Chelsea & Man City set for 'box office' WSL showdown

Women's Super League : Chelsea v Manchester City

Venue: Stamford Bridge Date: Saturday, 16 November Kick-off: 17:30 GMT

Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports extra; live text on the BBC Sport website and app, highlights on the Women's Football Show

Manchester City pushed Chelsea all the way in the Women's Super League last season and many are tipping them to do so again.

The title race went down to the final day, with Chelsea pipping Gareth Taylor's side on goal difference.

Both sides have enjoyed an unbeaten start to 2024-25, with Chelsea winning all of their games so far, while Manchester City have won six and drawn one.

Despite their 100% record, Chelsea are second to City in the league, having played a game fewer.

Saturday's showdown at Stamford Bridge is set to be a key match in this season's title race - so where might it be won?

Manchester City were the only team Chelsea failed to beat last season on the way to their fifth WSL title in a row.

Their first encounter last season was a feisty 1-1 draw, with Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp both sent off for City, who got their revenge in the reverse fixture with a 1-0 win at Kingsmeadow to end Chelsea's 22-game unbeaten home run.

"Last season in the two head-to-head games, Manchester City were significantly the better team," the Guardian's Tom Garry told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Clearly by the end of the season, those fine margins make a massive difference.

"I think City will go into this game with quite a lot of confidence. They know from last year they can be the better side."

City let a six-point lead slip towards the end of the season as Emma Hayes' side won the title on goal difference.

But City have a good record against Chelsea, beating them seven times in the WSL. Only Arsenal, with 10 WSL victories over the Blues, have more.

"Everyone wants to see who can knock Chelsea off their pedestal," former Manchester City defender Jen Beattie added. "The team in everyone's head when it comes to that answer is Man City.

"It’s definitely the top-of-the-table clash that everyone wants."

Chelsea have got off to a flying start under new boss Sonia Bompastor.

They are the WSL's highest goalscorers - in six games, they have hit 23 goals, shared between 13 players. No other WSL side has had more than eight players on the scoresheet so far.

Chelsea's goal difference of +20 is eight better than City's.

They have been without Lauren James for their past three league games, but former England striker Ellen White has been impressed with how Chelsea have spread the goals throughout the squad.

"Chelsea's big goal difference after six games shows their ruthless mentality," she told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"It is really impressive the amount of different goalscorers that they have had. They are not solely reliant on that number nine, they are coming from all across the pitch.

"It could all come down to goal difference at the end of the season and they are significantly ahead of Man City already."

City have hit 16 goals league this season, with six different scorers.

While summer signing Vivianne Miedema has struggled with injury, City have been buoyed by Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw - leading scorer in the WSL last season and so far this term as well - with seven goals to her name.

The fitness of Shaw, who missed the final three league games last season with a foot injury, is key to City's title ambitions, according to former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis.

"She is a very special player," she said. "Not just for the goals that she scores but the records she continues to hit for Manchester City.

"Her physical presence, the fact she can run in behind, she is so efficient in the box - every aspect of her game is fantastic.

"If City are going to win the league, then they will have kept Bunny Shaw fit. She will be the difference for them this season."

With two world-class squads going head-to-head, Saturday's match promises exciting battles all over the pitch.

Lauren Hemp taking on Lionesses team-mate Lucy Bronze is one that particularly whets the appetite.

Hemp is way out in front of any other player for chances created in the WSL with 26 this season. She has also registered five assists, more than any other player.

She recorded three assists in a WSL game for the first time last weekend against Tottenham.

"Lauren Hemp is not getting anywhere near enough praise right now," Garry said.

"She is on 26 chances created. That is miles ahead of any other player in the league.

"She is absolutely killing it. Hemp against Bronze is the one we all want to see. That is the kind of box-office match-up that the league should be excited about."