And we’re off. Chelsea take kickoff and make early inroads towards the Arsenal box, but the attack fizzles out.
A run-through of the day’s other WSL action: Liverpool and Bristol City played out a 1-1 draw, Mel Lawley salvaging a point for the Merseysiders from the spot late on, while WSL newcomers Manchester United travelled to Spurs and gave their hosts a tonking, 3-0. Those two are final scores, and right now West Ham lead Brighton 1-0 while Reading and Everton are locked at 2-2 – both of those games at half-time.
The teams!
Chelsea: Berger; Mjelde, Bright, Eriksson, Andersson; Cuthbert, Ingle; Ji, Reiten, Kirby; England. Subs: Thorisdottir, Asante, Carter, Cooper, Bachmann, Spence, Telford.
Arsenal: Zinsberger; Evans, Williamson, Beattie, McCabe; Wälti, Little, Roord, Van de Donk; Miedema, Mead. Subs: Peyraud-Magnin, Mitchell, Quinn, Veje, Nobbs, Grant, Filis.
Preamble
Last season Arsenal set the standard. Manchester City might have come within a whisker of going the season undefeated but it was the Gunners who were the WSL’s real team to beat and, powered by the goals of Vivianne Miedema – 22 in all – they duly wrapped up the title with a game to spare.
This time it’s City who have come bolting out of the traps (picking up their fourth win from four yesterday and yet to concede a goal), and ensuring that Joe Montemurro’s side will have to strain every sinew if they’re to retain their title. But with a flawless start of their own, the early signs are that it’s a challenge Arsenal look up to.
Chelsea meanwhile have motivations of their own, not only looking to build on last season’s third-place finish but also to get revenge over the team that did the double over them last term, most chasteningly with a 5-0 drubbing at this very ground – their home turf – in October. A win today would not just help banish those memories, it would also see them leapfrog their fellow title-hopefuls into second. What more incentive do you need? Strap in.
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