A highly anticipated top-of-the-table clash between Chelsea and Manchester City takes place at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with Sonia Bompastor’s side looking to continue their 100% record across all competitions this season against WSL leaders City.
Gareth Taylor’s Manchester City side, however, are perhaps the league side with not only the biggest threat to this winning streak but also the biggest threat to Chelsea's title retention.
Sitting at the top of the league, just a point clear of Chelsea who have a game in hand, City have won every league fixture so far this campaign since their opening-day draw with Arsenal at the Emirates.
In flying form, City have most certainly established themselves as title contenders early on in the season, with Stamford Bridge seeing a game of potentially huge importance in the title race this weekend.
City’s threat to Chelsea’s title emerged in strength last season, where the two sides finished the campaign level on points, with Emma Hayes taking the title with a 6-goal victory over Manchester United on the final day to edge ahead on goal difference.
During the last campaign, City made their capabilities clear with a 1-0 win over Chelsea at Kingsmeadow to end Hayes’ 22-game unbeaten run at home in February.
Prior to this, City hosted the Blues early on in the campaign, with it taking a stoppage-time equaliser from Guro Reiten to cancel out Chloe Kelly’s early opener, despite City being reduced to nine players in a controversial game.
In this, Chelsea only took a point out of a potential six against City last season, and City were the only team in the league that Hayes failed to beat on her way to a fifth successive league title.
Taylor will be looking to extend his 11-game unbeaten away league record on Saturday, but Bompastor has the opportunity to become the first manager to win each of their first seven games in the WSL, in a game that promises to be a highly competitive and entertaining fixture.
There is no doubt that both teams have quality all over the pitch, but a positive boost for City is the confirmed fitness of current WSL top scorer Bunny Shaw, who had an injury scare in the Women’s Champions League on Tuesday.
Having scored seven goals already this season, she has shown her value within Taylor’s Manchester City side, and will play a huge role come Saturday.
A call is yet to be made, however, on Lauren Hemp, who missed the European midweek fixture with a knee issue that was picked up in early November.
Her absence, if that is the decision made by the club, will prove a blow for Taylor’s side, with Hemp currently holding the highest number of assists in the league, with five to her name. She is also leading in terms of chances created, showing her crucial role in her side’s attack.
A win for City this weekend would extend their lead from Chelsea at the top, with Bompastor having played one less game, a situation that will be rectified the following week with the rescheduled fixture against Manchester United on the 24th.
If Chelsea come out on top, they will re-establish the lead position, with City looming just two points behind.
A key game for both sides to outdo the club that will most likely be the biggest threat in the title race come the end of the season, a win in London will award a big three points in this campaign, an opportunity that both sides will be seeking for their title hopes.
With both sides showing incredible form across all competitions so far, it is clear that Stamford Bridge is going to host a highly entertaining and highly competitive fixture on Saturday afternoon.
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