WSL derby day bonanza as Arsenal host Spurs, Man City face Man Utd and Liverpool tackle Everton whereas Chelsea want large enhance

One win every – bragging rights up for grabs on Merseyside

Everton vs Liverpool – Saturday, kick-off 12pm, reside on Sky Sports

Liverpool might be happy to see a five-point cushion open up between themselves and the relegation spot – one that they had occupied for a lot of the season to this point. Although there are 5 video games to go, the Reds look to have opened up a large enough hole to make sure their WSL standing.

Everton too have improved beneath interim boss Scott Phelan, who has received three of his first 4 WSL matches and will turn out to be the very first supervisor to win 4 of his opening 5 WSL video games in command of the Toffees.

Goodison Park hasn’t all the time been a cheerful dwelling for Everton this season – though they’ve received the final two there within the WSL – however they are going to be hoping for the last word scalp of Liverpool this weekend.

The Toffees had been large 4-1 winners at Anfield on the opening day of the season, however Liverpool had the higher of their FA Cup fifth spherical tie a couple of weeks in the past with a 2-1 victory.

So bragging rights are firmly up for grabs, as are three factors that might absolutely affirm Liverpool as a WSL group subsequent season.
Charlotte Marsh

Saturday twenty eighth March 11:50am


Kick off 12:00pm

Can anybody cease Manchester City?

Man Utd vs Man City – Saturday, kick-off 1.30pm

With an eight-point lead on the prime of the WSL, it is laborious to see anybody stopping Man City and their relentless pursuit of their first league title in 10 years.

But Manchester United will wish to delay that – albeit briefly – with some sort of end result on Saturday, if for nothing apart from native bragging rights.

It might be back-to-back video games at Old Trafford for them too after additionally they confronted Bayern Munich within the Champions League on the floor on Wednesday night – and Man City have stuttered on the street these days.

They have misplaced one and drawn one among their final two WSL away video games and failed to attain in each. Man City final went three in a row with out victory away from dwelling when shedding their ultimate three video games of the 2022/23 marketing campaign and have by no means failed to attain in three straight within the WSL.

It’s laborious to see them doing so once more this weekend, particularly given they thrashed Tottenham 5-2 on Saturday – the fifth time they’ve scored 5 or extra objectives in a WSL recreation this season – and have had further days of relaxation heading into the Manchester derby.

These video games all the time add an additional dimension, and Man Utd might want to summon all of their derby spirit to maintain Man City from one other WSL win.
Charlotte Marsh

Do you relaxation Little or is that too dangerous?

Arsenal vs Tottenham – Saturday, kick-off 5.30pm, reside on Sky Sports

Kim Little is an Arsenal legend – and he or she’s staying for a bit of bit longer. The Scot is an integral half to this Gunners group, which is recognised in her new contract.

Little and her industrious nature is defying logic on the age of 35. She is the one WSL participant that averages over 90 per cent passing accuracy, and greater than seven ball recoveries per recreation. She is the metronome of the group each on and off the ball.

But do Arsenal have to handle her minutes, given the significance of the subsequent few weeks? The Gunners have work to do to safe Champions League soccer for subsequent season, however have an opportunity to again up final season’s triumph by beating Chelsea within the quarter-finals of the identical competitors subsequent week.

A two-goal lead in opposition to Chelsea will not be sufficient, given the mentality monsters the Blues have of their squad. So though she is a metronome, is that this north London derby alternative for Little to relaxation and recharge? Or is that too large a danger, given her significance?
Sam Blitz

Saturday twenty eighth March 5:00pm


Kick off 5:30pm

Chelsea want an enormous enhance in opposition to Aston Villa

Chelsea vs Aston Villa – Sunday, kick-off 12pm, reside on Sky Sports

Sunday’s match in opposition to Aston Villa comes at a essential second in Chelsea’s season.

They are in the course of two video games in opposition to Arsenal within the Champions League – shedding the primary leg 3-1 on Tuesday – and after a 1-1 draw in opposition to London City final weekend, they misplaced floor within the race to compete in Europe subsequent season.

Sunday twenty ninth March 11:30am


Kick off 12:00pm

The Blues want an enormous efficiency and an enormous end result on their return to Kingsmeadow to not solely enhance their confidence forward of Wednesday’s second leg, but in addition preserve tempo with the groups round them within the prime 4.

The the rest all play on Saturday, and Chelsea might be out of the European locations by the tip of the night.

Aston Villa will not make it straightforward although, and have loved video games on the street just lately. They have received extra factors within the league beneath Natalia Arroyo away (20) than at dwelling (15), and have conceded only one aim of their final two away video games.

Ultimately although, these are the video games Chelsea ought to and anticipate to win, and it is important that they do that weekend.
Charlotte Marsh

Could relegation battle go right down to aim distinction?

West Ham vs London City Lionesses – Sunday, kick-off 12pm, reside on Sky Sports

The final time these two met, London City Lionesses profited on a howler from goalkeeper Kinga Szemik to earn a 1-0 win. It was a end result that confirmed West Ham can be relegation candidates, and that London City weren’t.

West Ham had been winless then however their place now could be barely higher. Rita Guarino has steadied the ship considerably, however their place stays perilous.

The relegation battle, which this yr sees backside spot bear a relegation play-off, may come right down to aim distinction. Leicester and West Ham are neck-and-neck on -26 and -25 respectively, with three factors separating the 2.

West Ham’s 5-0 loss to Arsenal final day out referenced the need to not simply get factors, however for those who lose – it’s important to lose ‘effectively’. The final time the Hammers misplaced by that margin, it was to Chelsea in January and that sparked a mini-revival by way of wins and factors.

Guarino might be hoping that historical past repeats itself – not the reverse fixture in opposition to London City.
Sam Blitz

Sunday twenty ninth March 11:30am


Kick off 12:00pm

Leicester trying to proper some wrongs in opposition to Brighton

Leicester vs Brighton – Sunday, kick-off 12pm, reside on Sky Sports

Leicester might be trying to bounce again from a 2-1 dwelling defeat to Aston Villa final weekend once they tackle Brighton because the relegation play-off looms.

The Foxes at present sit backside of the WSL, three factors behind West Ham with 5 video games remaining and will face the problem of taking part in both Birmingham City, Crystal Palace, Newcastle United or Bristol City in a play-off.

In their final 5 matches, Rick Passmoor’s facet have managed to attain simply two objectives, whereas conceding 14.

It follows a extra regarding pattern for the Foxes, who’ve solely scored 9 objectives this season – the bottom within the league – and conceded 35.

Leicester might be trying to proper some wrongs after the Foxes’ final assembly with Brighton again in November, the place they misplaced that recreation 4-1, with Shannon O’Brien scoring their comfort that day.

A win for both facet may show essential as Brighton would transfer some extent above Villa and as much as eighth, whereas victory by multiple aim would see Leicester transfer above West Ham and off the foot of the desk.
Stacey Marsh