How do you follow up the biggest performance in club history? Perhaps by not letting the WSL title slip through your fingers against a London rival.
While Chelsea were busy punching our tickets to Gothenburg on Sunday, Manchester City quietly reclaimed top position in the league table. But with only one league match remaining for City, they need some unexpected assistance from the Blues to maintain that position.
Given how ruthless Chelsea have been all season, it’s highly unlikely the Blues will hand Manchester City a lifeline, but you never know. Two victories in our final two matches will see us defend the title and win the league for the second year running.
Date / Time: Wednesday, May 5th, 2021, 5:30pm BST; 12:30pm EDT; 10:00pm IST
Venue: The Hive Stadium
Referee: Amy Fearn
Forecast: Mild, Rain likely
On TV: None BT Sport 1 (UK); NBCSN (USA); elsewhere
Streaming: The FA Player
Tottenham FCW team news: It’s been tough sledding for Spurs in the WSL as of late. Their last league win was in mid-January. This match culminates a particularly brutal stretch, having already faced Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United in succession.
Manager Rehanne Skinner has emphasized the team’s need for consistency, highlighted by the last meetings between these teams, when Spurs could have been ahead 2-0 within the opening twenty minutes. Shortly after failing to convert either chance, they were behind 2-0 and well on their way to defeat. It’s been a consistent theme for Spurs this season; looking quite capable one moment, before capitulating the next.
Another consistent struggle for Tottenham has been finding the back of the net. Alex Morgan’s two goals somehow still have her as their joint leading scorer in the league and that’s after only appearing, relatively anonymously, for four matches. Rachel Williams has started the last two matches for Spurs in attack, scoring in Tottenham’s recent 3-2 thrilling FA Cup victory over Reading. Alanna Kennedy also scored in that match, and also provided the only goal for Spurs in the following match against Manchester United.
The backline are probably Spurs biggest strength. Captain Shelina Zadorsky has played every minute this season, usually alongside Abbie McManus. Siri Worm is a talented player, providing Spurs’ best attacking threat from her left back position. She is capable of creating for her teammates or finding the net herself. As is the case with all WSL defenses, they’ll need to be at their very best to avoid giving up goals in bunches against the Blues attacking firepower.
Chelsea FCW team news: Flying high from Sunday’s victory over Bayern Munich, Chelsea now have the opportunity to finish off the league title with two matches in five days.
Chelsea received a huge boost on Sunday with captain Magda Eriksson returning from an injury that had kept her out for several matches. Given her recent return and overall importance, it wouldn’t be surprising to see her play only one of the next two. If she is given the day off, Sophie Ingle would like share CB duties with Mille Bright.
Ever since Maren Mjelde’s knee injury, the full back positions have been somewhat in flux. Jess Carter has put in several strong performances, while Niamh Charles has been given license to operate in an attacking full back role. Jonna Andersson has played the most minutes this season, but was left out of the starting XI against Bayern Munich, presumably because of her difficulties with the speed of Hana Glas in the first leg. Ann-Katrin Berger may never need a day off, proving near indestructible (and unbeatable) of late.
After receiving fewer minutes this season than perhaps she’s been accustomed to, Ji So-yun started both legs of the Champions League semifinal and scored a massive goal in the second match. It’s nice to see her back and providing her usual creative spark. We haven’t seen much of Jessie Fleming recently, following a spell in which she had strung several good performances together. This match would be a good chance for her to earn some additional minutes in an important situation.
Previously: Chelsea handed Spurs a 4-0 defeat in the reverse fixture back on the final day of January. Melanie Leupolz’s performance was of note, picking up a brace with a goal either side of halftime.