High flying Chelsea take on Brighton on Sunday in the hopes of extending their lead to points at the top of the table.
With a place in the Continental Cup final and their fiery form, the west London outfit will be favourites to come out on top.
Recent form
Emma Hayes’ side will be full of confidence coming into the fixture. They recently put six past West Ham to progress to Vicarage Road for the Conti Cup final.
Their league form has been just as good – they’re currently unbeaten in 33 and are only getting better. In their last five fixtures, Chelsea have managed to bag 15 goals. A mixed bag of goal-scorers in the squad makes them a threat from different areas and styles of play.
With their most recent defeat to bottom of the table side Bristol, Brighton will be hoping to come away with at least a better performance.
Failing to secure a win since November, their upcoming fixtures are must-wins if they want avoid the relegation battle. With only four points separating them and 12th place, a quick turnaround is crucial for Hope Powell and her team to remain in the WSL.
Last time out
Sam Kerr was the difference for Chelsea when they last played Brighton, scoring in the first half to give the Blues all three points. Despite the narrow scoreline, it was a dominating performance from the away side.
Albion were unable to get any shots on target with the 37% of the possession they accumulated. A 1-0 defeat is looking unlikely for the Seagulls this time round. Since their last fixture both teams have gone on opposite runs of form, with Chelsea looking more ruthless infront of goal each game.
Ones to watch
Chelsea
As mentioned before, Chelsea are dangerous from all areas on the park. At the forefront of long-range shooting, Sophie Ingle is on a rocket spree. Most recently against West Ham, 15 minutes was all it took for the Welsh international to smash one into the bottom corner from distance.
Before looking to score, Ingle always takes care of her defensive duties first. Her physicality and reading of the game is what gives her the ball and space, then her power and accuracy puts it in the net.
Opponents already fear the likes of Fran Kirby, Pernille Harder and Kerr, but Ingle is another talent to worry about.
Brighton
Young 18-year-old Maya Le Tissier has been a vital component in the defence for Albion this season. Her positional awareness makes it difficult for strikers to make runs into space, already advanced for her age.
She featured in the 0-0 draw with top team Manchester City, playing her part in an impressive clean sheet. With the experience of high pressure games and experienced seniors in her backline, there’s no reason why she can’t help claim a point from another top squad.
Where to watch:
The match will be available to watch on The FA Player – a 2pm kick off at Chelsea’s home ground, Kingsmeadow.
