- Chelsea and Manchester United sit high in the WSL, with Manchester United slightly ahead on points as of their last league game
- Chelsea have won 13 of the last 15 H2H meetings in all competitions, including a 2-1 extra-time FA Cup win against United in February 2026
- Manchester United are 17/5 to win the League Cup final on Sunday
Chelsea looking for a cup double
Chelsea will be looking to retain the League Cup and complete a domestic double when they take on the league leaders in the 2025-2026 competition final at Ashton Gate on Sunday. Sonia Bompastor’s side are a possession-based team that play on the front foot, patient in build-up and dynamic in transition. They have been less successful in playing with their tails up in recent weeks, with a 1-5 defeat at Manchester City coming after strong wins over Spurs and Man United in the FA Cup.
They are deep and talented enough to absorb pressure and break at their leisure in the right conditions, which should be available in Bristol on Sunday when it should be cool, with a damp pitch early on but good playing conditions by mid-afternoon. Keira Walsh controls the tempo of the game and sets the pace of the build-up from midfield and her set-piece quality since returning to fitness has given Chelsea an extra dimension.
With Lauren James and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd capable of driving at full backs and cutting in to get shots and passes away, Chelsea have the wide creativity to cut through the most well-disciplined of defences. Sam Kerr is their predator in the centre and scored the winner against United in the FA Cup at Old Trafford in February. She may start on the bench here; United's Simi Awujo has a knack of scoring big goals off the bench - like United’s equaliser in that game.
United have a cup pedigree
A lot of attention has focused on the tweaks to Bompastor’s system following the Man City defeat, but the rotation and the control Walsh gets from midfield should keep the Blues in the game on Sunday if they are not at their best. The same could be said of Marc Skinner’s United, who have built a compact, well-drilled team that plays quick, wide transitions and can be devastating on the counter.
Phallon Tullis-Joyce has been excellent in goal for United this season, making crucial saves in the cup wins over Spurs and Arsenal.
But it is in midfield where Skinner has really made a difference this season, giving United a solid shape from which to build and the intensity to press opponents into mistakes.
Jess Park has been a spark of genius in United’s cup run and the WSL title race, but they will be tested to the limit by Chelsea’s quality and big-game experience here.
Back goals to flow
Taking Chelsea at 17/25 looks a bit short, although they have won 13 of the last 15 meetings against United across all competitions, and the Red Devils are priced well at 17/5 to win the cup. The Blues do have more quality and a deeper squad, which makes a narrow Chelsea win the most likely outcome, but Manchester United are playing so well and have Skinner’s cup pedigree on their side to keep it close.
The over 2.5 goals market is coming in at 73/100 and the bet looks well worth taking, even though United will not have as much possession as Chelsea in this matchup. The champions like to play on the front foot and will give the visitors a chance on the break, while Skinner’s team are disciplined and patient enough to be dangerous in the second halves when their legs might be starting to go.
