The 2020–21 season was 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 also competed in the FA Cup and League Cup.

In March 2021, it was announced the team would make their Old Trafford debut in a league match against West Ham United despite fans not yet allowed to return to stadiums due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Manchester United won the game 2–0.

On 12 May 2021, it was announced Casey Stoney would be stepping down as manager at the end of the season amid tensions surrounding the lack of backing and resources from the club, particularly training facilities.

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.

DateOpponents H / AResultF–AScorersAttendance9 August 2020Glasgow CityH4–0Toone 4', Sigsworth (2) 73', 80', Hanson 88'016 August 2020Blackburn RoversHBehind closed doors, no official scoreline23 August 2020Aston VillaH30 August 2020LiverpoolH0–00

FA Women's Super League

Matches DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendanceLeagueposition6 September 2020ChelseaH1–1Galton 79'06th13 September 2020Birmingham CityA5–2Ross 5', Zelem 36', Toone 47', Hanson (2) 60', 79'04th4 October 2020Brighton & Hove AlbionH3–0Toone 9' (pen.), Russo 69', Ross 90+2'04th10 October 2020Tottenham HotspurA1–0M. Turner 67'01st18 October 2020West Ham UnitedA4–2Russo (2) 20', 42', Heath 23', Press 87'03rd8 November 2020ArsenalH1–0Toone 83'01st14 November 2020Manchester CityH2–2Heath 54', Hanson 74'01st5 December 2020Aston VillaA2–0Galton 25', Toone 89'01st13 December 2020ReadingA2–1Galton 32', Ladd 83'6231st20 December 2020Bristol CityH6–1Galton (2) 26', 63', M. Turner 45+2', Sigsworth 52', Heath (2) 83', 86'01st17 January 2021ChelseaA1–2James 61'02nd24 January 2021Birmingham CityH2–0Galton 46', Toone 81'01st31 January 2021EvertonA2–0Toone 9', Press 42'02nd7 February 2021ReadingH0–202nd12 February 2021Manchester CityA0–303rd7 March 2021Aston VillaH3–0Hanson 27', Sigsworth 43', Zelem 73'03rd19 March 2021ArsenalA0–203rd27 March 2021West Ham UnitedH2–0James 49', Press 55'03rd4 April 2021Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–104th25 April 2021Tottenham HotspurH4–1Toone 9', 48' (pen.), Press 19', Sigsworth 31'04th2 May 2021Bristol CityA1–0Daniëls 79' (o.g.)04th9 May 2021EvertonH2–0Toone 6', Hanson 89'04th

Table

Women's FA Cup

As a member of the top two tiers, United will enter the FA Cup in the fourth round proper, originally scheduled to take place on 31 January 2021. The round was ultimately rescheduled for 18 April following the suspension of the competition at the second round stage on 4 January in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. United were drawn away to Burnley, the first competitive match against a team outside of the top two divisions since the team's creation in 2018. Having progressed to the fifth round with a 6–0 win over Burnley, United were eliminated by 2020–21 Championship winners Leicester City 3–2 on 16 May 2021, Casey Stoney's last game in charge of the team. DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance18 April 2021Round 4BurnleyA6–0M. Turner 11', Toone 16', Staniforth 29', A. Turner 44', Hanson (2) 47', 58'016 May 2021Round 5Leicester CityH2–3Sigsworth 32', Ross 59'0

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. 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. 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. 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.

DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendanceGroupposition7 October 2020LiverpoolA1–3McManus 28'04th4 November 2020EvertonAPostponed due to stadium safety concerns19 November 2020Manchester CityH0–0(4–3 p)04th16 December 2020EvertonA0–104th

Squad statistics

Numbers in brackets denote appearances as substitute. Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward

No.Pos.NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalDisciplineAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals1GK Emily Ramsey00002020002DF Martha Harris4(3)010005(3)0103DF Lotta Ökvist1(2)000102(2)0103DF Maria Thorisdottir4(2)01(1)0005(3)0104DF Amy Turner19(2)0112022(2)1405DF Abbie McManus50002171007FW Ella Toone21(1)91(1)11(2)023(4)10209FW Jessica Sigsworth6(8)3211(1)09(9)43010MF Katie Zelem (c)16(2)2202(1)020(3)23011FW Leah Galton15(2)6102(1)018(3)60012MF Hayley Ladd12(6)1002(1)014(7)14013FW Ivana Fuso0(5)0000(1)00(6)00014MF Jackie Groenen18(4)0003021(4)02016MF Lauren James5(5)200106(5)20017DF Ona Batlle1901(1)02022(1)01018FW Kirsty Hanson11(9)5221(2)014(11)70019FW Jane Ross3(9)221207(9)30020DF Kirsty Smith11(2)0201014(2)00021DF Millie Turner22221302731022GK Fran Bentley000(1)0000(1)00023FW Alessia Russo3(1)300104(1)30024FW Christen Press12(2)40(1)00(2)012(5)42026FW Megan Hornby000000000027GK Mary Earps22020102500028MF Carrie Jones0(2)00(2)0000(4)00032DF Tara Bourne000(1)0000(1)00037MF Lucy Staniforth6(8)0211(1)09(9)12077FW Tobin Heath7(1)4002(1)09(2)410Own goals—1—————1——

Transfers In DatePos.NameFromRef.21 June 2020MF Carrie Jones Cardiff City9 July 2020MF Lucy Staniforth Birmingham City13 July 2020DF Ona Batlle Levante14 July 2020FW Ivana Fuso FC Basel9 September 2020FW Tobin Heath Portland ThornsFW Christen Press Utah Royals10 September 2020FW Alessia Russo North Carolina Tar Heels22 January 2021DF Maria Thorisdottir Chelsea

Out DatePos.NameToRef.3 June 2020GK Aurora Mikalsen Tottenham Hotspur7 June 2020DF Charlotte Newsham Blackburn Rovers8 June 2020MF Aimee Palmer Bristol City11 June 2020FW Lizzie Arnot Rangers15 July 2020GK Siobhan ChamberlainRetired4 September 2020MF Mollie Green Birmingham City14 January 2021DF Lotta Ökvist Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC

Loans out Date fromDate toPos.NameToRef.1 September 202013 December 2020GK Fran Bentley Blackburn Rovers7 October 202030 June 2021FW Maria Edwards Blackburn Rovers21 January 202130 June 2021DF Abbie McManus Tottenham Hotspur7 March 202124 April 2021GK Emily Ramsey West Ham United

Notes

References

External links