We are now in week 9 of the WSL, and it is truly heating up with double derby drama this weekend. Who can top the table? Can Chelsea reclaim top spot from Manchester City, or can City keep the momentum going?
Manchester City v Manchester United
This is the derby of the weekend, bringing together two teams with very different rhythms. Manchester City enter the match looking every bit like title contenders: structured, confident and tactically assertive. Andrée Jeglertz has been clear about the standards he expects.
United come off a 2-1 win at Old Trafford in the Champions League against PSG, but they might be without their No. 1 goalkeeper, Phallon Tullice-Joyce. Marc Skinner has admitted that their side's lack of resources and thin squad are ongoing issues for the club, whose owners seem uninterested in the women’s team.
But Skinner also leans heavily into the emotional fuel of derby football. In a previous derby context, he stressed, “We have to mix it. It’s a derby. We have to give that attitude.” Expect United to try to turn this into a game of intensity rather than control. Set-plays, transitions and disrupting City’s tempo will be their best route into the contest.
The next derby is back in London, the North London derby.
Unfortunately, even though the men are on international break, Spurs did not move this game to the club's Marian Stadium, which is disappointing, especially given Arsenal's fan base size and the tickets that could have been sold.
The North London Derby arrives with Arsenal hunting consistency and Spurs keen to turn home advantage into something meaningful.
Arsenal squandered a 2-0 lead against Bayern Munich on Wednesday and lost 3-2, as the Gunners' continued lack of consistent results persists.
Renee Selgers, Arsenal manager, said: “It’s not hard to motivate ourselves for the north London derby… we’re going to go for it and make sure we do it in the way we want to do it.”
Spurs, on the other hand, remain a team in transition but are improving in their off-ball structure. They will try to stay compact, hit diagonals early, and exploit space behind Arsenal’s advanced full-backs. If they can survive Arsenal’s likely fast start, the game could become more finely balanced than many expect. They, however, recently lost 4-2 to London City Lionesses, with their manager, Martin Ho, taking the blame.
Both teams come into this game with some shocking results and will want to get back on the front foot and keep their fans happy.
Aston Villa v London City Lionesses
This match offers both teams the opportunity to secure crucial points. Both have had a rocky start. Villa do have a game in hand. London City Lionesses have put themselves on the front foot, proving they will not go down to the WSL2, unlike previous clubs that have come up. They beat the Spurs 4-2, though they kept losing. They had an advantage, and they had to persevere. Villa had a fantastic performance against Manchester United last out in the league, winning 1-0 and ending United's unbeaten streak in the WSL.
LCL’s threat is simple but effective: momentum moments in transition. They are patient, absorb pressure, and then hit quickly through their wide runners. Villa’s rest defence (the shape they hold behind the ball) must be organised; they’ve been exposed there more than once this season.
Brighton v Leicester
Brighton’s steady structural improvement continues under a more apparent tactical identity: controlled buildup, short combinations, and stronger midfield balance. However, they are really missing the creativity that Michelle Agyemang brings to the side since she tore her ACL.
Leicester, however, are a completely different type of threat. They don’t need long spells on the ball to hurt teams — their transitional play is sharp and rehearsed, and their wide-channel combinations are among the quickest in the league. Expect them to target the space behind Brighton’s advancing full-backs early and often.
Brighton’s challenge will be preventing a stretched game. If their midfield breaks down, Leicester’s quick switches and runs off the ball can cause trouble. The Seagulls need to play with positional patience, not emotional pace.
Liverpool v Chelsea
Chelsea come in as hot favourites, having won 6-0 midweek in the Champions League, but there will likely be rotation across most areas, and they can change the game completely from the bench. Liverpool finally got their first point of the WSL season, though it comes with its own disappointments as they dropped the three points in extra-time through a late equaliser to Brighton.
But Chelsea are without Hannah Hampton in goal, but have the bonus of Sam Kerr in goalscoring fitness as she scored two mid-week in her first start for the club since 20th December 2023. Lauren James is back in blue for the first time since March, and while the goal went down as an OG, it was very much the LJ sparkle.
The key battle will be whether Liverpool can press Chelsea consistently without getting stretched. Chelsea will try to pull Liverpool’s front line apart through double pivots, wide rotations, and early switches. If Liverpool presses too early or too individually, Chelsea will break lines and exploit the space left behind.
Chelsea, as always, has the personnel to solve any problem. Their wide forwards will look to pin Liverpool’s back line deep, and any lapse in concentration will be punished.
West Ham v Everton
Both sides are desperately in need of stability as they meet in what could be one of the weekend’s tensest fixtures. West Ham have an energetic frontline but remain inconsistent in defensive organisation. Everton, meanwhile, possesses a strong midfield core but has struggled to convert possession into meaningful chances.
Everton have not won since their opening 4-1 win over Liverpool, while West Ham were so close to winning last week, but a late equaliser meant they took only one point.
Everton cannot afford to let this turn into a chaotic contest. West Ham, meanwhile, will want exactly that the more broken the match becomes, the more it favours them.
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