Preview: Chelsea Women vs. Manchester City Women - prediction, team news, lineups

The reigning champions are currently leading the way in the top flight, while the Citizens are sitting three points adrift in second place.

Match preview

Chelsea are currently in pole position to win the WSL title for a fifth consecutive season after winning 11, drawing one and losing one of their 13 WSL matches this term

Emma Hayes's side are the division's highest scorers with 41 goals to their name, while they also have the second-best defensive record after letting in just 12 goals in the top flight.

After beating Everton 3-0 in their most recent league outing, Chelsea have gone on to claim victories over Sunderland and Crystal Palace in the League Cup and FA Cup respectively.

They were frustrated for the majority of their FA Cup tie with second-tier Palace, before January signing Mayra Ramirez scored an 81st-minute winner to guide Chelsea to a 10th consecutive victory and a fifth straight clean sheet.

The Blues will be looking to continue their impressive home run on Friday, having won each of their 22 home league matches since playing out a goalless draw with Man City in February 2022.

Like their hosts, Man City will also head into the crucial meeting in a confident mood after winning each of their last 10 games in all competitions.

In their most recent outing, Laia Aleixandri scored the decisive goal to guide Man City to a narrow 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup fifth round.

The result also represented Man City's fourth consecutive clean sheet, highlighting one of the key strengths of Gareth Taylor's side this season.

In fact, the Citizens currently boast the best defensive record in the WSL after conceding just eight goals in their 13 league matches.

Man City also have the best away record in the division, having taken 15 points from their six road trips, and they will look to draw inspiration from that form as they go in search of their first WSL away win over Chelsea since recording a 2-0 victory in May 2016.

Chelsea Women Women's Super League form:

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Chelsea Women form (all competitions):

Manchester City Women Women's Super League form:

Team News

Chelsea are still unable to call upon the club captain Millie Bright, while Aniek Nouwen and Sam Kerr are long-term absentees due to anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

Catarina Macario is making progress in her injury recovery, but she is not expected to return to action until after the international break.

Lauren James is expected to be brought into the starting lineup after she was forced to sit out the FA Cup win over Crystal Palace due to illness.

As for the visitors, they will have to cope without the services of defender Steph Houghton and midfielder Jill Roord.

Taylor has revealed that Bunny Shaw will be fit despite being forced off in the second half against Arsenal with a calf issue.

With Shaw ready to lead the line, Taylor could be tempted to select the same lineup that started the FA Cup win over the Gunners.

Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:

Hampton; Lawrence, Carter, Bjorn, Charles; Cuthbert, Leupolz; James, Kirby, Reiten; Ramirez

Manchester City Women possible starting lineup:

Keating; Casparij, Aleixandri, Greenwood, Ouahabi; Hasegawa, Coombs; Kelly, Park, Hemp; Shaw

We say: Chelsea Women 1-1 Manchester City Women

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