As the Women’s Super League season begins to take shape, this weekend’s fixtures carry extra weight for teams at both ends of the table. Leicester City and Everton face off in an early relegation six-pointer, West Ham look to spark their season against Aston Villa, Tottenham aim to keep their impressive form going against Brighton, and newly promoted London City Lionesses meet Liverpool in a crucial battle near the bottom. With every point vital, momentum and confidence are on the line across the league.
Leicester City v Everton
Both sides have had rocky starts to the season and fluctuating form. Both need the points to prevent relegation.
Everton have only won once in their opener at Anfield over Liverpool.
Both sides have one win and three defeats in the opening four weeks of the season.
Leicester are without a permanent head coach after sacking Amandine Miquel just before the season started. They are currently under interim coach Rick Passmoor.
They have struggled in recent weeks with defeats against Chelsea and Manchester United but they kept Chelsea to a 1-0 victory.
With clubs closer to them in the table have been more competitive.
Everton have signed nine players including a deadline day deal of Ruby Mace from Leicester City.
Their manager has spoken openly about the challenge of blending a squad with many new faces. Before their loss to Brighton last week, he said his side are ‘still finding their feet’ and called for more consistency, pointing to lapses in concentration that have cost them in key moments.
This game is crucial both sides needing the points to avoid being pulled towards the bottom of the table and both will have a better chance of beating each other.
Both teams have won against Liverpool already this season, their only wins.
Leicester squad remains bare with many absences with rotation being necessary but has meant the team have not gelled and found their balance.
Everton are without Kelly Gago who is out with a concussion, Rion Ishikawa has a knee problem, Courtney Brosnan is sidelined with an MCL issue and Megan Finnigan is still in rehabilitation.
In response, Brian Sørensen has recalled teenage defender Issy Hobson from her loan at Nottingham Forest.
West Ham v Aston Villa
West Ham sit in relegation spot after four games and no wins and conceding 14 goals also only scoring two.
Aston Villa have done better with two points and a game in hand due to a late postponement against Liverpool due to the death of Matt Beard.
Villa held Arsenal to a draw with a 93rd equaliser by Lucy Park on Rachel Daly's 100th WSL appearance.
Their other draw was the opening weekend against Brighton and showed some promising against Chelsea but lost 3-1.
Natalia Arroyo's only issue is in front of goal with only two goals from their three matches but having 40 shots in the same games.
Though villa have played teams who finished in the top-five last season. But a defeat to West Ham would be embarrassing.
The hammers are without Ines Belloumou due to spensions after she received a red card for pulling Alyssa Thompson hair against Chelsea. They lost 4-0 in that game scored the blues scored three goals in seven minutes.
The only positive for Rehanne Skinner, West Ham manager is she has a fully fit squad.
Aston Villa fans will be keen for updates on Jill Baijings after she went off holding her knee against Arsenal. Miriael Taylor could slot in if Baijings is unavailable.
Their squad will include Rachel Daly, fresh off being awarded an MBE for her services to football.
Tottenham v Brighton
Spurs have started positively under Martin Ho, winning against Arsenal in preseason and winning all bar one game in the league. They finished 11th last season.
In just four games, they are only one point away from having half the amount of points this season as they did in the entirety of the last campaign.
Their most recent fixture was a 2-1 victory over Everton, a perfect way to bounce back after a 5-1 smashing by Manchester City.
Brighton have enjoyed a positive campaign so far: a draw against Villa and a narrow 2-1 defeat to Manchester City and two wins against Everton and West Ham. Though the latter two being less of a challenge.
Michelle Ageymang, England’s hero this summer scored the winner against Everton in her second season on the south coast on loan.
Molly Bartrip has returned to Tottenham training, but Martin Ho said the clash with Brighton will come too soon for the centre-back.
The big news for Brighton is that Madison Haley could return to the squad.
Head coach Dario Vidosic said: “Everyone is okay, but we will see with Madi (Haley). Hopefully, she’ll be able to come with us to London but we will assess her closer to the weekend.”
London City Lionesses v Liverpool
Both teams are in danger already and fighting at the bottom of the table.
While London City Lionesses had a 2-1 win over Everton with a double by Isobel Goodwin. who secured the club the Championship title and promotion last season.
The newly promoted side has faced three of the top four sides. They’ve played Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United so this game will help show their full potential.
Liverpool have played three games due to the passing of their former manager Matt Beard.
Gareth Taylor, ex-Manchester City manager is still very stubborn to change his game style that he previously used at City with Liverpool who does not have the personale for it.
Liverpool's recent action was a 2-0 loss to United, they sit rock bottom with a game in hand.
LCL have promise in front of goal through Nikita Parris and Isobel Goodwin who have struck a great partnership.
There are no new injury concerns for Liverpool, who may start a similar lineup to the team that lost to Manchester United.
Sofie Lundgaard is pushing for a start after returning from a long injury absence.
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