Manchester United Women v Tottenham Hotspur Women match programme, Subway League Cup, 21.12.25

O F F I C I A L M A T C H D AY P RO G R A M M E

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MUW MANCHESTER UNITED WoMEN

SEASON 2025/26

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AS WE SIGN OFF FOR 2025 WITH A KNOCKOUT CUP C L A S H , T H E R E D S W A N T T O B R I N G YO U S O M E . . .

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WELCOME

INSide

YO U R M ATC H P RO G R A M M E 04 HEAD COACH’S COLUMN

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08 TALK OF THE TERRACE 13

CAPTAIN’S COLUMN

14 PLAYER PROFILES 16

GABBY GEORGE INTERVIEW

22 FAN MESSAGES

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24 LEAH GALTON POSTER 30 TOP 10 LEAGUE CUP WINS

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36 THE OPPOSITION 38 JUNIOR REDS 41 STATS AT THE BACK

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46 ADDED-TIME QUIZ

MANCHESTER UNITED WOMEN HONOURS BOARD

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WOMEN’S FA CUP

WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP

U21 S PGA CUP

2024

2019

2022

MANCHESTER UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB Co-chairmen Joel Glazer, Avram Glazer Directors Bryan Glazer, Kevin Glazer, Edward Glazer, Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, Michael Edelson, Sir Alex Ferguson, David Gill CBE, Omar Berrada, Sir Dave Brailsford Secretary Rebecca Britain Honorary president Martin Edwards

MATCH PROGRAMME TEAM Editor Charlie Ghagan Contributors Mikey Partington, Helen Rowe-Willcocks, Sean Mullan, Jamie Spencer, Matt Brown Design Tom Chase Photography Poppy Townson, Ash Donelon, Zohaib Alam, Getty, Alamy Thanks to Ellie Decrop, Paul Davies, John Shiel, Mark Froggatt Printed by MuPrint.com © Manchester United 2025

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H E A D C OAC H ’ S N OT E S

Marc

SKINNER IT’S BEEN AN EVENTFUL 2025, WHICH WE CAN ALL BE SO PROUD OF, SAYS THE BOSS -- WHO WANTS TO SEE HIS REDS GIVE EVERYTHING TO END IT WITH A WIN...

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elcome to the Progress With Unity Stadium for the final time in 2025.

I want to take this time to reflect on the year and thank you all for the support you have shown us.

Whether you have come to Leigh, Old Trafford, travelled the country or travelled in Europe, we greatly appreciate every time you get behind us. There have been many times away from home when we have felt like it was a home game because of the incredible noise you have made.

We are proud of the home we have built here. We have called it a fortress for the last few years and last weekend’s game was a prime example as to why. When we needed you most, you got right behind us and were the extra push we needed to get back into the game. I was also so proud of the team’s resilience to come back.

I always use the winter break to reflect on the first half of the season. We have made history once again with our progression in the Champions League. Our European journey continues into 2026 and that was the aim we set ourselves at the beginning of the season. As with all seasons there have been ups and downs but what has always been important at Manchester United is that we have worked through them together as well.

We welcome Tottenham back today for our Subway League Cup quarter-final. We want to be competing in every competition we are in so we will be giving it everything we have. We can then use the break to rest and come back in the new year with renewed energy, ready to continue our season.

I wish everyone a very merry Christmas.

I hope you all enjoy the last few days of 2025 and we all look forward to seeing you next year.

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I was also so proud of the team’s resilience to come back last weekend -- and When we needed you most, you got right behind us

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REMEMBERIN BG I GMPAI C T T UBREEA R D

T H E

B I G

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ONWARDS WE MARCH...

Marc Skinner and his victorious Reds thank the travelling fans who made the long trip to Turin in midweek, as the league phase of the UEFA Champions League concluded for United against Italian champions Juventus.

What a night it was at the Allianz Arena, with Jess Park’s composed finish (inset) leading us to three points against the in-form Bianconere. Yes, the evening might have been even better – if results elsewhere had gone our way United could have sneaked into the top

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J U V E N T U S v U N I T E D, 1 7 . 1 2 . 2 5

four, ensuring us of an immediate quarter-final berth – but a sixth-place finish, having won four of our six fixtures, does mean a seeded spot in the knockout phase play-offs alongside our latest opponents (a draw we suspect you’ll know all about by the time you read this!)

If you were one of the Reds among the crowd of 6,641, once again you did the club proud with your brilliant support throughout a competitive 90 minutes, in which the hosts had their

chances, but United were deserved winners. Melvine Malard went closer than anyone in adding to the goals, while we weren’t the only spectators watching in bemusement when referee Marta Huerta de Aza (nor the video assistant referee) failed to award a penalty after Elisabeth Terland was tripped by Cecilia Salvai late on. Still, we’ll take the 1-0 – including a much-needed clean sheet – and we’ll look forward to the February play-offs...

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ALL THE CHAT AHEAD OF TODAY’S CUP QUARTER-FINAL...

It’s United v Spurs part two today, after last Sunday’s enthralling 3-3 draw between the sides here in Leigh…

If that game is anything to go by, we could be in for another afternoon on the edge of our seats! It was a contest that had a bit of everything and, call us biased, but one we think our Reds deserved to take at least a point from. Marc Skinner’s team tallied up 34 shots and hit the crossbar four times but some clinical finishing up the other end meant, remarkably, we were en route to a 0-3 defeat with 20 minutes to play. That was before the spirited comeback started by Ella Toone’s expertly taken volley and completed by super sub Fridolina Rolfo’s late brace,

Words Mikey Partington

Will there be a new name (and red ribbons) on the trophy this season?

ensuring the encounter was drawn come full-time. There must be a winner this afternoon though, with this a League Cup quarter-final that will go to extra-time (and potentially penalties) if required…

What an impact Frido had off the bench.

The scenes for her stoppage-time equaliser were brilliant…

It’s a shame there weren’t just a few more minutes on the clock for United to have a real go at getting a winner! Rolfo’s cameo was inspired and that composure – both in front of goal and in the way she led the team out of a tough situation after coming onto the pitch – was every bit of the experience we hoped she could bring to the squad upon joining us in the summer. After such a contribution, it almost felt unfair to see the Swede doing warm-down sprints across the length of the pitch after the final whistle, but that’s the true professional that has become a real fan favourite here across the first half of 2025/26.

As for today’s game, what’s at stake for the team that comes out on top?

A semi-final trip to the winner of the last-eight tie between Crystal Palace and Arsenal, which also kicks off at 1pm today (flick to p43 for more on the other fixtures).

That final-four clash will take place on 21 or 22 January and, if we’re successful this

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M ATC H P R E V I E W

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Rolfo has impressed with a strong start to her Reds career

We’ll be keeping an eye out for Christmas jumpers at this afternoon’s game!

afternoon, it would be our first League Cup semi-final since the 2021/22 campaign. It’s a round we reached in three of our first four seasons after reformation in 2018, but one we’ve not got back to in recent campaigns, adding an extra incentive for victory as we enter this season’s competition today.

Have we ever kicked off a League Cup campaign in the quarter-finals before?

No, this is the first time we’ll start out beyond the group stage, which we missed this year due to our participation in the league phase of the Champions League. Having received a bye to this round of the competition, United are now three wins from adding a piece of silverware to the cabinet that we’ve never won before, but the shorter route to the trophy does not mean winning it will be any easier than in previous years. Spurs won their group to reach this point and, as we know from last weekend, will provide a

challenging opening hurdle to overcome this afternoon. That’s before even thinking about the rest of the competitive last-eight line-up, which features Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, who have won the previous 14 iterations of the tournament between them, since its launch in 2011.

