Chelsea at Man City, WSL preview: critical road matchup

Despite the fact that the next opponents is unbeaten in their last 13 WSL matches, preventing the opponent from breaking through has been an issue. Taylor’s side has gone six straight games in all competitions without a clean sheet. The backline captained by Alex Greenwood, and Steph Houghton will have their hands full taking on the deepest team in English football right now.

At this point in the campaign, the Blues have to both focus on what is right in front of them while looking ahead to the next game. It is highly unlikely Hayes will rotate the team like she did against Reading in the FA Cup, but it should be no surprise if players like Erin Cuthbert or even Guro Reiten do not make the starting XI. Serial winning has always been Hayes’ goal, but in order for that to be accomplished she is going to have to put trust in a squad that is arguably the deepest she has ever had at the club.

Despite the battles that these two clubs have had in recent years, City has not defeated the Blues in the WSL since 2017. With home field advantage, and equipped with the most in-form striker in England at the moment, Taylor’s team will have all the confidence they can take down the defending champions. Losing to Villa in the FA Cup should give the Citizens that much more drive to take down another WSL powerhouse on their home ground.

The turnaround for Hayes’ team is once again daunting compared to the extended amount of rest for the home side. The passion that the west Londoners are playing with following a cup final defeat is something else. The mentality of this club is like no other in women’s football in England. City pose a menacing threat of their own, but it is becoming clearer by the game that the Blues are not taking a single opponent for granted en route to filling the trophy case at the end of the season.