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86 min: Caldentey floats the free kick into the box but Tullis-Joyce comes off her line to catch it.
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85 min: Arsenal have a free kick in a very dangerous position following a high boot from Zigiotti.
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83 min: Substitution for Manchester United as Gabby George replaces Rolfö.
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81 min: I said it earlier but I’ll say it again – Katie Reid has been phenomenal. The young centre-back just got across to make a last-ditch tackle, stopping Terland from getting her shot away.
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80 min: Another change for Arsenal as Beth Mead replaces Foord. It looks like Kelly has moved over to the left, with Mead stepping in on the right.
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78 min: Hinds battles Zigiotti in midfield before looking to play forward, but the ball is kicked onto the arm of the United star and Arsenal win a free kick.
The ball is floated into the box but the Gunners cannot make the most of it.
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76 min: Marc Skinner makes a double change as Elisabeth Terland replaces Malard and Bizet makes way for Lisa Naalsund.
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75 min: Hinds looks to find Kelly with a cross to the back post, but Sandberg gets a slight touch on it to put the Arsenal winger onto the wrong foot.
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73 min: There is a brief pause in play while Bizet receives treatment for a knock. Both teams take the opportunity to hear from their managers.
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71 min: Arsenal continue to look for an opener as a cross is sent into the box, but Tullis-Joyce can claim.
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68 min: Big chance for Arsenal as Maanum goes for goal from the edge of the box, but her effort flies just wide.
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66 min: Kelly get her first touch on the ball as she attempts to break past Sandberg on the right, but she runs it out of play.
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64 min: Renee Slegers makes a triple change, with Frida Maanum replacing Blackstenius, Smith making way for Chloe Kelly and Taylor Hinds on for McCabe.
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Updated at 17.16 CEST
62 min: Zigiotti receives the ball from Toone on the edge of the box and goes for goal, but her effort flies narrowly over the crossbar.
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61 min: Russo receives the ball on the left before cutting inside and floating a cross to Smith at the back post, but Sandberg gets in front to head it away.
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58 min: McCabe picks up possession just outside the box and lays it off to Foord on the outside left. The winger goes for the cross but Blackstenius and Russo get in each other’s way and Manchester United can clear the danger.
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56 min: A long ball is sent over to Blackstenius in attack, but the striker is flagged offside before she can run through on goal.
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53 min: Arsenal seem to be lacking a sense of directness at the moment. They’ve been pressing Manchester United well but haven’t had many clear-cut chances.
Arsenal are struggling to find their rhythm, Photograph: Matt McNulty/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 17.16 CEST
50 min: A loose pass from Catley is intercepted by Toone and the midfielder takes advantage of the high Arsenal line to send Malard through. The striker makes her way into the box before Catley gets back to block the shot.
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47 min: McCabe plays a clever pass through to Foord, but Le Tissier clears it away.
Meanwhile, a round of applause can be heard around the stadium in tribute to Matt Beard.
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46 min: Reid does well to shield off pressure from Malard and eventually draws a foul from the Manchester United forward.
We’re back underway in the second half. Photograph: Craig Brough/Action Images/ReutersShare
Updated at 16.57 CEST
Kick-off: Manchester United 0-0 Arsenal
We’re back under way in Manchester!
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Manchester United were the better team for the early stages of that half, but Arsenal grew into the game and began to press the hosts from the 25-minute mark. Olivia Smith has provided a bright spark out on the right, but Anna Sandberg has played equally as well to defend her.
It could really go either way in the second half!
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Half-time: Manchester United 0-0 Arsenal
It’s goalless at the break!
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45+2 min: Foord picks up possession on the left before cutting inside and going for goal from the edge of the box, but her effort runs wide. A huge opportunity missed for the visitors.
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45+1 min: We’re into two minutes of added time.
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44 min: Arsenal break forward as Russo plays a pass out wide to Foord, who sends it back inside to Little. The midfielder crosses it over to Smith in the box, but the angle is too tight for the winger to go for the target and Manchester United have a goal kick.
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41 min: Blackstenius steals the ball from Janssen in a dangerous position before sending Russo through on goal. The England star finds herself under pressure quickly and goes for the early shot, making the save relatively simple for Tullis-Joyce.
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38 min: Caldentey sends a looping cross into the box, looking to find Blackstenius at the back post. However, the striker can’t get her head to it.
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37 min: Arsenal are beginning to push United back now, but they must be cautious of the long ball used regularly by the hosts.
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36 min: Play is back under way and Arsenal push forward. Smith brings the ball down inside the box and goes for goal from a tight angle, forcing a block from Le Tissier.
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33 min: There is a brief pause in play as Sandberg receives treatment following a collision with Smith.
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30 min: It has to be said, Reid has been great for Arsenal so far in this half. Some questions were raised ahead of the game when it was announced that she was starting given the size and importance of the clash, but she has put in a strong performance.
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27 min: Arsenal have a corner. McCabe steps up to take it and crosses into Foord at the front post, but the winger can’t direct her headed effort on target and the ball goes out for a goal kick.
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24 min: Bizet makes her way down the right before looking to cross, but McCabe is there to block and sends it behind for a corner. Nothing comes of the resulting set piece.
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21 min: Caldentey receives the ball on the right, cuts inside past Park and sets it to Smith on the edge of the box. The winger unleashes a powerful strike, forcing an excellent fingertip save from Tullis-Joyce onto the crossbar.
The referee awards a goal kick.