It would be great to take a step closer to more silverware this afternoon and finish 2025 with a win…

It’s been a historic year for United Women, and here’s hoping we can end it on a high, in what is our final outing before the winter break and the turn of the year. Not least, the Reds have qualified for the main stage of the Champions League for the first time after returning to the WSL’s top three, played in a third successive FA Cup final, and have gone on to reach the knockout stage of the European competition this term. Our involvement in Europe has meant a new challenge with more regular fixtures – we’ve played 21 already this season! – but one constant through it all has been your support from the stands. From Stockholm to Turin, Leigh to London, your backing has been felt by players and staff, who are hoping to show their appreciation with one more big result to end the year on this afternoon. Have a great festive period and, for one last time in 2025... c’mon, United! ●

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L AT E S T N E W S S TO R I E S

RECOGNITION FOR ZIGIOTTI

Millie Turner was among the goals when we last faced Burnley in April 2021

CLARETS VISIT LEIGH IN FA CUP United’s aim to reach fourth straight FA Cup final will begin against Burnley United’s other domestic cup campaign will begin next month, with the Reds drawn to host Burnley in the fourth round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup. The draw was made on Monday night and saw Marc Skinner’s side paired with the Clarets, who won 7-0 against Peterborough United in the third round.

The tie is set to be played on the weekend of 17/18 January, with the exact date and kick-off time still to be confirmed as this programme went to print.

We do know, however, that the game is set to be sandwiched between consecutive WSL away fixtures for the Reds

following the league’s winter break, against Arsenal on 10 January and Aston Villa on 25 January.

United have faced the Clarets once before, meeting at the same stage of the FA Cup during the 2020/21 campaign, when we ran out 6-0 winners away from home.

This is the stage at which all 12 Barclays Women’s Super League teams enter the competition, joining the 20 winning sides from the third round.

Other notable ties drawn include Manchester City’s trip to Bournemouth, Arsenal hosting Aston Villa and Chelsea being handed a home tie v Crystal Palace.

Julia Zigiotti Olme has been named Sweden’s Women’s Midfielder of the Year, seeing off competition from fellow nominees Filippa Angeldahl (Real Madrid) and Kosovare Asllani (London City Lionesses) to win the positional prize ran by the Swedish Football Association.

After a big year in which she lifted titles with Bayern, starred for Sweden at Euro 2025 and signed for United, Zigi is now focused on what’s ahead, saying: “I’m looking forward to 2026, together with United where we will play tough matches in the Champions League play-offs, and in the national team we have a very exciting World Cup qualifier.” Congrats, Julia!

NEXT UP FOR REDS IN UWCL The league phase of United’s UEFA Champions League campaign concluded with Wednesday’s win against Juventus.

The Reds finished sixth in the league phase, meaning a two-legged knockout phase play-off to secure a quarter-final spot. Barcelona, OL Lyonnes, Chelsea, Bayern Munich finished in the top four, ensuring them a direct route into the last eight. The draw for the play-offs took place on Thursday, just after this programme went to print, with United to face either OH Leuven or Atletico Madrid. The play-offs are on 11-12 Feb and 18-19 Feb. See ManUtd.com/fixtures for confirmation of these two fixtures.

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Maya S K I P P E R ’ S N OT E S

THE CAP TAIN

UNITED’S SKIPPER LOOKS BACK ON HER 2025 HIGHLIGHTS, WHILE SHE SHARES HER PRIDE IN HOW THE SQUAD HAVE RISEN TO THE CHALLENGES...

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o here we are at the end of a very busy and very eventful year!

Looking back to where it all began, at home to West Brom in the FA Cup, so much has happened since then. If I had to pick my favourite game of 2025, it would have to be the day we secured Champions League football, against City at Old Trafford in May. And once we started on that Champions League journey this season, the Old Trafford win against PSG in November is another game I’ll never forget. I have to say as well, though, I loved the World Sevens during the summer – that was so much fun!

Leading the Reds out in May – a massive day for Maya and co

As a squad I feel we’ve developed real resilience this year. We know what we want to achieve and we don’t ever give up on those aims. I go back to that City game in May – we went into it on the back of a bad result at West Ham [a 0-0 draw] and a loss to Chelsea, so we needed at least a draw at Old Trafford, which after going two goals down we managed to get. In the biggest moments we know we can rise to the challenge and deliver.

We gave ourselves another challenge against today’s opponents, Tottenham, last weekend. Of course it was a game we all wanted to win, but the way we fought back to draw was another sign of the resilience we have. As we face Spurs again in the League Cup, we’ll be giving everything to get the job done in 90 minutes, so we can all have a semi-final to look forward to next year.

On behalf of the whole squad I’d like to thank you for your incredible support this year, and we wish you a very merry Christmas.

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1.

KAYLA RENDELL The keeper joined the Reds from Southampton in January. In April 2024, she received her first call-up to the senior England team for the Lionesses’ Euro 2025 qualifiers.

2.

ANNA SANDBERG The 22-year-old full-back – previously with BK Hacken – has been a regular this season, and she’s already close to surpassing last term’s tally of 22 appearances.

6.

HANNAH BLUNDELL The first Red in the professional era to return to play after giving birth, the flying full-back is now closing in on becoming the next to reach 100 United appearances.

9.

MELVINE MALARD The French forward has scored more goals than any Red in the WSL this season (five), providing a constant threat from either a central or wide attacking role.

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SQUAD SNAPSHOTs ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THOSE IN RED

3.

GABBY GEORGE The full-back has showcased her versatility lately, stepping into central defence, which she tells us all about starting on p16 of today’s match programme.

7.

ELLA TOONE Our record appearance maker and goalscorer netted her 64th goal for the club seven days ago.

Her most iconic club goal came v Spurs in the 2024 FA Cup final.

10.

ELISABETH TERLAND Teri leads the way with goals this term, already in double figures.

She’s aiming to beat her haul of 12 from last term, and would match her career-best season with 15.

4.

MAYA LE TISSIER Our penalty-taking centre-back and club captain has started every Reds fixture dating back to December 2022, recently reaching 100 consecutive starts.

8.

JESS PARK The Reds’ new no.8 has made a superb start to life with the Reds – only Malard has scored more than her four in the WSL for the Reds so far this season.

11.

LEAH GALTON After overcoming an injury at the start of the season, Galton has begun to appear more frequently recently, assisting Rolfo for her late leveller last weekend.

Also on the Reds’ roster for the 2025/26 season: 36. MARED GRIFFITHS (MF); 41. TAMIRA LIVINGSTON (MF);

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P L AY E R P R O F I L E S

12.

FRIDOLINA ROLFO The ex-Barça winger was our saviour v Spurs last Sunday, stepping off the bench to net twice – her first in the WSL, to add to her important UWCL strikes.

15. CELIN BIZET DONNUM As the Norwegian recently announced, she’s expecting a baby, meaning she’ll soon follow Siobhan Chamberlain and Hannah Blundell in being a ‘United mum’!

18. JULIA ZIGIOTTI OLME The midfielder – who has an Italian mum and Swedish dad – will be celebrating her 28th birthday on Christmas Eve. She’s had a strong first five months with the Reds.

28.

RACHEL WILLIAMS The forward played for today’s opponents prior to joining the Reds in 2022 – she made 41 appearances for the Londoners, scoring six goals (four in the WSL).

14.

JAYDE RIVIERE

13.

SIMI AWUJO The midfielder – born in Atlanta, Georgia but with 28 caps for Canada – joined United in August 2024. Her first three starts this season all came in the UWCL.

Simi’s fellow Canadian made her United debut against Tottenham, in May 2023. She scored her first Reds goal in September this year, to help us to a win at London City.

16.

LISA NAALSUND

17.

DOMINIQUE JANSSEN

Celin’s compatriot recently surpassed 300 senior club games in her career. The most recent of her six goals for the Reds came at Brighton last month.

The versatile midfielder has been a regular in defence this season, but she stepped up to fire home a brilliant free-kick v West Ham recently – her third Reds goal.

20.

HINATA MIYAZAWA

21.

MILLIE TURNER

Miyazawa has been a constant presence in the team this term.

