This week has been a momentous one for English clubs in Europe, and the action continues this weekend in the Women’s Super League. With just three points separating the top four teams, the battle for the WSL title is as close as ever. Arsenal and Manchester City face off at Meadow Park on Sunday in a crucial game that could decide the fate of the title race. At the other end of the table, Leicester take on Reading in a relegation six-pointer at King Power Stadium.
Arsenal have had to deal with injuries all season, and are still assessing Katie McCabe and Kim Little ahead of their game against City. The visitors have not lost in the WSL since September and have won five league games in a row to put themselves second, behind Manchester United on goal difference. Meanwhile, Leicester have been much improved since the turn of the year and could find themselves off the bottom if results go their way this weekend. Manager Willie Kirk wants his players to be “energised” and embrace the fight to stay in the top flight.
At the other end of the table, Brighton face leaders Manchester United at Saturday lunchtime. The Seagulls are without a WSL win since November and let a two-goal lead slip at Reading last weekend. Interim manager Amy Merricks believes her team are on the verge of rediscovering the winning formula.
On Friday, the league announced that attendances across Women’s Football Weekend last week mean that more than half a million fans have gone through the turnstiles at WSL matches this season. This is the first time the landmark has been reached in the league’s history, and with bumper crowds in attendance to watch Arsenal and Chelsea’s Champions League heroics midweek as well, it surely will not be the last.
Tottenham’s Kerys Harrop is set to make a record 178th appearance in the WSL if she features against Everton on Sunday. If she plays, Harrop will be the first to the milestone by a matter of hours with Kate Longhurst expected to match her when West Ham take on Liverpool later in the day. Gilly Flaherty briefly held the record when she passed Jill Scott’s 175 appearances this season before retiring in January.
This weekend’s games promise to be full of drama and excitement as the season enters its final two months. With so much at stake for teams at both ends of the table, it is sure to be an unforgettable weekend of Women’s Super League action.