Matchday 4 of the Ladies’s Tremendous League guarantees drama, with key matches going down at each ends of the desk.
Chelsea are again in WSL motion after having their match in opposition to Manchester United postponed on account of a fixture conflict final weekend, and kick off the weekend in opposition to fellow title challengers, Arsenal, who want to recuperate from a barely underwhelming begin to the season.
On Sunday, Brighton, who had been tipped as relegation favourites initially of the marketing campaign, want to construct on their emphatic begin in opposition to promoted Crystal Palace, who acquired their first-ever WSL win in opposition to Leicester Metropolis final weekend.
Elsewhere, Man United meet Tottenham for the primary time since their FA Cup triumph in Could as they attempt to shut the hole to present leaders Manchester Metropolis, who tackle Liverpool.
Aston Villa face Leicester Metropolis, and Everton host West Ham, with all 4 groups nonetheless trying to find their first win of the marketing campaign.
However who does the Opta supercomputer predict will come out on prime on this spherical?
ARSENAL V CHELSEA
The blockbuster conflict will kick off the weekend of WSL motion, with each groups recent off their Champions League openers – Chelsea narrowly overcame Actual Madrid 3-2 on Tuesday, whereas Arsenal had been crushed 5-2 away at Bayern Munich.
Chelsea received the latest assembly between the perimeters 3-1, and are the slight favourites for this one too, successful 42% of the supercomputer’s simulations, whereas there’s a 25.5% likelihood of a draw.
Arsenal are unbeaten of their final 4 dwelling conferences with Chelsea within the prime flight (W2 D2), however they haven’t received back-to-back such video games in opposition to them since June 2013 (three in a row), and they’re given only a 32.5% likelihood of that on Saturday.
Nevertheless, the Gunners have struggled at dwelling to this point this season, drawing each of their matches – they final went on an extended such run in October 2014, a six-match streak that included a 3-2 loss to Chelsea.
They usually meet a Chelsea aspect in nice goalscoring type, with the Blues successful their final 5 WSL video games by an mixture 23-0, although they haven’t received six straight league matches with out conceding since April 2021.
MANCHESTER UNITED V TOTTENHAM
Manchester United had been additionally not in motion final weekend on account of Chelsea’s fixture conflict, however they’re favourites to capitalise on their good begin to the season in opposition to Tottenham, who they beat 4-0 within the FA Cup closing in Could.
And they’re overwhelming favourites to get a 3rd win on the bounce at 66.7%, which might prolong their 10-match unbeaten streak in opposition to Spurs, who’re given only a 15.1% likelihood.
Solely in opposition to Everton (9) have United received extra video games than in opposition to Spurs (eight), and the Purple Devils have historical past on their aspect as they appear so as to add to that, having by no means misplaced a WSL recreation in October, going unbeaten throughout their final 14 such matches (W11 D3).
Spurs may also come up in opposition to an in-form Grace Clinton, who scored 4 objectives in 20 WSL appearances whereas on mortgage final season. The 21-year-old is aiming to turn into the primary United participant to attain in every of their first three WSL appearances.
EVERTON V WEST HAM
Everton and West Ham are each sitting on the backside of the desk, having solely claimed one level every from their first three matches.
Regardless of nonetheless ready for his or her first WSL objective of the season, Everton are tipped to win this one at 51.2%, whereas West Ham have practically equal possibilities of coming away with a draw (24.8%) or a win (24%).
The Toffees have received their final three conferences with West Ham within the league, and in the event that they make it 4, they are going to turn into the third crew in WSL historical past to achieve 200 wins (199 because it stands). Nevertheless, they may be the primary crew to register 100 losses within the competitors (99 because it stands).
West Ham are additionally in determined want of a turnaround in type although, as they haven’t received any of their final 12 WSL matches and haven’t scored greater than as soon as in a recreation throughout that run.
CRYSTAL PALACE V BRIGHTON
Palace and Brighton are assembly for the primary time for the reason that 2019-20 FA Cup fifth spherical, and it’s the newcomers who’re favourites on this one, successful 43.9% of the simulations in comparison with Brighton’s 29.3%.
The Seagulls’ two wins to this point are as many as they managed of their final 11 outings within the WSL final season, and they’re positive to trigger issues on the prime of the sector – they’ve one of the best conversion charge within the league this marketing campaign (26.7%), netting eight occasions already.
Palace put their 7-0 drubbing by Chelsea behind them final day trip although, beating Leicester Metropolis 2-0, however a newly promoted aspect has not received back-to-back WSL video games for the reason that Foxes themselves in 2021-22.
That heavy defeat to the Blues marked a disappointing begin to their dwelling marketing campaign within the competitors. Essentially the most objectives ever conceded throughout a crew’s first two dwelling matches is eight (Aston Villa), and Palace will probably be eager to keep away from recording that undesirable report.
ASTON VILLA V LEICESTER CITY
Villa and Leicester are the opposite two groups sitting joint backside with one level, and each Robert De Pauw and Amandine Miquel will probably be eager to get their first wins in cost.
The hosts are favourites for this one with a 55.2% likelihood, as De Pauw appears to be like to keep away from turning into the primary Villa supervisor to fail to win any of their first 4 matches in cost (D1 L2 to this point).
Leicester have solely ever received as soon as in opposition to Villa within the WSL and are solely handed a 21.7% likelihood of getting a second by the supercomputer, although they did draw 2-2 the final time the perimeters met (23.1% likelihood of a draw on Sunday).
Miquel has seen her aspect rating simply as soon as throughout her first three WSL video games answerable for the Foxes, the fewest objectives netted in a supervisor’s opening three matches within the competitors since Scott Sales space in September 2021 (additionally 1 with Birmingham Metropolis).
LIVERPOOL V MANCHESTER CITY
With all of the groups again in motion, Metropolis know they are going to want a win to verify they maintain maintain of prime spot, and they’re the overwhelming favourites right here with a 64.5% likelihood.
They’ve received eight of their final 10 WSL conferences with Liverpool (L2), however have struggled away from dwelling in opposition to them, shedding 4 of their eight journeys (W3 D1).
Nevertheless, this match is going down at Anfield, a stadium the place the Reds have misplaced all three of their earlier video games with out scoring a objective, and so they solely have a 16.5% probability of coming away with a win.
Gareth Taylor’s aspect had been in Champions League motion in midweek although, beating reigning champions Barcelona 2-0, and Liverpool might catch them out with a quick begin, having opened the scoring within the opening 10 minutes in three of their final 4 WSL matches.
However they must be cautious on the different finish – Lauren Hemp scored her fiftieth WSL objective final day trip in opposition to West Ham, and has created 14 possibilities within the competitors, at the least seven greater than every other participant.