She was unlucky not to add to her United goals last Sunday, striking the bar in the first half.

The Wilmslow-born centre-back, who has 178 appearances for United and two caps for England, has been back in training this month following a knee injury.

39. SAFIA MIDDLETONPATEL

91. PHALLON TULLISJOYCE

The young Welsh international goalkeeper – capped seven times for her country – made her WSL and UWCL debuts this season, after her first-team bow in ‘24/25.

The recent win v West Ham saw Phallon play her 50th game for us – while she’s now overtaken her appearance count for former clubs Reims (41) and OL Reign (47).

47. JESSICA ANDERSON (MF); 48. SIENNA WAREING (MF); 52. SCARLETT HILL (DF)

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”

i’M in thE Christmas Spirit thIs yeAr! ” 16

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E XC L U S I V E I N T E R V I E W: G A B B Y G E O R G E

OUR VERSATILE NO.3 TELLS US SHE HAD HER FESTIVE DECORATIONS UP IN NOVEMBER THIS YEAR -- IN ADVANCE OF A SUPER BUSY FINAL MONTH OF 2025 WITH THE REDS, CULMINATING IN TODAY’S LEAGUE CUP CONTEST AGAINST SOME FAMILIAR OPPONENTS...

Interview Mikey Partington

Gabby, how do you think you will look back on this year in time to come? It’s one in which you’ve played Champions League football, got an FA Cup final appearance at Wembley and properly lived out your dream of playing for United across a full year…

Yeah, I think it has been a dream come true for me after the start [to my senior United career in 2023] when I got injured. Those would have been things I would have wanted to tick off when I came back and we’ve done that as a collective, like you said, playing in the FA Cup final, Champions League football and in the league of course. So yeah, I think it’s been an exciting year and one I’ll always remember.

FA C T F I L E FULL NAME Gabrielle Alishya George DATE OF BIRTH 2 February 1997 PLACE OF BIRTH Manchester POSITION Defender YOUTH CAREER Blackpool, Manchester United SENIOR CAREER 2014-23 Everton, 152 apps, 5 goals 2023- Manchester United, 43 apps, 1 goal INTERNATIONAL CAREER 2018- England, 3 caps, 0 goals

What has been your highlight?

For me, although the result didn’t go our way, I think it was playing in the FA Cup [final], and also the Champions League. The FA Cup final at Wembley was something I missed out on twice with injury [with Everton in 2020 and United in 2024], so I kept thinking it was something I would never tick off again [after playing for Everton in the 2014 final in Milton Keynes].

So, I think it would be those two. When I first came to the club, it was to play Champions League football, and we got knocked out in the first qualifying tie [against Paris Saint-Germain in 2023]. So, I think to be able to play in the league phase – we started well too – has been another highlight of this year.

We’ve come to know you mostly as a left-back, but you’ve played at centre-back too in the last few weeks, including against PSG at Old Trafford.

How have you found being back in a role you played in more often earlier in your career?

Centre-back is somewhere I’ve played for over half of my career, probably nine, 10 years, so it’s somewhere where I feel comfortable. I’m happy to play anywhere I need to play for the team. I think as you get older you start to go further back, don’t you?! [Laughs] I started as a winger! So, I enjoy playing both positions and, like I said, I’ll play anywhere I need to play.

Do you think you were able to take those lessons you learned from around a decade at centre-back, mostly at Everton, into such a big Champions League occasion against PSG? Yeah, I think centre-back is something that comes naturally to me after playing there for so long and I learnt my trade there. So I feel really comfortable playing centre-back. I enjoyed every minute of the PSG game. I think all the lessons I’ve learnt over the years all came together for that one occasion. But, like I

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E XC L U S I V E I N T E R V I E W: G A B B Y G E O R G E said, I want to keep pushing and working and getting better in whatever position that will be.

Does the pre-match preparation differ much when you’re playing in a position you’re perhaps not as used to in the weeks before?

For me, I prepare for every game the same. I always want to give 100 per cent and try to be a brick wall at the back for the girls to go on and score. So my preparations will never change whatever position I’m playing in. Obviously, in training, you train in a different position but apart from that everything stays the same and, like I said, it [centre-back] is something I’ve learnt my whole career. It’s a trade I know well so it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary for me.

From a team point of view this season, it feels like you’re having a blast. The mood in the squad looks really good, how would you sum it up?

I think I’ve always said it’s probably one of the best teams I’ve been involved in, in terms of the people.

Take away the pitch for a minute, I think we have really good characters, and we have a really good time as a group. We’re always laughing, always joking, and we all get along, which is the main thing. You don’t always get that, and people probably think: ‘Oh, that’s just normal’ but it’s actually different. We fight for each other on the pitch, but off the pitch we have a laugh and we’re all just a bunch of girls at the end of the day having fun. We make sure we do have fun and,

We make sure we have fun and, if you’re going through a rough patch, there’s always someone to turn to which is really important if you’re going through a rough patch, there’s always someone to turn to which I think is really important.

We’ve had a lot of players that have gone through tough times over the last year or more and I think we’ve always stuck together and hopefully brought out the best in them, and made sure that when they come into football, they can have a good time.

We spoke to Leah Galton a couple of weeks ago and she said it’s like you’re fighting for your family almost when you’re out on the pitch. What do you think it is that has created that culture?

I think it’s just the characters we have brought in. We all want the same thing. We’re all fighting for the same

A solid display in central defence as we beat PSG at Old Trafford

George has been enjoying the Reds’ UWCL adventure

She always brings the positivity to Carrington

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E XC L U S I V E I N T E R V I E W: G A B B Y G E O R G E

Gabs was on target in the League Cup last season

we’re playing a lot of games this season but we’re all sticking together and recovering well from games

thing and that’s to take the club into new heights and that’s what we all want to do as a collective. We know whatever we’re doing is for the best of the team and that’s what every decision comes down to.

We’re speaking ahead of the League Cup tie against Spurs, which will the second successive weekend on which we’ll have played them. What sort of challenge does that present as players?

It’s difficult but it’s also good because you have learnings that are fresh in the brain. There’s not too much you have to go over in terms of changing your whole tactical approach. It’s just about small tweaks that we can hopefully do in a smaller space of time.

Sometimes when you play them six months apart, it’s a completely different team you’re coming up against. It’s a challenge we’re excited to take on.

Of course, we want to do well in every competition we’re in and that starts here in the League Cup. The League Cup is a competition you’ve got a good memory in, scoring your first goal for the club in last season’s competition against Newcastle. How do you look back on that moment now, a year on?

It was an average goal at best! I would like to score some more goals. But no, we got the win on the night and that was the main thing. If I remember right, it was a pretty tough game to be fair [5-3 win], and I think all games in the League Cup always end up that way – everyone’s fighting for the same thing.

We’re entering the competition later than usual this year having been in the Champions League. How big of an opportunity do you think that is to potentially go on and add the League Cup to our cabinet? It’s a cup competition we’ve never won, of course…

Yeah, I think as Manchester United, you want to try and compete for as many trophies as you can and that includes this one. Every cup we’re in, we’re in to win and we’re not here to make up numbers. So, we’re going to give our all in every single competition. It’s going to be a long season for us, we’re playing a lot of games but we’re all sticking together, we’re all recovering well from games and hopefully we can put on a show in every game when the fans turn out. It would be nice to repay the fans in a way with a trophy and give them something to celebrate.

A win, hopefully, for the fans to take into Christmas. Have you got any plans for the festive season? Are you a Christmassy person?

You know what, I put all my stuff up on the last day of November this year! I’ve got all my house all Christmassy, so I’m in the Christmas spirit this year.

It’d be nice to give the fans something to celebrate over Christmas and hopefully they can have a good old rest from the home and away trips we’ve been on.

We’ve recently been to Wolfsburg away, and all the other places they’ve come with us, so hopefully they can have a nice rest and get back on it in January! ●

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P H OTO G A L L E RY

I N

T H E

Stands

↑ A warm welcome to Zosia, who is turning eight on 22 December.

