This weekend sees the resumption of the WSL after a two-week pause due to the international break and the delayed 2019-2020 FA Cup Final.
Owing to the current run of form and results of both teams, the Chelsea vs Everton fixture is particularly enticing. Chelsea’s unsurprisingly solid form continues apace. Their midweek Conti Cup tie against Spurs, resulted in a 2-0 win, with goals from Erin Cuthbert and a penalty conversion from Melanie Leupolz. The Blues’ previous Conti Cup game saw them beat top-of-the-league Arsenal 4-1.
Their last WSL league game before the break saw Emma Hayes’ team perform a clinical deconstruction of Manchester City, resulting in a 3-1 win. Chelsea forward and fan favourite Fran Kirby has displayed a tremendous return-to-form after being out for months last season with a viral illness. She has proved a key figure in Chelsea’s campaign so far and has appeared in the starting line-up of every WSL fixture so far, no mean feat under Emma Hayes’ rotation system. However, Hayes has confirmed that the Blues’ midfielder will now be ‘out for weeks’ after sustaining an ankle injury during the Lionesses camp. How this will impact Chelsea this weekend remains to be seen.
Everton have had a barnstorming start to their WSL campaign and the Toffees currently sit second in the table, looking to maintain their run of form. They tied their last league fixture against an increasingly strong Brighton & Hove Albion 2-2, and their closely fought FA Cup final against Manchester City last weekend resulted in an unlucky 3-1 loss, with City scoring two goals in extra time.
However, the Toffees beat Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter final in September coming back from a goal down (Cuthbert again) to win 2-1, with goals from captain Lucy Graham and Valérie Gauvin.
Everton’s number 1 Sandy MacIver has produced some very impressive performances too, and was nominated FA Cup Final Player of the Match.
But like Chelsea, Everton also have injury issues. There are question marks over the fitness of Everton striker and France international Valérie Gauvin.
Gauvin – whose talents Everton manager Willie Kirk recently likened to those of Eric Cantona and Olivier Giroud – appeared to sustain a knee injury during the first half of the FA Cup Final, and she surprised viewers when not only did she come back on for the second half, but also scored an equalising goal. Gauvin wasn’t subbed until the 90th minute despite appearing to struggle. It remains unclear as to whether she will feature in Sunday’s game.
While Chelsea are likely to be the favourites to win Sunday’s game, Everton continue to challenge for the top spots in the league table and will certainly be looking to take all 3 points. A win for Everton would see them stay in the top two, a draw would keep them in the top three. A win for Chelsea, currently fourth in the table, would put them level pegging with Everton.
It is, as they say, all to play for.