Ellen White
Former England striker on BBC Women's Football Weekly

The Women's League Cup final was a real chance for Manchester United to put themselves against the best of the best again and put their name on a trophy they haven't won yet.

They haven't beaten Chelsea often apart from maybe the one time during that run to win the Women's FA Cup. I feel that stat was linkeding in their mind a little bit.

They want to be up there and challenging the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City. They want to be in the conversation but for that, they need to be performing at the highest level.

I just felt that in those big moments, United couldn't get over the line. It was real frustration for them.

With a goal and an assist in the bag Alyssa Thompson's night is done.

She's replaced by Erin Cuthbert who also assumes the armband duties from Keira Walsh.

Keira Walsh finds a spot of space on the corner of the box and goes for a snapshot that flies across goal and beyond the far post.

Good effort from the stand-in skipper.

Alyssa Thompson and Aggie Beever-Jones both break free of the Brighton backline, but before the former can square for the latter to tap home the offside flag goes up on the far side.

Manchester United have dominated this game but are yet to show the "ruthless" streak boss Marc Skinner demanded beforehand.

With Chelsea winning and preparing to leapfrog them in the table, the need to see off West Ham in the second half becomes ever more pressing.

Nice idea from Alyssa Thompson who changes it up by cutting inside on her left instead of darting down the outside, but she drags the final shot wide of the near post.

With James going off that likely means a re-shuffle at the back for Chelsea.

Sandy Baltimore will probably step forward into that left-wing berth, with perhaps Lucy Bronze moving out to left-back?

Kadeisha Buchanan comes on for Lauren James for her first WSL minutes for over a year after that long ACL lay-off.

She was superb in her recent FA Cup and League Cup cameos.

Tonight is Chelsea's youngest starting XI of the season in the WSL (average age 24 and 145 days).

Only 20 WSL appearances this season on their bench too - and 15 of those belong to Erin Cuthbert.

A glimpse of the future, perhaps.

Gilly Flaherty
Former Chelsea defender on BBC Three

West Ham have done really well. Manchester United have finished stronger but West Ham will probably be the happier at half-time. They have defended really well and played some good football too.

Image source, Getty Images

Speaking of, we have hit the break with nothing between the teams.

11th placed West Ham are worthy of the point they stand to earn so far.

Second placed Manchester United need to step it up a few gears.

Manchester United forward Lea chuller is down after contesting a header with Estelle Cascarino at the back post.

She looks rather uncomfortable and is holding her shoulder. That's one to keep an eye on after the break.

Image source, Getty Images

A few hopeful "handball" shouts go up from behind the Brighton goal after Sjoeke Nusken's cross is blocked behind by Manuela Vanegas.

The Blues have to make do for a corner which they twice play short and work out to Keira Walsh on the D, but her threaded pass back into Lauren James fizzes beyond and behind.

We've still not had any goals in this one but it's improved as a contest in the past five to 10 minutes.

And just as I type that, Fridolina Rolfo follows team-mate Jess Park in picking out the opposite touchline with an attempted cross.

Manchester United shouts go up as Lea Schuller is bundled to the floor in the box while contesting a cross.

There's not enough in it for referee Abigail Byrne though, so West Ham and Eva Nystrom have a reprieve.

Good energy from Brighton at the start of this second half. They are hussling and harrying Chelsea high in their own defensive third, clearly buoyed by that strong first half display.

Another brilliant Jess Park cut back produces a second great chance for Manchester United.

Elisabeth Terland is on the end of it this time but she blasts it high over the crossbar.

"Battering Chelsea" aside, I agree Paul.

Bayern are a tough prospect and on this form United could struggle against them.

Gilly Flaherty
Former Chelsea defender on BBC Three

It has taken 34 minutes for Manchester United to look like they are actually going to put the ball in the back of the net and really test the goalkeeper. Kinga Szemik does really well to get across her goal.

Another great save from Kinga Szemik to stop Elisabeth Terland's powerful downward header from creeping into the bottom corner.