↓ Happy 10th birthday for Boxing Day to Scarlett – have a brilliant day!

↑ Ellen loves the Reds – as does her Mum!

↓ Harper would like to wish her football family a wonderful Christmas!

↑ Harry loved grabbing a picture with Marc before the game!

YOUR TEXT MESSAGES ● Caitlin is celebrating her 11th birthday this week.

Enjoy your big day – and the game this afternoon! ● Rebecca Hall has travelled from Belfast this weekend for some pre-Christmas football. Great to have you here!

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← ‘Happy birthday, Grandad – we love you so much!’

↑ ‘Merry Christmas to the team and all the staff,’ says Ellie.

↑ Happy 10th birthday Ava-Rose – love from Mum, Dad and all the family.

↑ Connie hasn’t even turned one yet and she already loves the Reds!

WHO’S HERE FOR TODAY’S LEAGUE CUP SHOWDOWN?

← The Coe family from North Wales would like to wish all Reds a happy Xmas.

EMAIL: MUWOMENFAMILY@MANUTD.CO.UK

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Galton H A E L

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Live every week on Sky Sports, BBC, and YouTube.

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M U F O U N DA T I O N

QUESTION TIME!

Young players from Foundation projects in Northern Ireland are given the exciting opportunity to interview Simi Awujo and Kayla Rendell...

Participants from Foundation projects often look up to United Women players and aspire to follow in their footsteps, so when girls from Street Reds in Derry/Londonderry were asked if they had any questions for Simi Awujo and Kayla Rendell, they jumped at the chance to ask...

Words Matthew Brown

ALYSSIA & ANNA: What’s it like being a United player?

SIMI: It’s a blessing Alyssia for me to come from far away and be able to represent a club I have supported since I was a kid.

Anna It means the world to be able to make my professional debut here and have the first parts of my career here.

RAINA: Why did you want to play for Manchester United?

KAYLA: Because of how big the club is, the ambition the women’s team has and how far it’s come in the last

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Raina

couple of years. Also the group of girls that are here in the team made it special – what’s not to love about this club?

EMILY & AOIFE: What age did you first get an interest in football?

SIMI: I started playing from about four years old in recreational Emily leagues, but competitively when I was about nine.

KAYLA: I started at five to six years of age; I have two older Aoife brothers, so they got me into it and would encourage me to play with them.

ELLA: What or who inspired you to play football?

SIMI: A big part of my inspiration comes from my family; my dad is a

big football fan, my brother as well, and I feel like I did everything that my Ella brother did, so I wanted to play football because he did. My idol in the sport growing up was Messi; I wanted to have his boots every time he dropped new adidas ones, I always had to have them!

KAYLA: My brothers and my family inspired me to play football; I played football with my brothers from a young age and I just wanted to make my parents proud.

These young participants all attend the Foundation’s Street Reds sessions at the University of Ulster’s Magee Campus, through the Foundation’s partnership with the Northern Irish university.

Street Reds offers free football provision for young people aged 8-18 across Greater Manchester, Northern Ireland and beyond.

Visit mufoundation.org/streetreds for more from the Foundation

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GETTING A SEAT ON THE TRAIN HOME

ABSOLUTE LIMBS IN THE STANDS FOR A 90th MINUTE EQUALISER

Choose to experience every moment.

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TOP 10 LEAGUE CUP WINS AS THE MIGHTY REDS GET SET FOR A 34th FIXTURE IN TODAY’S COMPETITION, WE PICK OUT WHAT WE CONSIDER TO BE OUR STANDOUT WINS TO DATE...

Words Charlie Ghagan

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United 1-0 durham Group stage, 5 DEC 2018

Only 686 fans were here in Leigh to see this far-from-enthralling victory, but considering we drew 0-0 and lost 1-3 to the same dogged Durham side (the only team we’d drop points to all season in the Championship), it’s a win worth recognising when looking back. Much like the league clashes, the (aptly named, some might say) ‘Wildcats’ were tough in the tackle and well organised, but crucially this was the game of the trio in which we scored first, Mollie Green – fresh from being named the division’s Player of the Month – firing home. Pity the folks who arrived late for this 7pm game, though – the only goal came on 30 seconds.

PROGRAM ME OFFICIAL MATCHDAY 7 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2018/19 SEASON,

Charlie Devlin drives forward in our first, hard-fought win against Durham v DURHA M WOME

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CUP AL TYRES LEAGUE FA CONTINENT GROUP TWO NORTH , 7pm DECEMBER WEDNESDAY 5 02/12/2018 21:01

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United 2-0 liverpool

group stage, 2 OCT 2024 was a win against Liverpool, which is always The most recent entry in our top 10 was particularly well received by the Reds’ fanbase, special for a few reasons. It was our first whatever the context. As for the synchronised game back in Leigh after six long months celebration (below) following (having started ’24/25 at Old Trafford), Malard’s goal, the ‘T’ tribute was and as such it drew in Leigh’s biggest for Ella Toone and her family, League Cup group-stage crowd in over following the recent passing of five years (2,568). It was also a fine team her dad Nick. ‘MY TEAM ❤️’ posted display, with Hinata Miyazawa putting in Ella on Instagram post-match – her best display yet for the Reds as a goal a heartfelt sign of the squad’s in each half (from Melvine Malard and togetherness on a victorious v Liverpool Women Rachel Williams) saw us to victory. And it night under the floodlights.

OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

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VOLUME 07 ISSUE 02 / £3

MANCHESTER UNITED WOMEN

WOMEN’S LEAGUE

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CUP • WEDNESDAY

2 OCTOBER 2024

• 7PM

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Scorer Melvine leads the way with a touching goal celebration

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TOP 10 LEAGUE CUP WINS

united 2-0 WEST HAM Quarter-Final, 9 jan 2019 By the time Matt Beard’s Hammers headed north nine days into 2019, Casey Stoney’s second-tier Reds had already beaten two WSL sides, but this was a first-ever top-flight scalp in front of our own fans here in Leigh (rather than away on Merseyside), making for a highly satisfying last-eight clash.

An own goal by Katie Longhurst, followed by a Jess Sigsworth strike, were just rewards for a dominant Reds display that deserved a greater margin of victory. It also provided yet more evidence that we were a WSL side in waiting.

After all, it had only been five months since our fledgling squad had first played together, WEST HAM UNITED WOMEN and this win took us to a League Cup semi.

OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME 2018/19 SEASON, VOLUME 1 ISSUE 9

Sigsworth doubles our advantage against the Hammers

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UNITED 7-0 everton

group stage, 9 nov 2023 This was a cup tie we really didn’t want – we’d rather have been competing in the UWCL group stage, but a qualifying-round defeat to PSG meant the ‘consolation prize’ of having to negotiate a League Cup group, rather than have a bye straight to the quarters. Annoyingly, we didn’t then get out of the group, despite picking up three wins from four (the knock-on effect of Aston Villa fielding an ineligible player denying us one the best runner-up spots) but this home win against the Toffees was the high point of that trio of victories. Nikita Parris led the way with a hat-trick in Leigh, with Rachel Williams, Hayley Ladd, Geyse and Leah Galton also scoring. It was also a night for debutants, as Phallon Tullis-Joyce lined up in goal, while Evie Rabjohn played the final half-hour in defence. No doubt the new pair enjoyed the clean sheet as much as the healthy goal haul.

