Key talking points as WSL returns after winter break
The Women’s Super League (WSL) returns this weekend after its winter break – the season’s 11th round of matches takes place across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Here are some of the key talking points as the league resumes.
Chelsea without Sam Kerr – Is the title race over for the Blues?
There was heartbreak for Chelsea (and Australian) fans as striker Sam Kerr suffered an ACL injury during warm weather training with Chelsea ahead of the season’s restart. Kerr has undergone surgery and her recovery is expected to take around 9 months. It means her season is over, and she won’t captain Australia at the Paris Olympics. Chelsea sits at the top of the league, leading by three points. The Blues will be hoping to win the Champions League this season as its boss Emma Hayes last season in charge before she heads across the pond. Chelsea will be back in action on Sunday as they take on Man Utd at Stamford Bridge – last season’s top two teams. The champions may also have skipper Millie Bright absent, the defender having been sidelined since November by a knee issue.
Can Manchester United stay in the WSL title race?
Manchester United have struggled so far this season – a far cry from last season, when they finished just two points behind Chelsea. They are currently in fourth place – seventh behind league leaders after the surprise 2-1 loss at home to Liverpool in their final match before the break. Marc Skinner’s team will need to use their Sunday game to reduce the gap and show the other teams they’re still serious contenders. Should they fail to win it could signal the end of their campaign. They have not won any of the seven WSL matches between the sides, being beaten six times.
Manchester City in form
Manchester City is the team to watch at the moment. They are currently in second place, and with Sam Kerr now out of action for Chelsea, could this be City’s time to shine? They closed out 2023 with four consecutive wins in which they scored 16 goals. Seven came from Golden Boot front-runner Khadija Shaw (nine goals overall), including hat-tricks in a 7-0 thrashing of Tottenham and 4-1 win at Everton. They will host Liverpool on Sunday where they will be hunting a win – wanting to get back into the swing of winning and setting the tone for the second half of the season.
Arsenal looking to bounce back
Arsenal are in third (but on the same amount of points as City) and like Manchester United will be looking to respond after ending 2023 on a sour note. Having beaten Chelsea 4-1 in December (in front of a record 59,000 at the Emirates) marking their seventh successive victory, they then fluffed their chance of going top six days later. They suffered a 1-0 derby loss to Tottenham. They will host Everton on Saturday during the UK’s football blackout period – so UK viewers will not be able to watch the match live. Leah Williamson could be set to return to action soon after recovering from an ACL injury.
Relegation fight back on
Bristol City are sitting at the bottom of the table, separated only by goal difference from West Ham – who they beat 3-2 in November. Their two subsequent away league matches have been a 2-2 draw at Everton and a 1-1 draw at Liverpool, and Lauren Smith’s side will aim to extend that good form on the road when they visit Brighton – three points ahead of them in 10th – on Sunday.
West Ham will face Tottenham on Sunday and with several new signings, they will be expecting a turnaround in fortunes. Leicester will host Aston Villa at the King Power Stadium on Friday night.
WSL schedule
FA WSL fixtures on TV are shown on Sky Sports, BBC and The FA Player in the UK. Sky Sports show two exclusive fixtures each week, the BBC show one live match each week and The FA Player provides live streams of the remaining matches.
Friday 19 January
Leicester City vs Aston Villa – (19:00)
The FA Player
Saturday 20 January
Arsenal vs Everton – (14:00)
The FA Player (available after full time)
Sunday 21 January
Chelsea vs Manchester United – (12:30)
BBC Two BBC iPlayer BBC Sport Website
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Bristol City – (14:00)
The FA Player
Manchester City vs Liverpool – (14:30)
The FA Player Sky Sports Main Event Sky Sports Football Sky Sports Ultra HDR Sky Showcase
West Ham United vs Tottenham Hotspur – (18:45)
The FA Player Sky Sports Football Sky Sports Premier League Sky Showcase