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19 min: Arsenal head straight down the other end as Little drives forward and lays the ball off to Smith, who goes for goal from a tight angle and forces a save from Tullis-Joyce.
Jess Park and Arsenal’s Katie McCabe battle for the ball. Photograph: Richard Sellers/PAShare
Updated at 16.17 CEST
18 min: Malard plays a brilliant ball through to Toone, but Reid reads it well and can get back to make the tackle on the edge of the penalty area.
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16 min: Little sends a fantastic pass through to Fox and the full-back drills a low cross into the box, but nobody is on the end of it for Arsenal and United can clear the danger.
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13 min: Huge chance for Man Utd as a cross is sent into the Arsenal box. Van Domselaar looks to catch but spills it straight into the path of Malard. The forward shoots and her effort is blocked. Toone then has a go but it’s blocked again before Park has the final shot which is finally claimed by the Arsenal keeper. A huge let-off for the visitors.
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12 min: Malard looks to play a short ball to Toone on the edge of the box, but Smith comes out of nowhere to make the interception.
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10 min: Fox picks up the ball in the attacking third and looks to play a pass through the middle, but nobody is there to receive it. Feels like a chance wasted by Arsenal.
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7 min: United play through the very open Arsenal midfield with ease until Park picks up possession on the edge of the box, but she takes one too many touches and Fox can steal it.
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6 min: Zigiotti receives the ball on the right and looks to play inside to Toone, but the pass is cut out by the Arsenal defence.
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3 min: Catley switches play to Fox on the right. The full-back looks to send a low cross inside, but Le Tissier makes the clearance.
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1 min: A long ball is played through to Malard from the United defence and the striker tests Van Domselaar with an early strike. A good save from the goalkeeper.
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Kick-off
We’re under way at Leigh Sports Village!
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Both teams will now take part in a minute of silence in memory of Matt Beard.
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The main question I have ahead of today’s match is; why a 2:50pm start? What about 3pm? 2:30? Even 2:45?
I surely can’t be the only person wondering this, can I?
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The warm-ups are complete and kick-off is in just under 10 minutes. It’s a sell-out crowd at Leigh Sports Village today so the atmosphere is going to be electric.
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Speaking of Matt Beard, here are some lovely words on the beloved former Liverpool manager from Tom Garry:
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As always, feel free to message me with any thoughts, feelings or predictions today. Any fond stories or memories you may have of Matt Beard are more than welcome as well.
ShareSuzanne Wrack
“Manchester United sit top of the Women’s Super League, albeit two games in. A 3-1 aggregate win over the Norwegian side Brann on Thursday ensured they escaped the Champions League qualifying stage for the first time. The new signing Jess Park has hit the ground running. Elisabeth Terland has scored two hat-tricks.
“This should be fuelling positivity and hope, but not even the impressive start can cut through the cloud of disillusionment and frustration felt by fans and those watching the club from further afield. Why does this growing apathy exist? Why, even if United beat the European champions, Arsenal, at Leigh Sports Village, will it not go away?”
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In case you missed it, the Women’s Champions League draw took place on Friday. We’ve got some fantastic fixtures to look forward to in new-look league phase, with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all involved.
Arsenal: OL Lyonnes (h), Bayern Munich (a), Real Madrid (h), Benfica (a), Twente (h), OH Leuven (a).
Chelsea: Barcelona (h), Wolfsburg (a), Roma (h), St Polten (a), Paris FC (h), Twente (a).
Manchester United: OL Lyonnes (h), Wolfsburg (a), Paris Saint-Germain (h), Juventus (a), Valerenga (h), Atlético Madrid (a).
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Today’s WSL results
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Updated at 15.14 CEST
The football world was rocked last night by the tragic news that Matt Beard, the former Liverpool manager, has passed away at the age of 47.
Beard guided Liverpool to back-to-back WSL titles in 2013 and 2014, in his first of two spells in charge of the club. In the second spell, he led them to promotion back to the top flight.
In the wake of the devastating news, today’s match between Aston Villa and Liverpool was postponed.
A minute of silence will take place before today’s match between Manchester United and Arsenal in memory of Beard.
Matt Beard tragically passed away on Saturday. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images/ReutersShare
Team news
Manchester United starting line-up: Phallon Tullis-Joyce; Anna Sandberg, Maya Le Tissier (C), Dominique Janssen, Fridolina Rolfö; Julia Zigiotti, Hinata Miyazawa, Ella Toone; Jess Park, Celin Bizet Dønnum, Melvine Malard
Substitutes: Safia Middleton-Patel, Kayla Rendell, Gabby George, Jessica Anderson, Mared Griffiths, Lisa Naalsund, Elisabeth Terland, Rachel Williams
Arsenal starting line-up: Daphne van Domselaar; Emily Fox, Katie Reid, Steph Catley, Katie McCabe; Kim Little (C), Mariona Caldentey; Olivia Smith, Caitlin Foord, Alessia Russo, Stina Blackstenius
Substitutes: Manuela Zinsberger, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Laia Codina, Taylor Hinds, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Victoria Pelova, Frida Maanum, Beth Mead, Chloe Kelly
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Preamble
Hello, good afternoon and welcome to coverage of Manchester United v Arsenal. First meets second today at Leigh Sports Village, and for one – or both teams – the perfect start to the campaign will come to an end.
Both teams won their opening two league games, scoring plenty of goals in the process. In recent WSL meetings they have been separated by fine margins, if any, so we’re in for a real treat today.
Kick-off is at 2:50pm BST – join me!
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