2023/24 SEASON • VOLUME OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

MANCHESTER

UNITED WOMEN V

EVERTON WOMEN

FA Women’s Continental B Tyres League Cup, group ○ 7PM thursday 9 November 2023

Parris had a perfect night as we scored in big numbers against the Blues of Merseyside

#allredallequal

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TOP 10 LEAGUE CUP WINS

Standing firm in defence as the Reds see out an impressive derby win

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INSIDE: IVANA FERREIRA FUSO INTERVIEW

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FA WOMEN’S CONTINENT AL WEDNESDAY 17 NOVEMBER TYRES LEAGUE CUP 2021 • KICK-OFF 7PM

united 2-1 man city group stage, 17 Nov 2021 Much like the previous entry, this game only happened on account of a UWCL qualifying-round defeat – City gatecrashing our group after their defeat in Europe.

But it ended up being a positive for the Reds, as Marc Skinner celebrated his first derby victory as United boss. Fewer than two minutes had gone when City’s Vicky Losado powerfully drove an old-fashioned thumper past Sophie Baggaley in the United goal,

but what a response from £1.50 the home side – a tale of real determination as first Ivana Ferreira Fuso forced home an equaliser, before a frantic second half finally saw the decisive goal on 82 minutes – Ona Batlle smashing home for just the second of her three goals for United. Both teams would eventually progress to the quarters, but only one team felt like winners after this matchday-two meeting.

5

EVERTON 0-3 UNiTED group stage, 13 Dec 2018

Galton and James were both on the scoresheet in the Southport fixture

Of the seven games against WSL sides in cup competitions in our first season (winning four, losing three), this was the most emphatic scoreline – a result that confirmed our place in the League Cup quarters.

At Southport’s Merseyrail Community Stadium (shame about the crowd – 240 is a record low for the Reds outside of lockdown), it was Lauren James’s looping header that gave us an early lead, with ‘LJ’ turning provider for Leah Galton to double the advantage five minutes later – another headed effort.

Katie Zelem sealed our progress to the last eight with a delightful free-kick. Take that, top-flight Toffees!

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UNITED 11-1 Leicester

MANAGER

PROGRAMME 05 OFFICIAL MATCHDAY • VOLUME 02 ISSUE 2019/20 SEASON

Full-back Kirsty Smith celebrates her only goal for the Reds in this double-figure victory

group stage, 21 nov 2019 This one has to feature for the scoreline alone, with it being quite the night for Ella Toone, who hadn’t found the net all season until that point, only to become our leading scorer after bagging five! Jess Sigsworth got the first, beating keeper Demi Lambourne after two minutes. Lizzie Arnot only got one, but was arguably our star player as she tore down the wing with regularity. The pick of the bunch? Hayley Ladd’s audacious 30-yarder to make it 9-1 on 83 minutes. ‘We want 10!’ cheered the home fans. We’d end up with 11, as Toone, then Lauren James – with the tie’s final touch – finished off the Foxes.

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UNITED 2-0 MAN CITY

MANAGER

group stage, 20 oct 2019 We’ve enjoyed five victories against our cross-city rivals, and while some epic WSL contests spring to mind, as well as last term’s FA Cup semi, this League Cup win was celebrated with just as much gusto. Not only was it a first derby win (and our first home derby), but we were firm underdogs – as WSL newbies, United had lost to City on our top-flight bow just weeks earlier, while the Blues had only been beaten once in any domestic game since the start of the previous season. But with a midfield three of Hayley Ladd, Katie Zelem and Jackie Groenen working hard to ensure the majority of the play was in the opposition’s half, it would be Zelem and Jess Sigsworth who scored the all-important goals – Zel’s being a superb effort past keeper Ellie Roebuck. Things got even worse for City when Keira Walsh was dismissed after 65 minutes, for a poor tackle on Kirsty Hanson – giving the vast majority of the 4,042 crowd further reason for cheer.

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FA WOMEN’S CONTINENT AL SUNDAY 20 OCTOBERLEAGUE CUP 2019 KICK-OFF 12pm

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• Manchester United v West

Groenen’s forward-thinking play from midfield was one of the factors that saw us to victory

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TOP 10 LEAGUE CUP WINS

Arnot (left of shot) slots the ball home

liverpool 0-1 united group stage, 19.08.18

Where it all began – game number one of 223 to date, and a victory for our second-tier team against the side that had won the WSL four years earlier.

It’s a fixture so entrenched within United folklore, it’s a challenge to find something new to write about it, to be honest! So how about this: of our starting XI at Prenton Park, only Millie Turner remains, five others now play elsewhere in the WSL (for five different clubs, neatly), two play in the WSL2 (both for Nottingham Forest... equally neat!), one would become a firefighter (as in an actual firefighter, not a coach brought in to try and save a struggling team!), one is an MUTV pundit/proud mum... and the one player left is Lizzie Arnot, who scored the immortal It would stay this winner in this game! You might have way for 83 minutes... already known all this, but we hope you learned something new here.

1

Much has changed at United since this famous fixture...

ARSENAL 0-1 UNITED quarter-final, 19 Jan 2022

Late delight as Russo (she’s in there somewhere) takes us into the semi-finals

While we’ve enjoyed a few group-stage wins over our biggest club rivals City and Liverpool, once the League Cup reaches the knockout phase, the stakes naturally increase. Fairly routine quarter-final wins against West Ham (see entry no.8) and Brighton (2-1 in January 2020) are worthy of note, even if the games in Leigh weren’t particularly memorable. But to beat heavyweights Arsenal, on their own patch, for a place in the semis, was deeply satisfying.

Marc Skinner’s Reds played things to perfection at Meadow Park just under four years ago: disciplined at the back – including Sophie Baggaley in goal – and patient with our play up the pitch, the visiting Reds would make a breakthrough five minutes from time, as future Gunner Alessia Russo nodded home a free-kick from Katie Zelem (left).

Ex-Red Tobin Heath nearly broke our hearts with a last-gasp leveller, but how United dug deep to record a famous win against the League Cup’s most successful side. ●

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MANCHESTER

UNITED

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THE OPPOSITION

T O D A Y ’ S

V I S I T O R S

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Words Jamie Spencer

Lining up in Leigh seven days ago ahead of a thrilling WSL contest

“Mixed emotions.” Sitting in the press conference room after last weekend’s 3-3 draw at Leigh, Tottenham manager Martin Ho described himself as “frustrated and disappointed” with the result, having seen his team let a three-goal lead slip in the closing stages of the WSL contest. Yet, in the same breath, the former United assistant coach (right) spoke of the “pride and joy” he felt at how his courageous charges had approached the fixture – one that saw the north London team come closer than ever to claiming a first-ever win against United, at the 16th attempt. “It tells me that, on our day, when we’re on it, we can do well.” Looking ahead to today’s meeting no.17 between the teams, and a first in the League Cup, the message from the boss was that Spurs must be more efficient to close games out, as they seek a place in the semi-finals of this competition for just the second time, the first being in 2021/22.

LEAGUE CUP FORM With Ho largely resisting League Cup rotation, Spurs topped Group E to reach the last eight. They only scored four times across their three fixtures – against Aston Villa, Birmingham and Bristol City – averaging fewer goals per game than any of the other group winners. But they also recorded three successive clean sheets while showing real discipline at the back. After starting things off with a 0-0 draw for the visit of Villa, Spurs added to that point with a shoot-out win bonus.

A brace from Olivia Holdt and one from Amanda Nilden then secured maximum points against Birmingham, before Martha Thomas got the only goal in a narrow victory over Bristol City last month.

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THE OPPOSITION

ABOUT OUR OPPONENTS...

WHO TO LOOK OUT FOR...

The recent injury to Jessica Naz handed ex-United attacker Martha Thomas her first WSL start of the season a week ago. She marked it with a first league goal of the campaign and, combined with a back-post finish against Bristol City in the League Cup, she’s now found the net twice in her last three appearances across all competitions. Elsewhere, days after signing a new long-term contract with Spurs, Drew Spence (below) reached her landmark 200th WSL appearance in Leigh last Sunday. The 33-year-old Jamaica international, heavily decorated with 11 major trophies from 14 years at Chelsea, adds bite and drive in her role as a box-to-box midfielder.

