Saturday
Bristol Academy vs. Sunderland Ladies
Bristol are winless in the WSL and are rock bottom of the table with just two points. However The Vixens come into this game, against high flying Sunderland, following a 4-0 win midweek over Aston Villa in the Continental Cup.
The two teams have already met this season in the league with Sunderland taking all three points in a 2-1 victory. The Lady Black Cats are currently on a four match winning streak, which includes a 4-0 thrashing of league leaders Chelsea – the Blues first defeat of the season.
England Under-23 international Beth Mead is currently in tremendous form for the North East side, having scored eight goals in nine games, and is the WSL 1’s top goal scorer.
Sunday
Arsenal Ladies vs. Notts County Ladies
Both Arsenal and Notts County come into this fixture full of confidence, having both won their recent cup ties.
The Gunners were comfortable winners against WSL 2 side Watford midweek and County beat WSL 1 strugglers Birmingham City 2-1.
With their focus returning to the league, a win for The Lady Pies could see them leapfrog their opponents this weekend. Attackers Jess Clarke and Rachel Williams both have four league goals so far this season, and will undoubtedly be looking to add to their tally when they take on the London outfit.
When the two teams met earlier this season, the game ended 1-1 when Chioma Ubogagu cancelled out Ellen White’s opener in the 84th minute.
Birmingham City vs. Liverpool Ladies
Birmingham have only won one game so far this whole season in all competitions but luckily for them, it was against their opponents this weekend, Liverpool, in the FA Women’s Cup back in March. The Reds however did avenge their cup exit less than two weeks later, beating the Midlands side in the league.
Reigning WSL 1 champions Liverpool are currently sixth in the table but will come into this game with a spring in their step following a 2-0 win over local rivals Everton in the Continental Cup. Victory over Birmingham, who have only managed to score one league goal so far in the campaign, could see them climb above Manchester City in the table.
Chelsea Ladies vs. Manchester City
Following a rocky first half of the season Manchester City have come back after the international break with a bang, notching up three wins out of three.
Their strong contingent of England internationals seem to have a new lease of life following their World Cup success and Toni Duggan in particular seems to have found her goalscoring form, bagging four since her return from Canada.
Duggan’s goals have helped see City move up to fifth in the table but her side will face, arguably, their toughest test yet since the league resumed, when they travel to league leaders Chelsea this weekend.
Chelsea have only lost one game so far this season, and have already beat City in the FA Women’s Cup semi-final earlier in the year. The two sides have also already met in the league in a game which finished one-a-piece.
New signing Fran Kirby has yet to make her debut for the Blues, but will be looking to out-perform her fellow Lionesses from Manchester and open her goalscoring account should she see some game time.
