Featured photo by Leanne, all rights reserved.
With the two big derbies taking centre stage on Women’s Football Weekend, we take a step back to look at the other fixtures in the WSL on Sunday:
MAN CITY V WEST HAM UNITED
TIME: 12:30, ACADEMY STADIUM, MANCHESTER
Man City look to go top of the league in the early kick off on Sunday when they host West Ham United. Both sides tasted victory in the Continental Cup last weekend as City beat Birmingham and West Ham overturned Reading. Man City have England internationals Ellen White and Georgia Stanway back to full fitness while Lauren Hemp will also be looking to return to the starting XI. Fellow international, Keira Walsh serves her last of a three match suspension.
ONES TO WATCH
MAN CITY: CAROLINE WEIR (MF), POINTS 60 (£40,000)
WEST HAM: ALISHA LEHMANN (FW), POINTS 24 (£17,500)
MISSING OUT*: KAREN BARDSLEY (HAMSTRING), AOIFE MANNION (ACL), KEIRA WALSH (SUSPENDED)
CHELSEA V MAN UNITED
TIME: 14:00, KINGSMEADOW, WIMBLEDON
You know it’s a big weekend of football when this fixture gets classed as ‘best of the rest’. A mouth-watering tie is expected at Kingsmeadow as Chelsea look to continue their form against a resolute United line-up. The Blues lead the WSL at the moment, currently unbeaten while The Reds are fourth, four points behind Chelsea. Lauren James returned from suspension for Man Utd as they dispatched Everton last week in the Continental Cup while Chelsea tasted victory again defeating Lewes. Chelsea announced the signing of world star Sam Kerr this week but the Australian will not play until the new year, meaning ShePlays managers will be kept waiting. Man United have kept clean sheets in their last three league fixtures but will need to be at their defensive best against the league’s strongest attack.
ONES TO WATCH
CHELSEA: BETH ENGLAND (FW), POINTS 54 (£30,000)
MAN UNITED: MARY EARPS (GK), POINTS 41 (£45,000)
LIKELY TO MISS OUT*: MARIA THORISDOTTIR (FOOT), EMILY RAMSEY (ELBOW), SIOBHAN CHAMBERLAIN (PREGNANT), HANNAH BLUNDELL (DOUBT)
READING V BRISTOL CITY
TIME: 14:00, MADEJSKI STADIUM, READING
ONES TO WATCH
READING: FARA WILLIAMS (MF), POINTS 42 (£50,000)
BRISTOL CITY: SOPHIE BAGGALEY (GK), POINTS 48 (£17,500)
LIKELY TO MISS OUT*: NATASHA HARDING (HAMSTRING), JESS WOOLEY (HAMSTRING), POPPY PATTINSON (INJURY), ELLA RUTHERFORD (LOAN TO PALACE)
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION V BIRMINGHAM CITY
TIME: 14:00, AMERICAN EXPRESS COMMUNITY STADIUM, BRIGHTON
ONES TO WATCH
BRIGHTON: FELICITY GIBBONS (DF), POINTS 33 (£17,500)
BIRMINGHAM: LUCY STANIFORTH (MF), POINTS 45 (£50,000)
LIKELY TO MISS OUT*: LAURA RAFFERTY (ACL)
Written by Ben Waite (Follow on Twitter at @etiawneb for regular WSL updates!)
*Please note, all information we have may not be 100% accurate