Chelsea FCW vs. Everton FCW, FA WSL: Preview, team news, how to watch

Over a period of five days, Chelsea FC Women played two matches, scored eleven goals, and conceded one. A 5-1 trouncing of Spurs in the FA WSL Cup preceded last weekend’s 6-0 demolition of Birmingham City (if you have yet to see the goals, stop reading and click here right this very second DO IT NOW). On paper, and given current form, this match against Everton should be significantly more frustrating.

Everton FCW are — rather sneakily — fourth in the league and have only lost twice. Their first was a 1-0 defeat to second-place Manchester City, the other a weird 3-2 defeat to sixth-place Reading. Everton have also conceded only two more goals than Chelsea (3) in the league, and have leaned heavily on their ability to suffocate attacks to win matches — further exemplified by having kept clean sheets in four of their five wins.

Not only are Everton a stout test who will require peak concentration to break through their lines, they also come at an odd time in the schedule. Chelsea have a huge top-of-the-table clash with Manchester City next weekend. If the Blues get caught looking ahead and drop points, they could find themselves battling to reclaim the top spot; or worse, with Arsenal also just one point behind, staying within touching distance of the top spot. Let’s avoid all that, shall we?

Date / Time: Sunday, December 1, 2019; 12:30pm GMT; 7:30am EST; 6:00pm IST
Venue: Haig Avenue
Forecast: Partly Cloudy, 34°F/1°C

How to watch: The FA Player is the only thing you need to watch every WSL match for free — yes, FREE — barring any applicable local broadcast rights. Did I mention is free? Sign up on the FA Player website, bookmark the site, save Chelsea Women FC’s fixture schedule, and keep checking WAGNH.

Chelsea team news: It’s hard to tell whether the Blues have really found the scoring form that their xG suggests, or if there’s more credit to be given to the many porous properties of Tottenham and Birmingham City’s defending. Routing teams can provide either a genuine confidence or a false one, and nothing unmasks the truth more quickly than a matchup with a defensively stubborn squad.

A thing that might become a bigger thing (if it persists) is the availability of Fran Kirby. She’s been missing from the 18 for the past few weeks, and without any reason given. She’s surely too good to simply be missing out, but there also hasn’t been an injury announcement. We hope she’s okay and back on the pitch whenever she’s ready to be.

Everton team news: Everton’s 21-year-old starlet, Chloe Kelly, has four of Everton’s eleven league goals and has already claimed a couple monthly honors. The former cage footballer is certainly a name to know for the future, hopefully we hear it uncharacteristically infrequently on Sunday.

Previously: Last meeting in all competitions was a 2-0 victory in the Women’s FA Cup in February, just over a month before that the two met in the league, with Chelsea winning 3-0. None of that matters today.

Sauce Moment of the Week: Lol you already know what it is. Millie Bright to Beth England, because I will never ever — EVER — tire of watching this goal.