2 months ago
Arsenal v Brighton
Riding precocious aft their Champions League quarter-final triumph complete Chelsea, Arsenal are fresh to push connected successful nan FA Cup. The WSL title whitethorn beryllium almost surely retired of show pursuing Manchester City’s awesome triumph complete Manchester United, but nan chance to spell for a European and home cup double is very overmuch there. Brighton guidelines successful nan measurement of securing a 2nd cup semi-final wrong six days. Last play Dario Vidosic’s broadside earned a first WSL triumph since their 23 January conclusion of Everton, securing a 1-0 triumph complete bottom-placed Leicester. The Seagulls beryllium sixth successful nan WSL, 8 points down Tottenham and only up of London City Lionesses connected extremity difference. They are 7 points disconnected of past season’s full pinch 4 games remaining. However, those 4 games are against Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Spurs and inconsistency has blighted their campaign. The dream will beryllium that they look a tired Arsenal aft their Champions League exploits, pinch nan 1-0 second-leg conclusion to Chelsea a frantic and exhausting match. That is possibly an eager inquire fixed nan extent astatine Arsenal’s disposal and nan shape they are in, Wednesday night’s inconsequential conclusion being their first nonaccomplishment since 21 January.
Charlton v Liverpool
Three defeats successful their past 4 games person dealt a hefty rustle to Charlton’s WSL2 title aspirations pinch 2 games to play. The Addicks person slipped into 2nd successful nan league, level connected points pinch leaders Birmingham, who person a acold superior extremity difference, and only six points up of Crystal Palace, who person a crippled successful hand. They besides person trickier games than Palace, who came from down to unafraid a 3-2 triumph complete Karen Hills’ broadside connected Sunday, including a captious crippled against Birmingham connected nan last day. There is moreover nan slim chance they could decorativeness extracurricular nan apical 3 and miss retired connected nan chance of promotion altogether, should Newcastle triumph their remaining 3 games and Charlton collapse. The London broadside could truthful beryllium forgiven for taking their oculus disconnected nan shot successful nan FA Cup. However, nan effect of a triumph complete a resurgent Liverpool, who person mislaid only 2 of their past 10 games, would beryllium a important morale booster. For Gareth Taylor’s Liverpool side, progression to nan FA Cup semi-finals would beryllium a conscionable reward for their awesome climb disconnected nan bottommost of nan WSL array aft an important January transportation model breathed life into their depleted squad.
Chelsea v Tottenham
Nothing will prevention Chelsea from emotion disappointed astatine nan extremity of nan season, specified are nan ambitions of nan club, but an FA Cup triumph to unafraid a home cup double would thief assistance nan unit aft their Champions League exit and nan apt relinquishing of their WSL title. Key to Chelsea progressing astatine nan disbursal of Tottenham is being much clinical. Sonia Bompastor’s broadside weren’t bad against Arsenal, rather nan opposite, but they grounded to make nan astir of their chances. Injuries person been a immense problem too, stretching nan squad truthful bladed that Lucy Bronze has started nan past 2 games astatine centre-back. Criticism of Bompastor has grown louder successful caller months, but pinch alteration astatine nan apical of nan women’s squad aft nan departure of Paul Green, mounting injuries and an progressively competitory league, that is possibly a small misplaced. They meet a Tottenham squad who person had consecutive 5-2 defeats by Manchester City and Arsenal. However, Martin Ho’s broadside person already exceeded expectations this play and nan unit is off. With Chelsea threadbare and having played successful midweek, they person an opportunity to origin an upset that could really rattle nan location side.
Birmingham City v Manchester City
Ambitious Birmingham City’s 1-0 conclusion of Sunderland coupled pinch Charlton’s conclusion by Crystal Palace meant they moved to nan apical of nan WSL2 array connected Wednesday night. The WSL2 title and promotion to nan WSL is now successful their hands. They will beryllium riding high, but against FA Cup quarter-final opponents Manchester City their Cup tally will surely travel to an end. Andrée Jeglertz’s squad earned an emphatic 3-0 triumph complete Manchester United astatine Old Trafford past Saturday to support their nine-point lead astatine nan apical of nan WSL, pinch games against Brighton, Liverpool and West Ham remaining. City are successful formidable form, pinch a extremity quality of 40, 22 greater than that of Chelsea successful 2nd and 14 up of third-placed Arsenal. Now nan title is each but wrapped up, they tin move attraction to a convention and Cup double. City secured their only WSL title successful 2016 and their 3rd FA Cup triumph successful 2020. For nan level of finance put into nan team, nan silverware drought has been a immense letdown. This season, they person capitalised connected their deficiency of Champions League shot and they will person a squad beardown capable to equine a existent situation crossed each 4 competitions adjacent season. Birmingham are having a awesome year, but pinch Khadija Shaw, Vivianne Miedema and Kerolin first, 3rd and 5th among nan WSL’s starring scorers this season, nan chance of nan Midlands squad keeping them astatine bay is slim. Should they (or Charlton) outpouring a immense shock, they would go nan first squad from extracurricular nan apical formation to scope nan last 4 since Everton successful 2014-15.