Spence “leads by example” in the Spurs ranks, Ho says. “What sets Drew apart is not just how she plays, but how she behaves.”

LAST LINE-UP

v MANCHESTER UNITED (WSL, AWAY), 14.12.25

Defensive Standouts Toko Koga proved a huge source of frustration for United last weekend, clearing the ball off the line twice in the first half alone and making another crucial intervention after the break. The Japan international won’t turn 20 for two more weeks but has taken to English football incredibly well, starting 13 of Tottenham’s 14 games across the WSL and League Cup. “She has been such a bright spark for us and it’s great to play with her,” centre-back partner Clare Hunt said in November. Behind the back four, Dutch goalkeeper Lize Kop is yet to miss a minute this season. Kop has recorded seven shutouts in 14 appearances so far but refuses to take any individual credit. “We’ve all been working hard for those clean sheets,” the former Ajax and Leicester stopper said about that impressive number.

Consistent keeper Kop has 19 caps for the Netherlands

KOP KOGA

Formed: 1985 (as Broxbourne Ladies) Nickname: Spurs, the Lilywhites Best achievements: FA Cup runners-up, 2023/24; WSL fifth place, 2021/22 Last season: WSL 11th place, FA Cup fourth round, League Cup quarter-finals, top scorer (all comps): Bethany England (8) Record v United: P16 W0 D3 L13 F10 A46

HUNT

NEVILLE

NILDEN SUMMANEN

THOMAS

SPENCE

HOLDT

VINBERG

ENGLAND SUBS USED: BARTRIP (FOR ENGLAND, 80’)

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K I D S ’ PA G E S

FACT S & FUNN IES FROM FRED THE RED!

YOU AGAIN?!

DID YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST THE FOURTH TIME WE’LL FACE THE SAME SIDE IN BACK-TO-BACK HOME GAMES?

JAN/SEP 2020 WITH A BIG CHELSEA* (*ADMITTEDLY GAP DUE TO LOCKDOWN!) NOV 2020 MANCHESTER CITY OCT/NOV 2021 MANCHESTER CITY

LEAGUE CUP LEGENDS ARRANGE THESE REDS, PAST AND PRESENT, BY GOALS SCORED FOR UNITED IN THE LEAGUE CUP, STARTING WITH THE MOST…

LEAH GALTON ELLA TOONE KATIE ZELEM NIKITA PARRIS RACHEL WILLIAMS

38-39 Kids.SM.indd 1

Answers – League Cup legends: 1. Ella Toone (7); 2. Nikita Parris (6); 3. Katie Zelem (5); 4. Rachel Williams (4); 5. Leah Galton (2); Quarter-final quandary Yes: Arsenal, Brighton, Manchester City, West Ham; Sign-off scorers: 1. Elisabeth Terland; 2. Martha Thomas; 3. Ella Toone; 4. Tobin Heath; 5. Lauren James

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17/12/2025 19:14

K I D S ’ PA G E S

Q/F QUANDARY! THIS IS OUR FIFTH LEAGUE CUP QUARTER-FINAL, BUT CAN YOU REMEMBER THE TEAMS UNITED HAVE FACED AT THIS STAGE OUT OF THE EIGHT BELOW? WE’VE DONE THE FIRST ONE FOR YOU!

YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO

SIGN-OFF SCORERS CAN YOU RECALL WHO NETTED OUR FINAL GOAL IN EACH OF THESE CALENDAR-YEAR HOME CLOSERS? WE’VE ADDED A FLAG AND A FEW LETTERS TO TO HELP...

ARSENAL BRIGHTON DURHAM EVERTON LIVERPOOL MANCHESTER CITY NEWCASTLE WEST HAM 2024 UNITED 5 NEWCASTLE 3

________H __R____ 2022 UNITED 4 SHEFFIELD UNITED 0

_A____ _____S 2021 UNITED 5 ASTON VILLA 0

__L_ ___N_ 2020 UNITED 6 BRISTOL CITY 1

T____ ____H 2019 UNITED 3 EVERTON 1

_____N __M__ 39

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Live every week on Sky Sports, BBC, and YouTube.

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A P P E A R A N C E & W S L S TA T I S T I C S

STATS

AT T H E B A C K WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE TABLE, 2025/26 Team

P

W

D

L

GD

Pts

1

Manchester City

11

10

0

1

22

30

2

Chelsea

11

7

3

1

13

24

3

Arsenal

11

6

4

1

13

22

4

UNITED

11

6

3

2

11

21

5

Tottenham

11

6

2

3

0

20

6

London City

11

5

0

6

-7

15

7

Brighton

11

4

2

5

1

14

8

Aston Villa

11

3

4

4

-4

13

9

Leicester

11

2

3

6

-13

9

10 Everton

11

2

2

7

-8

8

11 West Ham

11

1

2

8

-15

5

12 Liverpool

11

0

3

8

-13

3

WSL TOP SCORERS, 2025/26 Khadija Shaw (Manchester City)

12

Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal)

5

Alessia Russo (Arsenal)

5

Beata Olsson (Liverpool)

5

Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa)

5

Melvine Malard (United)

5

Vivianne Miedema (Manchester City)

4

Aoba Fujino (Manchester City)

4

Jess Park (United)

4

Cathinka Tandberg (Tottenham)

4

Beth England (Tottenham)

4

Kiko Seike (Brighton)

4

Ornella Vignola (Everton)

4

Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea)

4

UEFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TABLE, 2025/26

UNITED APPEARANCES & GOALS, 2025/26 PLAYER

WSL APP GLS

FA CUP APP GLS

LEAGUE CUP APP GLS

UWCL APP GLS

TOTAL APP GLS

Simi Awujo

0(3)

0

0

0

0

0

3(2)

0

3(5)

Keira Barry

0

0

0

0

0

0

0(1)

0

0(1)

0

Celin Bizet Donnum 3(2)

0

0

0

0

0

2(1)

1

5(3)

1

Hannah Blundell

0(3)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0(3)

0

Leah Galton

1(3)

0

0

0

0

0

0(5)

0

1(8)

0

Gabby George

1(5)

0

0

0

0

0

3(4)

0

4(9)

0

Dominique Janssen 10(1)

1

0

0

0

0

8(1)

0

18(2)

1

Maya Le Tissier

11

1

0

0

0

0

10

1

21

2

Melvine Malard

8(3)

5

0

0

0

0

9(1)

2

17(4)

7

Safia Middleton-Patel

1

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

3

0

Hinata Miyazawa

11

1

0

0

0

0

10

0

21

1

Lisa Naalsund

2(5)

1

0

0

0

0

4(5)

0

6(10)

1

Jess Park

9(2)

4

0

0

0

0

5(2)

1

14(4)

5

Jayde Riviere

10

1

0

0

0

0

9

0

19

1

Fridolina Rolfo

5(5)

2

0

0

0

0

5(2)

3

10(7)

5

Anna Sandberg

9(1)

1

0

0

0

0

10

0

19(1)

1

Elisabeth Terland

9(2)

3

0

0

0

0

7(1)

7

16(3)

10

0

Ella Toone

11

3

0

0

0

0

7(3)

0

18(3)

3

Phallon Tullis-Joyce

10

0

0

0

0

0

8

0

18

0

Millie Turner

1(1)

0

0

0

0

0

0(2)

0

1(3)

0

Rachel Williams

0(6)

0

0

0

0

0

1(4)

0

1(10)

0

Julia Zigiotti Olme

9(2)

0

0

0

0

0

7(3)

0

16(5)

0

JANSSEN’S SET FOR 50 Dominique Janssen has lined up as a midfielder, centre-back and – as we saw on Wednesday in Turin – full-back for the Reds, with her versatility seeing her race up our appearances table since joining the Reds in July last year. Our win in Italy was Dom’s 49th game for United, meaning her next runout will see the Dutch player join our half-century club, soon after Phallon Tullis-Joyce (now on 52 games) became the 26th Red to achieve this feat in our eight-season history.

