A shock defeat to Brighton was the only defeat in an otherwise flawless WSL title winning season for Chelsea last time out. They’ve already lost this time around with just two games gone, a new-look Arsenal getting the better of them on the opening day. Emma Hayes’ side travel to Man United next in the WSL and this is a must-win in truth, which seems strange to say this early on. It will be fascinating to see if Man United can remain in the mix with the so-called big three.
Man United’s issues off of the field throughout the summer have been widely reported and so their start to the season has maybe caught a few people off guard. From Casey Stoney’s departure to the loss of a number of key players; Lauren James and USWNT duo Tobin Heath and Christen Press to name but a few. Whilst Press and Stoney will be involved in new projects over in the States, Heath has signed for Arsenal and Lauren James joined Chelsea, the opponents for this weekend!
The two WSL title favourites, Chelsea and Man City, aren’t amongst the group to have won both of their opening games. Man United do fit that mould though, having beaten Reading on the opening night of the season before winning away at Leicester last time out. One of the scorers against the Foxes in that 3-1 win at the King Power was Martha Thomas, an incoming player with a lot of pressure on her shoulders. With the major blows to the playing squad, Thomas arriving from West Ham has a big job, but has began life well under the new man in charge Marc Skinner. Skinner previously managed Birmingham City in the WSL and most recently, NWSL team Orlando Pride.
You have to go back two weeks to the last round of WSL games due to an international break. The Lionesses thrived on a results front albeit against inferior opposition, both Chelsea and Man United having a number of players involved. Mary Earps got a much-deserved chance in goal and she didn’t concede in either game, whilst Ella Toone got given her first and second starts by Sarina Wiegman, faith which she seemingly repaid. Katie Zelem was the other Man United player in the squad but she sadly didn’t feature in either game. Chelsea have long since dominated the Lionesses team and that is still the case along with the other major powers of the WSL. Niamh Charles, Jess Carter, Carly Telford all didn’t play but were in the squad. Meanwhile, Beth England, Fran Kirby and Millie Bright all played a significant role.
In terms of other countries and there were mixed results for the finest talent that the WSL has to offer. Fullback Ona Batlle of Man United contributed a few assists for Spain as they breezed through their World Cup qualifiers too. Elsewhere, Scotland put seven past the Faroe Islands but an otherwise momentous occasion was marred by a bad injury. Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea) was one of the six different scorers but in the late stages, she left the field on a stretcher which doesn’t look good at all. Whilst Cuthbert isn’t a nailed on starter for Emma Hayes given the presence of that lethal front three; Kirby, Kerr and Harder, she’s a superb player coming off of the bench due to her intensity and work-rate.
This is still the early stages of course but when you consider that Chelsea won the WSL title last season with one loss and three draws, a second loss could prove decisive. Man United will be keen to mount another challenge alongside the so-called big three despite all the adversity they have been faced with. Toone has two-in-two and performed for England too so her staying put along with the return from injury of Alessia Russo could play a big role on Sunday. Chelsea are the favourites for this fixture and understandably so, but it’ll be a great watch either way…
