MCI-W vs CHL-W Match Details

Date: Sunday, 8 September 2023  

Time: 13:00 (BST) / 17:30 (IST)

Venue: Joie Stadium, Manchester

MCI-W vs CHL-W Match Preview

Manchester City almost set their chances high for winning the title last season by winning this meeting 2-0 against eventual champions Chelsea but ultimately settled for the fourth spot on the table. Their standing meant no Champions League football and an 11 point adrift from the top spot was indeed a disappointing end to the campaign. City decided to stick with their manager Gareth Taylor offering him a year extension while making just one significant signing in the summer in the form of Jill Roord, breaking the British record fee in women’s football. The Dutch international scored on his debut in the 2-0 victory at West Ham in the opener after a goalless first-half before Lauren Hemp, who also netted in that win over the Blues, gave the away side the victory. City ended the game with 10 players for Leia Ouahabi’s second booking but it sets them well against the holders in their first home game of the season. Unbeaten in the last 19 home games, City will hope to use this early title contention fixture as an inspiration to win the league for the first time. That being said, their last loss here came against the Blues incidentally back in November 2021.

The WSL title is not secured these days until and unless Chelsea go on a poor run of results which hardly has been in their dominance of the league over the years. Emma Hayes’s side would like to remind City of the fact by winning their fourth successive away fixture stretching from last season. The holders also had a winning start to the new WSL season with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspurs although they did conceded a lot of chances from their London rivals. 13 in total which was the most since 2013. World Cup hero Zecira Musovic had to pull off some important saves in it even though Mia Fishel and Lauren James scored in the decisive period for the Blues in the game. However, players are still recovering from the World Cup and recent international hectic so the team was not expected to be at its full gear. Chelsea will think nothing else than three points on Sunday to make an early hold on the top of the standings.                           

MCI-W vs CHL-W Team News

Left-back Leia Ouahabi’s dismissal in the first game means Kerstein Casparij could be added to the starting eleven with Laia Aleixandri switching flanks to accommodate the right-back. Coach Gareth Taylor said star striker Bunny Shaw will be in contention to start after missing City’s league opener with an injury. Defender Demi Stokes is also closing on a return but this fixture comes too soon for her.

Chelsea were delighted to offer Fran Kirby some minutes off the bench after her long injury layoff while striker Sam Kerr will also be in the mix after resuming full training this week. The Australian will be pushing new signing Mia Fishel, scored in her debut, for the forward position. Little to no changes is expected from the London derby win against Tottenham Hotspurs.          

MCI-W vs CHL-W Predicted Lineups

MCI-W: Ellie Roebuck; Kerstein Casparij, Alanna Kennedy, Alex Greenwood, Laia Aleixandri; Jill Roord, Yui Hasegawa, Deyna Castellanos; Chloe Kelly, Khadija Shaw, Lauren Hemp

CHL-W: Zecira Musovic; Jess Carter, Maren Mjelde, Bright, Niamh Charles; Sophie Ingle, Melanie Leupolz; Rytting Kaneryd, Lauren James, Guro Reiten; Sam Kerr

MCI-W vs CHL-W Dream11 Team Prediction

GK: Musovic (7.5)

DEF: Bright (8.5), A Greenwood (8.5), Charles (8)

MID: Kelly (9), James (9), Roord (8.5), Reiten (9)  

FW: Kerr (9), Shaw (8), Hemp (9)

Vice-captain: Lauren James

Captain: Lauren Hemp