Women's FA Cup final preview & predictions: Can Man Utd spoil the Invincibles' party?

Manchester United take on Chelsea at Wembley in the final domestic clash of the 2024-25 season

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We asked our Chelsea writer Ishan Shah and our Manchester United writer Conner Roberts to preview this Sunday’s Women’s FA Cup final. Here’s what they said.

What’s the latest with your team heading into this final?

Conner Roberts - Manchester United ended the season with an uncharacteristic 4-3 defeat to Arsenal on the final day. The worry will be that despite securing Champions League football, they haven’t won a game in the last four. However, the best performance of them all came in the defeat to Chelsea, where United took the game to the champions and only lost by a single goal. The boost of securing a top-three finish again for only the second time in the club’s history is certainly a confidence booster going into the final and, having faced Chelsea recently, United know they can go toe-to-toe with them.

Ishan Shah - Chelsea had a mixed ending to the season. While they have won both domestic competitions and remain unbeaten domestically, the two defeats against Barcelona proved that this side can be beaten. It exposed weaknesses in Chelsea’s game that have been visible before, but no WSL side has had the quality to exploit. Chelsea’s form has certainly dropped off from the first half of the season, but this team has displayed an incredible desire to keep pushing for a result until the final whistle, scoring more stoppage-time winners this season than ever before. This team can get even better and can change gears in the blink of an eye, which is a scary prospect for any opponent.

What are the expectations?

CR - I don’t think this game is a must-win, having achieved the aim to secure Champions League football for next season. While an FA Cup win would be an incredible way to round off a successful league season, I don’t think a victory is necessary to call United's season a success.

IS - Winning the domestic treble is no longer a goal at Chelsea, it has become an expectation. Chelsea fans have been spoiled when it comes to lifting domestic silverware. Despite tons of change behind the scenes, the DNA of this club remains intact — winning trophies. The expectation is to get revenge on last season’s FA Cup semi-final loss to Man United and do their best to make Chelsea fans forget those two games against Barcelona. In the words of Jose Mourinho: “We don’t have to win, but we cannot lose”.

Any standout moments in their route to Wembley?

CR - United faced lower-league opposition in the earlier rounds, making easy work of tier-three sides West Brom and Wolves, winning 7-0 and 6-0 respectively. United then beat Championship opponents Sunderland 3-1 in the quarter-final, which set up the Manchester Derby semi-final. This was the most complete performance from United in all of the Manchester derbies this season, winning 2-0 and looking defensively solid, and creating a lot of opportunities. A standout moment was Phallon Tullis-Joyce’s double save in that game, an incredible initial stop to tip it onto the bar before her quick reflexes blocked the follow-up, giving out a huge roar of “come on!” in celebration.

IS - Aggie Beever-Jones scoring a late winner against Liverpool to send Chelsea to Wembley. There was something special about an Academy graduate and lifelong Chelsea fan scoring that goal. When speaking to her after the game, you could tell just how incredibly proud and excited she was of that achievement. She’s Chelsea’s top scorer this season and has an opportunity to write her name in Chelsea’s history on Sunday.

Who is the favourite?

CR - United, unlike last year's FA Cup final, will be going into this one as the underdogs. Unbeaten Chelsea won the last two league meetings this season, so it would be fair to say Chelsea are the favourites.

IS - Having just lifted the WSL title last weekend in record-breaking fashion, neutrals may be hoping for a Chelsea hangover. The Blues can become the first team in the modern WSL era to win the treble while staying unbeaten in all domestic competitions - as if this team needed any more motivation. They will want to end the season with another trophy in hand and another milestone written into the record books.

What do the league match-ups between these two sides tell us about how this final might go?

CR - The two league meetings, despite being the same scoreline, showed two different tactical approaches from United. The first meeting at Kings Meadow United failed to offer any real attacking output in the game and they spent most of the game on the back foot. The reverse fixture a couple of weeks ago showed United’s capabilities, pressing from the front, looking defensively strong and creating clear-cut opportunities. United have to approach the final more like they did at Leigh Sports Village if they are to win, and Skinner will have some big decisions to make in midfield having left Ella Toone out of the starting 11 on April 30th. I would personally do the same again, adding that physical edge to United’s midfield with a trio of Hinata Miyazawa, Grace Clinton and Dominique Jansse.

IS - I am not expecting a goal fest. Both sides have the two best goalkeepers and defensive records in the WSL this season. Both Hannah Hampton and Phallon Tullis-Joyce have turned up with some huge saves during the league games. Getting past them will take something special. Manchester United have beaten Chelsea just once in the club’s history. Chelsea did the double over United, but neither victory was convincing, with both games finishing 1-0. However, the form, history and big-game experience favours the Blues.

Any injury issues or expected line-up changes?

CR - Canadian right-back Jayde Riviere is a big absentee for Sunday. Riviere has been exceptional for United this season, her pace going forward and her brilliant one-on-one defending has certainly caught the eye. With her unavailability this weekend, there are questions around who will come into the backline. United tried a back three system against Arsenal, which didn’t seem to work with the players available, so I would like to see United revert to a traditional back four and bring Aoife Mannion in at right-back and leave Celin Bizet on the right wing.

IS - Already missing the magic of Lauren James through injury, Sonia Bompastor will be hopeful that Mayra Ramirez is fit to be in the squad once again. Ramirez has been an important player for Chelsea this season in the absence of Sam Kerr, and the Blues will hope to have her on the pitch to combat the physicality of Maya Le Tissier & Millie Turner. She has previously done well in battles against the duo and would be a big loss for Chelsea if she were to be ruled out. Elsewhere, it will be interesting to see how Bompastor uses Sandy Baltimore in this game. The versatile French international has played all over the pitch recently, from left back to second striker. She has been one of the standout players for Chelsea this season, but with Niamh Charles getting into the lineup recently, it will be interesting to see who Bompastor picks at left-back.

Predictions

CR - Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea. If United go at Chelsea from the off, like they did in April, they can win this game. The midfield battle is going to be crucial with Chelsea having a physical presence, which United will need to match. Hopefully, they can provide the service to the likes of Terland and Malard up top.

IS - This is Chelsea at Wembley. Surely there can be only one outcome? 2-1 Chelsea.