-kick capped off a solid defensive display, showcasing both her defensive nous and attacking quality when it mattered most.

Anna Sandberg (8/10): One of United’s standout performers this season delivered again. Her sublime cross for Terland’s opener was inch-perfect, putting the ball on a plate for the Norwegian striker.

Midfield & Attack

Julia Zigiotti Olme (7/10): Lively and effective throughout. Her pressing, passing and intelligent movement made her difficult to contain. Hit the post before Janssen’s winner.

Hinata Miyazawa (7/10): Superb in possession while anchoring the deeper midfield areas, allowing Zigiotti to roam forward and cause problems.

Ella Toone (7/10): Tidy performance where she was consistently involved in United’s best passing combinations and kept things ticking over in midfield.

Jess Park (6/10): Had a lively game down the right against her former employers but lacked her usual end product, creating just one notable chance.

Elisabeth Terland (7/10): Right place, right time to break the deadlock, though she should have added to her tally with the opportunities that came her way.

Melvine Malard (6/10): Movement was excellent as always but her finishing was surprisingly wayward considering her recent form. Headed over the bar when she should have scored.

Marc Skinner deserves credit for trusting his starting XI to get the job done, resisting the temptation to make early changes despite West Ham’s equaliser.

Also read: Why is Chloe Kelly a Doubt for Arsenal’s WSL Fixture Against Liverpool Women? All About What Really Happened During England vs. Ghana

Manchester United Women return to WSL action on Sunday looking to end a two-game losing streak when they host struggling West Ham United at Leigh Sports Village.

Sunday’s 12:00 GMT kick-off marks United’s first league fixture since the November international break, following back-to-back defeats to Manchester City (3-0) and Wolfsburg (5-2 in the Champions League). Marc Skinner’s side sit third in the WSL table but will be desperate to get back to winning ways before a congested December schedule.

West Ham arrive second from bottom with just one win all season, a 3-1 victory over Everton before the break. Manager Rehanne Skinner’s side have yet to keep a clean sheet this campaign, while their recent 2-0 League Cup defeat to Portsmouth suggests defensive fragility remains a major concern.

Predicted Lineups

Manchester United Women (4-2-3-1): Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier, Janssen, Sandberg; Miyazawa, Toone; Park, Zigiotti Olme, Terland; Rolfo

West Ham United Women (4-3-3): Musovic; Patten, Fisk, Houssein, Shimizu; Atkinson, Gorry, Smith; Asseyi, Stengel, Kapi

Tullis-Joyce Returns as Skinner Demands Improvement

The major team news sees Phallon Tullis-Joyce available for selection after missing three matches with a fractured eye socket. “Phallon is ready. Phallon has been training the last few days, so Phallon will be available for selection,” Skinner confirmed Friday.

Millie Turner remains unavailable but could return later this month before the winter pause. Celin Bizet Donnum has announced she’s expecting her first child in 2026, with Skinner offering his congratulations.

Skinner’s Tactical Message

The United boss has challenged his players to improve in both penalty areas after consecutive defeats without scoring. “I want us to be better in both boxes, the little details; defend effectively, are we in the right positions at the right times with the right aggression and then I want to see the front-line invading,” Skinner said.

He acknowledged West Ham’s attacking threat despite their league position, highlighting their dangerous front three. “Their front-three can unpick any defence. They have such quality in the way that they interact, so you’ve got to be really focused when defending against them.”

Kick-off: 12:00 PM Sunday, December 7, 2025
Venue: Leigh Sports Village
TV: Sky Sports Mix (UK)

Also read: Manchester United Skipper Continues Impressive England Run With Commanding Display Against Ghana