Remember when we beat Arsenal for the second time this season? Remember how we were up 3-0 after 20 minutes? Remember we left them broken and questioning themselves after walking off of their pitch with a 4-1 victory? That was fun. Chelsea have now doled out three of Arsenal and Manchester City’s combined four losses. Open your heart to the warm fuzzies that sentence brings you, then read it again.
But it’s the West Hams of the league from whom we need to swipe the three points, especially with Manchester City and Arsenal playing against each other at the same time.
Like Brighton and Liverpool, the only two opponents unbeaten Chelsea have dropped points against, West Ham are in the bottom half of the table. The Hammers don’t necessarily belong there, as they have played two fewer matches than the teams above and below them, but nevertheless they are not a side as talented as Chelsea, and will thus be aiming for a draw.
In fact, in the reverse fixture West Ham were leading 1-0 until Sophie Ingle’s 70th-minute equalizer. Chelsea eventually won 3-1, but the ringing alarm bells were certainly still echoing at full-time. Let’s make it easier this time, shall we?
Date / Time: Sunday, February 2, 2020; 14:00 GMT; 9am EST; 7:30pm IST
Venue: Kingsmeadow
Forecast: Cloudy, 55°F/13°C
How to watch: The FA Player is the only thing you need to watch every FA WSL match for free — yes, FREE — barring any applicable local broadcast rights. Did I mention it’s free? It’s super 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: Ongoing Olympic qualifying will leave the Blues without Sam Kerr and Ji So-yun. Superstar Fran Kirby is still out as well. But the rest of the squad are still deeply talented, and Bethany England is on an ungodly tear. Guro Reiten and Erin Cuthbert have come alive since the beginning of the new year, and they will need to keep that up until the team is whole again.
West Ham team news: The Olympics won’t prevent West Ham from naming a full-strength squad. The Hammers’ two top scorers, Katharina Baunach and Alisha Lehmann, both have three goals apiece, and will have to be kept in check by Millie Bright, Maren Mjelde and the rest of the defense.
Previously: Chelsea left it late, scoring three goals in the last 20 minutes to get a 3-1 win. Here’s the aforementioned goal from Sophie Ingle that got us started.
The ever reliable @sophieingle01 with the equaliser for @ChelseaFCW pic.twitter.com/rpXfVdOKEH
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) October 27, 2019
Sauce Moment of the Week: Bethany England’s goal against Arsenal needs to be watched again. Her first touch from a clipped pass is simply incredible, and may be even better than the strike.
When it comes to London derbies, @Bethany_Eng15 only deals in one thing:
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) January 31, 2020
GOALS! pic.twitter.com/4Fhb0AY9y5