2020–21 Manchester United W.F.C. season

The 2020–21 season is Manchester United Women's third season since they were founded and their second in the FA Women's Super League, the professional top-flight women's league in England. The club will also compete in the FA Cup and League Cup.

Manchester United Women
2020–21 season
Co-chairmenJoel and Avram Glazer
ManagerCasey Stoney
StadiumLeigh Sports Village
FA WSL2nd
League CupGroup stage
Top goalscorerLeague:
Leah Galton
Ella Toone
(6 each)
All:
Leah Galton
Ella Toone
(6 each)

Pre-season

Manchester United returned to preseason training on 24 July 2020. On 9 August, they played their first preseason friendly, hosting SWPL champions Glasgow City who were preparing for the restart of the 2019–20 UEFA Women's Champions League.[1]

Date Opponents H / A Result
F–A		 Scorers Attendance
9 August 2020 Glasgow City H 4–0 Toone 4', Sigsworth (2) 73', 80', Hanson 88' 0
16 August 2020 Blackburn Rovers H Behind closed doors, no official scoreline
23 August 2020 Aston Villa H
30 August 2020 Liverpool H 0–0 0

FA Women's Super League
Main article: 2020–21 FA WSL

Matches
Date Opponents H / A Result
F–A		 Scorers Attendance League
position
6 September 2020 Chelsea H 1–1 Galton 79' 0 6th
13 September 2020 Birmingham City A 5–2 Ross 5', Zelem 36', Toone 47', Hanson (2) 60', 79' 0 4th
4 October 2020 Brighton & Hove Albion H 3–0 Toone 9' (pen.), Russo 69', Ross 90+2' 0 4th
10 October 2020 Tottenham Hotspur A 1–0 M. Turner 67' 0 1st
18 October 2020 West Ham United A 4–2 Russo (2) 20', 42', Heath 23', Press 87' 0 3rd
8 November 2020 Arsenal H 1–0 Toone 83' 0 1st
14 November 2020 Manchester City H 2–2 Heath 54', Hanson 74' 0 1st
5 December 2020 Aston Villa A 2–0 Galton 25', Toone 89' 0 1st
13 December 2020 Reading A 2–1 Galton 32', Ladd 83' 623 1st
20 December 2020 Bristol City H 6–1 Galton (2) 26', 63', M. Turner 45+2', Sigsworth 52', Heath (2) 83', 86' 0 1st
10 January 2021 Everton A Postponed Postponed due to positive COVID-19 cases in Everton squad[2]
17 January 2021 Chelsea A 1–2 James 61' 0 2nd
24 January 2021 Birmingham City H 2–0 Galton 46', Toone 81' 0 1st
31 January 2021 Everton A 2–0 Toone 9', Press 42' 0 2nd
7 February 2021 Reading H
12 February 2021 Manchester City A
6/7 March 2021 Aston Villa H
17/18 March 2021 Arsenal A
27/28 March 2021 West Ham United H
3/4 April 2021 Brighton & Hove Albion A
24/25 April 2021 Tottenham Hotspur H
1/2 May 2021 Bristol City A
8/9 May 2021 Everton H

Table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Chelsea 12 10 2 0 38 6 +32 32 Qualification for the Champions League second round
2 Manchester United 13 10 2 1 32 11 +21 32
3 Manchester City 12 8 3 1 41 10 +31 27 Qualification for the Champions League first round
4 Arsenal 11 7 2 2 39 9 +30 23
5 Everton 11 5 2 4 21 17 +4 17
Updated to match(es) played on 31 January 2021. Source: FA WSL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored.

Women's FA Cup
Main article: 2020–21 Women's FA Cup

As a member of the top two tiers, United will enter the FA Cup in the fourth round proper, scheduled to take place on 31 January 2021.[3]

Date Round Opponents H / A Result
F–A		 Scorers Attendance
31 January 2021 Round 4 TBD

