Manchester United will have the opportunity to put even more pressure on their WSL title rivals when they face a strong Aston Villa side on Friday night.

Villa and United are kicking off the next WSL game-week. And, with neither Chelsea nor Arsenal in action because of Champions League commitments, and Manchester City not playing under Sunday, a win could open up a six-point lead at the top, albeit with the rest having games to catch up on.

United come into this one just over a week on from a famous victory over Arsenal, while Villa continue to lead the rest of the league in fifth place behind the big four. They have, however, not won a game in any competition since thrashing Leicester in late March.

The last meeting between these sides was played at Old Trafford in early December and finished in an emphatic 5-0 Manchester United win.

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When is kick off? Friday 28 April, 19:15 (BST)
Where is the match being played? Bescot Stadium
What time does TV coverage start in the UK? 19:05 (BST)
Referee? Lisa Benn

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Kirsty Hanson, the WSL’s joint second most prolific assister this season, is ineligible against her parent club. But Lucy Staniforth is set to face United for the first time since leaving in January.

Long-term absentees Remi Allen and Simone Magill were both back on the bench as unused substitutes for the first time in the recent 3-3 draw with Tottenham. Natasha Harding is still sidelined, while Villa have been missing captain Rachel Corsie since mid-March.

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Millie Turner is expected to be available again after dropping to the bench last time out against Arsenal as an injury precaution. She face enormous competition from Aoife Mannion, who was named Barclays Player of the Match in her absence.

Lisa Naalsund remains on course to be available in the week leading up to the FA Cup final and is targeting a return to group training early next month. Maria Thorisdottir is the only other player out.

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Villa pose an obvious threat given their WSL and FA Cup results against Manchester City this season – they are unbeaten in three games against them – while they also ran Chelsea close in the recent FA Cup semi-final between the clubs.

But Ward’s squad is stretched and they threw away a 2-0 lead to eventually rescue a 3-3 draw with a poor Tottenham side last weekend, which could suggest they are starting to flag. They were also disappointing game against Chelsea in the league recently when they were tipped to cause an upset.

United won’t take this game lightly, having seen arguably the final nail in their top three hopes last season due to a frustrating 0-0 draw in this fixture. But Marc Skinner’s team have come on considerably in just 12 months since then and are strong favourites.

Skinner has been managing Alessia Russo’s minutes, not that it has slowed her down, but has been able to call on Rachel Williams, Lucia Garcia and Leah Galton for extra goals in recent weeks too.

Prediction: Aston Villa 1-3 Man Utd

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WATCH NOW

Fara Williams and Girls on the Ball take at the look at the WSL title race in 90min Talks.

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