After an international break and two rounds of the FA Cup the WSL returns with a bang as two of the divisions heavyweights meet in front of the BT Sports cameras on Thursday evening.
Last weekend Arsenal and Chelsea each booked a place at Wembley for the FA Cup final on May 14th as Arsenal swatted aside Sunderland 7-0 whilst Chelsea required a last minute extra time winner to see of Manchester City. By coincidence both sides meet on Thursday night in what will not only be a preview for the cup final but, even at this early stage, go some way to deciding who will be crowned WSL Champions.
Whilst Arsenal required penalties to see of Notts County in the quarter final before comfortably defeating Sunderland in the FA Cup semi final they suffered defeat in their last WSL outing as they lost at Manchester City 2-0 having played more than 70 minutes with 10 players after the early dismissal of Jemma Rose. Arsenal will know that they cannot make too many more slip ups if they are to add to their two previous WSL titles but they will hopefully be aided by the arrival of England International Jodie Taylor from Portland Thorns.
Chelsea have enjoyed their start to the new WSL, a late postponement at home to Liverpool aside, defeating Aston Villa 6-0 in the FA Cup quarters before defeating Manchester City in the semi finals, with their only league fixture to date seeing them dominate the newly promoted Doncaster Rovers Belles 4-1 at the Keepmoat Stadium.
The meeting of two sides stocked full of talent can be hardly be missed with the game kicking off at 6pm live on BT Sport.
There’s a big game on Saturday tea time at the Select Securities Stadium as Liverpool play host to last season’s surprise package Sunderland. Liverpool, under new manager Scott Rogers, have heavily re-tooled in the winter and although they were defeated by Manchester City in the FA Cup in his first game in charge enjoyed an incident filled win at home to Birmingham City on the opening night of the season. They will face a Sunderland side whose supporters will be buoyed by the knowledge of hanging onto Beth Mead’s striking prowess but will want to build on the 1-1 draw that Carlton Fairweather’s side earned at home to Reading in their first game.
Sunday see’s two fixtures Manchester City travel to Birmingham City looking to get back on track after their FA Cup exit. In the league they’ve started strongly winning 1-0 at home to Notts County thanks to a 94th minute Steph Houghton free kick before defeating in an important Arsenal 2-0 with goals from Jane Ross and a Toni Duggan penalty. City will be boosted by the return of Jennifer Beattie to a defence that had already kept four clean sheets in its five games despite a huge injury list.
Birmingham, without a victory in their two games to date, will take heart in their ability to not concede goals last season and that they more than held their own against two former league champions losing to Liverpool despite missing two penalties and taking Arsenal to extra time in the FA Cup. Birmingham will be hoping to take advantage of City’s FA Cup hangover and collect their first three points of the season.
The final game in WSL1 this weekend takes place on Sunday tea time as Notts County host newly promoted Reading at Meadow Lane. Notts County were finalists in both the FA and Continental Cups last season and were seconds away from earning a point away to Manchester City on the opening night of the season. In the FA Cup this season they enjoyed a comfortable win at home to Durham Women before leading Arsenal to extra time. Reading, Champions in WSL2 last season, enjoyed their opening game with a hard fought 1-1 draw at Sunderland before suffering the harsh realities of the top division losing 3-1 at Arsenal. However both sides will be looking to ensure that they collect three points to kick start their season.