FA Women's League Cup
Main article: 2020–21 FA Women's League Cup

Group stage

In a change of format to reduce the number of group stage games by two, the League Cup was expanded into six regional groups instead of four, with the six group winners plus the two best second place teams qualifying for the knockout round. Manchester United were entered into Group C for the 2020–21 League Cup alongside fellow WSL teams Everton and Manchester City, and Championship side Liverpool.[4] After losing the opening round fixture to Liverpool, United's second game against Everton was postponed due to safety concerns following overnight wind damage to the stadium.[5] On 19 November, United contested their first penalty shoot-out following a goalless draw with City to determine which side would get the bonus point per competition rules. United successfully scored all four of their penalties (Toone, Groenen, Millie Turner and Ladd) while an Emily Ramsey save on Laura Coombs' second penalty set up a decisive fifth attempt for City which was duly missed by former-United captain Alex Greenwood. Despite earning the bonus point, failing to win meant United could not progress to the knockout stage of the League Cup for the first time having reached the semi-finals the previous two seasons.[6][7] The rearranged third fixture was scheduled for 16 December with opponents Everton still potentially able to qualify as one of the best second-place teams.[8]

Date Opponents H / A Result
F–A		 Scorers Attendance Group
position
7 October 2020 Liverpool A 1–3 McManus 28' 0 4th
4 November 2020 Everton A Postponed Postponed due to stadium safety concerns[5]
19 November 2020 Manchester City H 0–0
(4–3 p)		 0 4th
16 December 2020 Everton A 0–1 0 4th
    Pos Team Pld W WPEN LPEN L GF GA GD Pts Qualification MCI EVE LIV MNU
    1 Manchester City 3 2 0 1 0 6 1 +5 7 Advanced to knock-out stage — 3–1 — —
    2 Everton 3 2 0 0 1 3 3 0 6 Possible knockout stage based on ranking — — 1–0 1–0
    3 Liverpool 3 1 0 0 2 3 5 −2 3 0–3 — — 3–1
    4 Manchester United 3 0 1 0 2 1 4 −3 2 0–0 — — —
    Source: thefa.com
    Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record

      Squad statistics
      See also: List of Manchester United W.F.C. records and statistics
      As of 31 January 2021
      Numbers in brackets denote appearances as substitute.
      Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward
      No. Pos. Name League FA Cup League Cup Total Discipline
      AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
      1 GK Emily Ramsey 0000202000
      2 DF Martha Harris 1(1)000001(1)010
      3 DF Lotta Ökvist 1(2)000102(2)010
      3 DF Maria Thorisdottir 0000000000
      4 DF Amy Turner 11(1)0002013(1)030
      5 DF Abbie McManus 5000217100
      7 FW Ella Toone 12(1)6001(2)013(3)620
      9 FW Jessica Sigsworth 2(3)1001(1)03(4)100
      10 MF Katie Zelem (c) 7(2)1002(1)09(3)110
      11 FW Leah Galton 136002(1)015(1)600
      12 MF Hayley Ladd 10(3)1002(1)012(4)120
      13 FW Ivana Fuso 0(2)0000(1)00(3)000
      14 MF Jackie Groenen 12(1)0003015(1)020
      16 MF Lauren James 2(5)100103(5)100
      17 DF Ona Batlle 100002012000
      18 FW Kirsty Hanson 6(6)3001(2)07(8)300
      19 FW Jane Ross 2(4)200204(4)200
      20 DF Kirsty Smith 8(2)000109(2)000
      21 DF Millie Turner 132003016210
      22 GK Fran Bentley 0000000000
      23 FW Alessia Russo 3(1)300104(1)300
      24 FW Christen Press 5(2)2000(2)05(4)220
      26 FW Megan Hornby 0000000000
      27 GK Mary Earps 130001014000
      37 MF Lucy Staniforth 0(7)0001(1)01(8)000
      77 FW Tobin Heath 7(1)4002(1)09(2)410
      Own goals ——————————

      Transfers

      In
      Date Pos. Name From Ref.
      21 June 2020 MF Carrie Jones Cardiff City [9]
      9 July 2020 MF Lucy Staniforth Birmingham City [10]
      13 July 2020 DF Ona Batlle Levante [11]
      14 July 2020 FW Ivana Fuso FC Basel [12]
      9 September 2020 FW Tobin Heath Portland Thorns [13]
      FW Christen Press Utah Royals [14]
      10 September 2020 FW Alessia Russo North Carolina Tar Heels [15]
      22 January 2020 DF Maria Thorisdottir Chelsea [16]

