WSL Matchday 20 Preview: A decisive day for the WSL

WSL Matchday 20 Preview: Manchester City and Chelsea battle it out for the Women's Super League title

By
Reece Hussey-Morrison
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A generic image of a football
A generic image of a football. Photo: Janosch Diggelmann / Unsplash.

With the international break currently under way, there has been no action in the Women’s Super League for the past week and that lack of action will carry on through into the next week.

However, when the league returns, it will be coming into the final stretch and, with that, brings some of the most mouth-watering matchups of the season – ones which could prove to be decisive at both ends of the table.

Let’s take a look at some of the most anticipated matches for matchday 20 of the WSL.

Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur

A game between two clubs that came up to the WSL from the Championship together – but have faced contrasting seasons.

Manchester United have somewhat plateaued in recent weeks, picking up just six points out of the last 36 available. However, despite their poor recent form, United find themselves in fourth place, behind third-placed Arsenal only on goal difference.

United could not ask for a better opposition to end their poor run of form against, as they  welcome a Tottenham Hotspur side in a poor run of form.

This match is a must-win for Spurs, who have picked up just two points out of the last 36. A run that sees them sitting in eighth position, just five points above the relegation zone having played more games than those below them.

However, with the difference in quality being so vast, it would be fair to expect a similar result to that of the last time these two met, which saw United pick up all three points in a 1-0 win.

Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion

With the sides being separated by 14 points and three places in the table, all paths lead to Arsenal continuing their push for a Champions league finish with, what should be, an easy win against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Brighton find themselves in midtable, after a spell of good form including a shock victory against champions-elect Chelsea. Despite winning four out of their last five games, they recently suffered heavy defeat at the hands of fifth-placed Everton – showing a weak defence that all-time top WSL goal scorer, Vivianne Miedeima, will be looking at and licking her lips.

The Gunners are in their final season under current coach, Joe Montemurro, who recently announced he will be leaving the club at the end of the season, and will be looking to create a gap between themselves and fourth-placed Manchester United, in the hunt for the final Champions League spot.

With the most successful team in WSL history currently on their best ever defensive run, having not conceded a goal in their past five games, scoring 17 in the process, it’s fair to say it is expected to be business as usual for the Gunners.

Manchester City vs Chelsea

Probably the most important singular match in the past two WSL seasons, champions Chelsea face challengers Manchester City, with the sides occupying first and second in the table respectively. They have been inseparable this season, with them boasting near identical records throughout.

Chelsea, fresh off back of qualifying for the Champions league semi-finals and a league cup final victory, are on a run of five successive victories in the WSL without conceding a goal, it’s fair to say Chelsea are in scintillating form both offensively and defensively.

The Sam Kerr-Fran Kirby link up has been unstoppable as of late with the English international scoring 14 and assisting 10 this season while the Aussie international sits on 17 goals and 5 assists for the season. They are definitely a terrifying duo for any defender to see in the opposition line-up.

The Citizens boast an identical win record in their last five WSL games, five from five. They saw their Champions League hopes crash and burn in their last match as they only beat FC Barcelona 2-1, failing to overcome the three-goal deficit from the first leg.

The Manchester blues have not conceded a single WSL goal since a 2-1 victory against Arsenal in early February and have been more than handy going the other way netting 12 in their last 5.

Chelsea may be slight favourites in this match, but there is very little to separate the two teams. This looks to be the most exciting match of the season, but no matter what way it goes, it will probably be a key battle in determining the destination of this season’s WSL title.

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