Following on from the success of Women’s Football Weekend and a packed Conti Cup midweek, Arsenal and City will look to keep the pressure on Chelsea as the Women’s Super League returns with some huge games.
Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal are in danger of pulling away from the rest of the league. All three should get three points this weekend.
Once again, all of our games are played on Sunday.
Manchester United vs Brighton – 12:00
After a set-back against league leaders Chelsea last weekend, Casey Stoney’s Manchester United side will be hoping to bounce back against Brighton.
United dismantled Leicester midweek, putting 11 goals past the Foxes.
Brighton also had success in both league and cup this past week. They beat Birmingham 3-0 last Sunday and then put five past London Bees in the Conti Cup.
Brighton will be looking to get a result to avoid getting dragged into the relegation battle. If the Seagulls come away with the three points, it will be the first time they’ve ever won back-to-back WSL games.
The only previous competitive game between the sides came in February this year. United beat Brighton 2-0 in the FA Cup.
Everton vs Spurs – 12:30
These two sides come into this game with differing fortunes in their respective derbies.
Everton won last week’s Merseyside derby through a Lucy Graham goal. Spurs were sunk by Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, thanks to Kim Little and the incessant Vivianne Miedema.
Another game and another first for these sides. This will be the first time these two teams have ever met competitively.
If the Toffees win, it will be the first time since 2011 that they have won three WSL games in a row.
Everton are in the best position to keep pressure on the top three, sitting in fourth on 12 points going into this weekend’s games.
Bristol City vs Manchester City – 12:30
Bristol City are in desperate need of some points in the WSL, sitting in 11th.
The Vixens lost 7-0 to Arsenal midweek and will be hoping for a change of fortune on the weekend.
City come into the game off the back of an impressive week. They put five past West Ham last weekend and then beat Everton 4-1 in the Conti Cup on Thursday.
Laura Coombs may be in with a chance of making her first league appearance for Manchester City. Manager Nick Cushing confirmed that she has been in full training all week.
Coombs made a cameo appearance in City’s win over Everton in Crosby.
If Jill Scott plays then she will be making her 133rd WSL appearance – more than any other player. Next is Kerys Harrop (132), who may play against Chelsea later on in the afternoon.
Arsenal vs Liverpool – 14:00
Arsenal have beaten Liverpool more times than any other team has beaten anyone.
Liverpool have scored just once against Arsenal in their last four meetings. The aggregate score of those meetings being 16-1 in favour of the Gunners.
Both sides had impressive wins earlier this week, Arsenal put seven past Bristol City and Liverpool scored six and kept their first clean sheet of the season away at Blackburn.
Birmingham vs Chelsea – 14:45
Top of the table Chelsea travel to Solihull to face a struggling Birmingham side this weekend.
Chelsea squeaked a win last weekend against Manchester United thanks to a penalty that has been a point of contention. Maren Mjelde made no mistake and won the Blues all three points.
Emma Hayes’ side has been relentless so far this season and it’s only a few weeks until Sam Kerr joins up with them to make them even more intimidating.
Chelsea are undefeated in five away games against Birmingham and haven’t conceded in any of those games.
West Ham vs Reading – 15:00
Only a point separates these two sides in the league table this season. This game looks set to be a tough battle between two sides with a lot of heart.
Both sides had big wins in the Conti Cup so they won’t be short of confidence.
Reading have never won against a London-based team in the WSL. This will be their 17th attempt at doing so.
Fara Williams has more assists than anyone in the WSL this season and could be the difference-maker for the Royals.
Adriana Leon has scored 100% of West Ham’s goals at home this season. It may be her that wins the game for the Hammers.
