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.

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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

Manchester United captain Maya Le Tissier delivered another solid performance for England in Tuesday’s 2-0 victory over Ghana at St Mary’s Stadium, completing the full 90 minutes as the Lionesses closed out 2025 with consecutive clean sheets.

The 23-year-old centre-back completed 96% of her 102 passes while making three clearances and blocking one goal-bound effort in Southampton.

Defensive Statistics Highlight Dominance

Le Tissier won three of four aerial duels against Ghana and made six recoveries throughout the contest, demonstrating her growing comfort at international level.

Maya Le Tissier registered one interception and was not dribbled past during the entire match, maintaining the defensive solidity Sarina Wiegman demanded from her back line. The Manchester United defender partnered with Lotte Wubben-Moy in central defence for the friendly.

Starting Position Under Scrutiny

The clean sheet represented Le Tissier’s second consecutive start at centre-back for England following Saturday’s 8-0 demolition of China at Wembley. However, her long-term position remains uncertain with Leah Williamson, Alex Greenwood and Jess Carter all absent from this camp through injury or rest.

Wiegman has previously stated she views Le Tissier primarily as a right-back rather than a centre-back, creating doubt about her role when all defenders return to fitness.

Question Marks Over 2026 Role

England face a potential selection dilemma when World Cup qualifying begins in the New Year. Le Tissier has seized her opportunity during the injury absences, keeping consecutive clean sheets and displaying composure on the ball.

Yet the return of Williamson, Carter and Greenwood could force her back to full-back or onto the bench despite recent form suggesting she deserves to retain the starting centre-back role alongside one of England’s established defenders.

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