      Out
      Date Pos. Name To Ref.
      3 June 2020 GK Aurora Mikalsen Tottenham Hotspur[lower-alpha 1] [17][18]
      7 June 2020 DF Charlotte Newsham Blackburn Rovers[lower-alpha 2] [19][20]
      8 June 2020 MF Aimee Palmer Bristol City[lower-alpha 3] [21][22]
      11 June 2020 FW Lizzie Arnot Rangers[lower-alpha 4] [23][24]
      15 July 2020 GK Siobhan Chamberlain Retired[lower-alpha 5] [25][26]
      4 September 2020 MF Mollie Green Birmingham City[lower-alpha 6] [27][28]
      14 January 2021 DF Lotta Ökvist Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC [29]

      Loans out
      Date from Date to Pos. Name To Ref.
      1 September 2020 13 December 2020 GK Fran Bentley Blackburn Rovers [30][31]
      7 October 2020 30 June 2021 FW Maria Edwards Blackburn Rovers [32]
      21 January 2021 30 June 2021 DF Abbie McManus Tottenham Hotspur [33]

      Notes
      1. Released, joined Tottenham Hotspur on 27 July 2020
      2. Released, joined Blackburn Rovers on 11 August 2020
      3. Released, joined Bristol City on 2 July 2020
      4. Released, joined Rangers on 31 July 2020
      5. Released, retired on 4 September 2020
      6. Released, joined Birmingham City on 7 September 2020

      References
      1. "Champions League fixture forces Glasgow City to fast forward". HeraldScotland.
      2. "Everton Women's Match Against Manchester United Postponed". www.evertonfc.com.
      3. "The Women's FA Cup Season 2020–21 List of Exemptions" (PDF). thefa.com. The Football Association. 10 August 2020.
      4. "2020–21 Conti Cup draw made". womenscompetitions.thefa.com. The Football Association. 1 September 2020.
      5. "Everton vs Manchester United: Continental Cup tie called off over safety fears". Sky Sports. 4 November 2020.
      6. "FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup report: Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City (United win 4-3 on penalties)". womenscompetitions.thefa.com.
      7. "Man City progress in League Cup". BBC Sport.
      8. "Date Set For Everton Women's Rearranged Manchester United Cup Tie". www.evertonfc.com.
      9. "Manchester United: Wales teenager Carrie Jones joins club's academy". BBC Sport (Press release). 21 June 2020.
      10. "United Women sign Lucy Staniforth". Manchester United (Press release). 9 July 2020.
      11. "United Women sign Ona Batlle". Manchester United (Press release). 13 July 2020.
      12. "Ivana Fuso signs for United Women". Manchester United (Press release). 14 July 2020.
      13. "Tobin Heath joins United Women". Manchester United (Press release). 9 September 2020.
      14. "Christen Press signs for United Women". Manchester United (Press release). 9 September 2020.
      15. "United Women sign Alessia Russo". Manchester United (Press release). 10 September 2020.
      16. "Man Utd sign Thorisdottir from Chelsea". BBC Sport.
      17. "Aurora Mikalsen to depart United Women". Manchester United (Press release). 3 June 2020.
      18. "Aurora Mikalsen joins Spurs Women". Tottenham Hotspur.
      19. Newsham, Charlotte (7 June 2020). "Newsham confirms United departure". Instagram. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
      20. "Newsham joins the Blues". www.rovers.co.uk.
      21. "Aimee Palmer to depart United Women". Manchester United (Press release). 8 June 2020.
      22. "Palmer returns to City Women". Bristol City.
      23. "Lizzie Arnot to depart United". Manchester United (Press release). 11 June 2020.
      24. "Rangers Sign Scotland International Lizzie Arnot". www.rangers.co.uk.
      25. "Siobhan Chamberlain departs United". Manchester United (Press release). 15 July 2020.
      26. "Siobhan Chamberlain: Former England and Manchester United goalkeeper retires". BBC Sport. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
      27. "Mollie Green departs Manchester United Women". Manchester United (Press release). 4 September 2020.
      28. "Mollie Green signs for Blues". Birmingham City Football Club.
      29. "Från Manchester United till KGFC- Kopparbergs Göteborg FC". Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC (in Swedish).
      30. "Fran Bentley loan confirmed". www.manutd.com.
      31. "United recall Bentley from loan". www.rovers.co.uk.
      32. "Rovers loan Edwards from United". www.rovers.co.uk.
      33. "Abbie McManus joins Tottenham on loan". www.manutd.com.
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