ALL-TIME RECORDS: GAMES

ALL-TIME RECORDS: GOALS

Team

P

W

D

L

GD

Pts

1

Barcelona

6

5

1

0

17

16

Apps

Goals

2

OL Lyonnes

6

5

1

0

13

16

Ella Toone

209

Ella Toone

64

3

Chelsea

6

4

2

0

17

14

Millie Turner

178

Leah Galton

44

4

Bayern Munich

6

4

1

1

1

13

Leah Galton

171

Katie Zelem

32

5

Arsenal

6

4

0

2

5

12

Katie Zelem

161

Lauren James

28

6

UNITED

6

4

0

2

-2

12

Mary Earps

125

Alessia Russo

26

7

Real Madrid

6

3

2

1

6

11

Maya Le Tissier

116

Jessica Sigsworth

26

8

Juventus

6

3

1

2

5

10

Hayley Ladd

110

Nikita Parris

25

9

Wolfsburg

6

3

0

3

3

9

Hannah Blundell

94

Elisabeth Terland

22

10 Paris FC

6

2

2

2

-3

8

Kirsty Hanson

90

Rachel Williams

21

11 Atletico Madrid

6

2

1

3

4

7

Rachel Williams

90

Melvine Malard

20

12 OH Leuven

6

1

3

2

-5

6

Ona Batlle

77

Lucia Garcia

16

13 Valerenga

6

1

1

4

-5

4

Melvine Malard

76

Mollie Green

16

14 Roma

6

1

1

4

-10

4

Amy Turner

67

Kirsty Hanson

16

15 Twente

6

0

3

3

-6

3

Jess Sigsworth

66

Hayley Ladd

12

16 Benfica

6

0

2

4

-7

2

Hinata Miyazawa

66

Maya Le Tissier

11

17 Paris Saint-Germain

6

0

2

4

-8

2

Jayde Riviere

64

Millie Turner

11

18 St Polten

6

0

1

5

-25

1

Lucia Garcia

60

Lizzie Arnot

9

41 App Stats (update Wed pm).CG.indd 1

41

18/12/2025 00:00

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29/08/2025 08:25 11:29 02/09/2025

OT H E R F I X T U R E S

S U B WAY️ W O M E N ’ S L E A G U E C U P

pREVIeW

WE LOOK AT THE THREE FIXTURES BEING PLAYED ELSEWHERE THIS AFTERNOON

Words Sean Mullan

All four of this season’s League Cup quarter-final ties are kicking off at the same time today, with six other teams going for a last-four spot when United v Tottenham gets under way at 1pm.

The WSL’s bottom side Liverpool play host to Chelsea, the current holders, who – incredibly – are aiming to reach a seventh consecutive final, and lift the trophy for the fourth time. The hosts are without a league victory this season but have won all three of their fixtures so far in this competition, and one of their trio of league points came in a creditable 1-1 draw with the Blues. They could also be buoyed by the exploits of their Merseyside neighbours, Everton, who recently sprang a surprise when they ended the long unbeaten WSL run of Sonia Bompastor’s team.

League leaders Manchester City are also on the road, heading down to the capital to play West Ham. City were League Cup runners-up to Chelsea last season, being defeated 2-1 at Pride Park in March, but have previously triumphed in four finals, most recently in 2022. They edged to a 1-0 win in November against the Hammers, who won’t be overawed by the occasion, having made it to the semis on two of their past three attempts.

The remaining tie sees Arsenal travel to face the sole Championship representative left in the draw, Crystal Palace. The Gunners are the most successful team in League Cup history, with seven wins to their name, and take on a Palace side who have progressed past the group stage for only the second time. Last season, Arsenal hit nine without reply across their two top-flight meetings with the Eagles, and coach

League Cup holders face a last-eight trip to Merseyside today

Palace are the one remaining WSL2 side left in the competition

liverpool are without a wsl victory this season but have won all three of their league cup games Renee Slegers will be keen to add more silverware to their Champions League success earlier this year.

The winner of that game will move into the last four to face (on home soil) whoever is victorious between United and Spurs, while the other semi will feature West Ham or Manchester City v Liverpool or Chelsea, with the Hammers or City at home.

43

43 Elsewhere.SMCG.indd 1

17/12/2025 19:14

M A T C H - B Y- M A T C H S TA T I S T I C S

FIXTURES + RESULTS

AUG UWCL Wed 27 PSV (N) 11am 4-0 370 Tullis-Joyce Riviere Le Tissier Janssen Sandberg Zigiotti Miyazawa UWCL Sat 30 Hammarby (N) 6pm 1-0 5,546 Tullis-Joyce Riviere Le Tissier Janssen Sandberg Zigiotti Miyazawa

SEP

WSL UWCL WSL UWCL WSL WSL

Sun 7 Thu 11 Sun 14 Thu 18 Sun 21 Sun 28

Leicester (H) 12pm Brann (A) 6pm London City (A) 12pm Brann (H) 7pm Arsenal (H) 2.50pm Liverpool (A) 12pm

4-0 0-1 5-1 3-0 0-0 2-0

4,325 16,019 2,800 2,972 8,665 3,022

Tullis-Joyce Tullis-Joyce Tullis-Joyce Tullis-Joyce Tullis-Joyce Tullis-Joyce

Riviere Riviere Riviere 1 Riviere Bizet Riviere

Le Tissier Janssen Le Tissier Janssen Le Tissier 1 • Turner Le Tissier Janssen Le Tissier Janssen Le Tissier Janssen

Sandberg Sandberg Sandberg Sandberg Sandberg Rolfo

Zigiotti Naalsund Zigiotti Zigiotti Zigiotti Zigiotti

Miyazawa Miyazawa Miyazawa Miyazawa Miyazawa Miyazawa 1

WSL UWCL WSL UWCL

Fri 3 Wed 8 Sun 12 Thu 16

Chelsea (H) 7.30pm 1-1 Valerenga (H) 8pm 1-0 Everton (A) 12pm 4-1+ Atletico Madrid (A) 5.45pm 1-0

5,105 2,204 18,154 1,651

Tullis-Joyce Tullis-Joyce Tullis-Joyce Tullis-Joyce

Riviere Riviere Riviere Riviere

Le Tissier Janssen Le Tissier 1 • Janssen Le Tissier Janssen Le Tissier Janssen

Sandberg 1 Sandberg Sandberg Sandberg

Miyazawa Zigiotti Miyazawa Zigiotti

Park Miyazawa Malard 1 Miyazawa

WSL WSL UWCL WSL UWCL

Sun 2 Sat 8 Wed 12 Sat 15 Wed 19

Brighton (A) 12pm Aston Villa (H) 12pm Paris St-Germain (H) 8pm Man City (A) 1.30pm Wolfsburg (A) 5.45pm

3-2 0-1 2-1 0-3 2-5

3,363 3,434 14,667 17,520 3,817

Tullis-Joyce Riviere Tullis-Joyce Riviere Middleton-Patel Riviere Middleton-Patel Riviere Middleton-Patel Riviere

Le Tissier Le Tissier Le Tissier Le Tissier Le Tissier

Janssen Janssen George Janssen Janssen

Sandberg George Sandberg Sandberg Sandberg

Miyazawa Miyazawa Miyazawa Zigiotti Zigiotti

Park 1 Park Park Miyazawa Miyazawa

WSL UWCL WSL UWCL LC (QF)

Sun 7 Wed 10 Sun 14 Wed 17 Sun 21

West Ham (H) 12pm Lyon (H) 8pm Tottenham (H) 2.30pm Juventus (A) 8pm Tottenham (H) 1pm

