We take part in a top-of-the-table clash at Leigh Sports Village against Manchester United on Sunday.

It’s a 2.50pm kick-off in the Barclays Women’s Super League, with ourselves and United both on six points following a positive start to the campaign.

Marc Skinner’s side are ahead on goal difference, while Chelsea also have maximum points so far.

GOALS GALORE

United started the season in style, comfortably putting four past Leicester City without reply thanks to goals from Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland and a Melvine Malard brace.

That was followed with a resounding 5-1 win away to London City Lionesses last weekend, Maya Le Tissier, Jayde Riviere, Malard and Jess Park - who arrived from Manchester City in the summer - the goalscorers.

They did suffer a slight scare in the third qualifying round for the UEFA Women’s Champions League, losing 1-0 away to Brann in the first leg, but a Terland hat-trick in the second leg on Thursday night ensured their place in the league phase.

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Slegers: “We know they're going to play with a lot of intensity, Manchester United, and that's what we need to prepare for. But at the same time, I think our first two games in the WSL were very high intensity.

"I think the league is developing so fast. So from that sense, it's been two really good games for us. Now going into United, that game will ask a lot from us and we're trying to prepare accordingly." - read every word from Renée’s pre-match press conference.

Skinner: “Arsenal will be fresh, we have no doubt about that, but we will have to have different game plans. No doubt about that. We can't just press for the whole 90, nor can Arsenal really, regardless of them being fresh, so we have to be able to adapt.

“We're at home so we want to continue our great start to the season. We're looking forward to it but it will be a challenge. Arsenal have scored the same amount of goals as us so we know it's a tough ask but we believe in ourselves.”

FACTS AND STATS

United have failed to win any of their last four WSL meetings with us (D2 L2), since a 1-0 home win in April 2023 thanks to a goal from Alessia Russo.

We have won two of our last three games against United (D1), as many victories as across our previous eight meetings with the Red Devils across all competitions (W2 D2 L4).

We scored five goals for the fifth time in the WSL under Renée Slegers last time out against West Ham. We average 3.4 goals per game under her, the best rate of any manager in the competition’s history.

We have won our opening two league games this season, despite trailing 1-0 in both, the first time in WSL history that we have won back-to-back matches from behind. In fact, if we come from behind to win on Sunday, we will become the first team in WSL history to be losing in three consecutive games but win them all.

Russo has scored 48 goals in 91 WSL appearances and could become the fifth fastest player to reach a half century of strikes in the competition (after Vivianne Miedema 50, Khadija Shaw 57, Sam Kerr 62 and Fran Kirby 75).

MATCH OFFICIALS

Kirsty Dowle has been appointed to oversee Sunday’s match. It will be her first WSL game of the season having taken charge of League Two clashes in recent weeks.

Her last involvement in one of our games was actually last season’s trip to Manchester United, when we drew 1-1 at Leigh Sports Village thanks to goals from Russo and Malard.

Referee: Kirsty Dowle
Assistants: Harley Hetherington and David Middleton
Fourth official: Abby Dearden

LAST TIME WE MET

It was a seven-goal thriller at Emirates Stadium to end last season’s WSL campaign on a high.

After it took just two minutes for Chloe Kelly to give us an early lead, Ella Toone reduced the arrears moments later.

Goals from Mariona Caldentey, Frida Maanum and Kim Little gave us a three-goal cushion in the second half, but Terland and Le Tissier got on the scoresheet late on to plant a seed of doubt.

HOW TO WATCH

Away tickets have now sold out so for those who won’t be watching the game in person, find out which broadcasters are showing the action live around the world.

In the UK, it’s BBC One, BBC iPlayer or the BBC Sports website.