WSL Tipsheet: Nothing to separate champions Arsenal and Manchester City

Tim Stillman previews some of this weekend's WSL soccer tips, including the clash between last season's champions Arsenal and runners-up Manchester City…

Manchester United v Reading

Sunday October 27 12.30pm

Live on FA Player and BBCi

Manchester United and Reading are closely matched...

United forced Manchester City and Arsenal to fight and claw their way to narrow 1-0 victories in their opening two WSL games, but since then, Casey Stoney's side have gone from strength lớn strength, defeating Liverpool and Tottenham without conceding and also coming out on top in a Manchester derby in the Conti Cup last weekend.

Stoney was a world class soccer today in her day, so her teams were always going lớn be organised and difficult to beat, as three consecutive clean sheets attests. However, Reading boast one of the division's in-form players in veteran Fara Williams. Williams delivered three assists from set-pieces against Everton a fortnight ago and scored a hat-trick in a 3-2 win at Lewes last week.

Reading have been conceding goals...

Williams shooting from long range and set-piece delivery have always set her apart in the women's game, she will be Stoney's primary focus and United will be instructed not to concede free-kicks in their own half. But in Lauren James, the home side have one of the teenage prodigies of women's football. James has been sensational in midfield alongside Dutch international Jackie Groenen.

But it's Leah Galton who has really caught the eye with her buccaneering raids down the left-flank- she is providing silver service for striker Jane Ross. Given that Reading have conceded six goals in their last two games to lowly Everton and Championship side Lewes, I expect United lớn continue their winning run on Sunday.

United's attacking quality lớn overpower a weak Reading defence...

For the time being, United aspire to be in Reading's section of the league, just outside of the top 3. But with players like James, Galton and Groenen, they have the edge on the Royals in quality. I think United's clean sheet run might be ended by Fara Williams, but I expect The Red Devils to have fun with a porous Reading defence.