2-1 0-3 3-3 1-0

2,705 2,318 3,148 6,641

Tullis-Joyce Tullis-Joyce Tullis-Joyce Tullis-Joyce

Le Tissier Le Tissier Le Tissier Le Tissier

Janssen 1 George Janssen George

Sandberg Sandberg Sandberg Sandberg

Miyazawa Awujo Miyazawa Naalsund

Zigiotti Miyazawa Zigiotti Miyazawa

WSL FA (R4) LC WSL

Sun 10 17/18 21/22 Sun 25

Arsenal (A) 12.30pm Burnley (H) TBC Semi-final Aston Villa (A) 11.55am

WSL WSL UWCL WSL UWCL FA

Sun 1 Sun 8 11/12 Sun 15 18/19 Sun 22

Liverpool (H) 11.55am Leicester (A) 3pm K/o phase play-off 1st leg London City (H) 1pm K/o phase play-off 2nd leg Fifth round

WSL LC WSL UWCL WSL

Sun 15 14/15 Sat 21 24/25 Sun 29

West Ham (A) 12pm Final Everton (H) 12.30pm Quarter-final 1st leg Man City (H) 1pm

UWCL FA UWCL WSL

1/2 Sun 5 Sat 25 Sun 26

Quarter-final 2nd leg Quarter-final Semi-final 1st leg Tottenham (A) 2pm

UWCL WSL FA WSL UWCL

Sat 2 Sun 3 Sun 10 16/17 22/23/24

Semi-final 2nd leg Brighton (H) 1pm Semi-final Chelsea (A) TBC Final

OCT

NOV

DEC

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

M AY

Riviere Riviere Riviere Janssen

KEY: WSL – Women’s Super League 44

LC – Women’s League Cup FA – Women’s FA Cup Scorers Bold + own goal Yellow/red card Subs used: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th • Penalty ↑/↓ won/lost on penalties United score listed first and kick-off is UK time. All fixtures subject to change – TV picks confirmed until 1 February

44_45 Fixtures (up to Juve).indd 1

18/12/2025 00:00

M A T C H - B Y- M A T C H S TA T I S T I C S

FOLLOW UNITED:

Facebook: manutdwomen

YouTube: /ManUtd

Match programme contact: MUWomenfamily@manutd.co.uk

Instagram: @manutdwomen

For ticket information visit: ManUtd.com/Tickets

SUBS USED

Toone Naalsund Bizet 1 Bizet Toone Malard

1

X: @manutdwomen

REFEREE

COMP

Terland 3 Terland 1

Turner Naalsund

Malard –

Barry –

– –

– –

Vanja Jankovic Michaela Pachtova

Bizet Park Park 1 Toone Park Park

Toone 1 Toone Toone Malard Toone Toone 1

Malard 2 Malard Bizet Terland 3 Rolfo Malard

Terland 1 Terland Malard 2 Park Malard Terland

Park Bizet Janssen Rolfo Naalsund Bizet

Naalsund Turner Rolfo George Terland George

Turner Zigiotti Terland Naalsund George Naalsund

– – Naalsund Williams Williams Williams

– – George – – –

Grace Lowe Michalina Diakow Emily Heaslip Marta Huerta de Aza Kirsty Dowle Megan Wilson

Zigiotti Park Naalsund Toone

Toone Toone Toone Malard

Rolfo Malard Rolfo Terland

Terland Terland Terland Rolfo 1

Malard Rolfo Park 2 George

Bizet Naalsund George Naalsund

Williams George Zigiotti Galton

– Awujo Williams Williams

– – Galton –

Abigail Byrne Ewa Augustyn Stacey Fullicks Eleni Antoniou

Zigiotti Naalsund Zigiotti Park Awujo

Toone Toone Awujo Toone Toone

Malard Rolfo Rolfo 1 Galton Rolfo 1

Terland 1 Terland Malard 1 Terland Malard 1

Rolfo Sandberg Toone Malard Galton

Awujo Galton Galton Rolfo Park

Blundell Malard Terland Blundell Williams

George Zigiotti Williams Williams George

Naalsund 1 Williams – Awujo Naalsund

Stacey Pearson Abigail Byrne Katalin Kulcsar Grace Lowe Miriama Bockova

Park Naalsund Park Park 1

Toone Malard Toone 1 Malard

Malard Williams Malard Terland

Terland 1 Rolfo Terland Rolfo

Blundell Toone Rolfo 2 Toone

Awujo Park Galton Zigiotti

Rolfo Zigiotti – Galton

– Janssen – Awujo

– Galton – –

Melissa Burgin Ionela Alina Pesu Emily Heaslip Marta Huerta de Aza

VISIT: MANUTD.COM/FIXTURES FOR THE LATEST FIXTURES INFORMATION

44_45 Fixtures (up to Juve).indd 2

49

45

18/12/2025 00:00

DATE

QUESTION TIME

ADDED-TIME QUIZ CAN YOU GET FULL MARKS IN OUR 2025 TEST?

5

United faced three English clubs for the first time in a competitive game in 2025, but which two of those three began with the same letter?

6

1

Who were United’s opponents in two of the first three games of 2025?

2

Our opening two games of the year each featured a hat-trick, but which two Reds scored them?

3

How many players scored their first United goal in 2025: four, five or six?

4

Of those players, who is the only one who is no longer at the club?

7

United’s three biggest attendances of the calendar year came in consecutive games in which month?

8

The Reds played games at two neutral venues in 2025 – one in England and the other in…?

9

Of the players to make their Reds debut in 2025, who did so most recently?

10

We faced two familiar faces this year in Katie Zelem and Mary Earps, but who made more WSL appearances for United?

Answers: 1. Manchester City; 2. Celin Bizet Donnum and Ella Toone; 3. Six – Mared Griffiths, Aoife Mannion, Jess Park, Jayde Riviere, Fridolina Rolfo and Anna Sandberg; 4. Aoife Mannion; 5. West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers; 6. Melvine Malard; 7. May; 8. Sweden; 9. Fridolina Rolfo; 10. Mary Earps (102-97)

46

Which player was on target for the Reds in both Old Trafford games in 2025?

46 Quiz Spurs LC.SM.indd 1

17/12/2025 19:14

MAN UTD

25/26 THIRD JERSEY

XX_AD1 copy 1.indd 1

02/09/2025 08:23

MANCHESTER UNITED WOMEN Head coach Marc Skinner

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR WOMEN Head coach Martin Ho

Kayla Rendell (GK)

1

1

Lize Kop (GK)

Anna Sandberg

2

2

Charlotte Grant

Gabby George

3

3

Ella Morris

Maya Le Tissier

4

4

Amy James-Turner

Hannah Blundell

6

5

Molly Bartrip

Ella Toone

7

6

Amanda Nilden

Jess Park

8

7

Jessica Naz

Melvine Malard

9

9

Bethany England

Elisabeth Terland 10

10 Maite Oroz

Leah Galton 11

11 Olivia Holdt

Fridolina Rolfo 12

12 Josefine Rybrink

Simi Awujo 13

13 Matilda Vinberg

Jayde Riviere 14

15 Clare Hunt

Celin Bizet Donnum 15

16 Kit Graham

Lisa Naalsund 16

17 Martha Thomas

Dominique Janssen 17

18 Lenna Gunning-Williams

Julia Zigiotti Olme 18

19 Cathinka Tandberg

Hinata Miyazawa 20

20 Olga Ahtinen

Millie Turner 21

21 Luana Buhler

Rachel Williams 28

24 Drew Spence

Mared Griffiths 36

25 Eveliina Summanen

Safia Middleton-Patel (GK) 39

27 Eleanor Heeps (GK)

Tamira Livingston 41

29 Ashleigh Neville

Jessica Anderson 47

30 Araya Dennis

Sienna Wareing 48

32 Toko Koga

Scarlett Hill 52

42 Erin Radbourne (GK)

Phallon Tullis-Joyce (GK) 91

56 Sophie Jackson (GK)

Referee Phoebe Cross Assistants Leoni Harland, Magdalena Golba Fourth official Emily Carney

48 Back cover Tottenham (officials added).SM.indd 1

17/12/2025 19:13