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3 hours ago
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Arsenal v Brighton
Riding high after their Champions League quarter-final win over Chelsea, Arsenal are ready to push on in the FA Cup. The WSL title may be almost certainly out of sight following Manchester City’s impressive victory over Manchester United, but the chance to go for a European and domestic cup double is very much there. Brighton stand in the way of securing a second cup semi-final within six days. Last weekend Dario Vidosic’s side earned a first WSL win since their 23 January defeat of Everton, securing a 1-0 win over bottom-placed Leicester. The Seagulls sit sixth in the WSL, eight points behind Tottenham and only ahead of London City Lionesses on goal difference. They are seven points off of last season’s total with four games remaining. However, those four games are against Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Spurs and inconsistency has blighted their campaign. The hope will be that they face a tired Arsenal after their Champions League exploits, with the 1-0 second-leg defeat to Chelsea a frantic and exhausting match. That is perhaps an ambitious ask given the depth at Arsenal’s disposal and the form they are in, Wednesday night’s inconsequential defeat being their first loss since 21 January.
Charlton v Liverpool
Three defeats in their last four games have dealt a hefty blow to Charlton’s WSL2 title aspirations with two games to play. The Addicks have slipped into second in the league, level on points with leaders Birmingham, who have a far superior goal difference, and only six points ahead of Crystal Palace, who have a game in hand. They also have trickier games than Palace, who came from behind to secure a 3-2 win over Karen Hills’ side on Sunday, including a critical game against Birmingham on the final day. There is even the slim chance they could finish outside the top three and miss out on the chance of promotion altogether, should Newcastle win their remaining three games and Charlton collapse. The London side could therefore be forgiven for taking their eye off the ball in the FA Cup. However, the impact of a win over a resurgent Liverpool, who have lost only two of their last 10 games, would be a significant morale booster. For Gareth Taylor’s Liverpool side, progression to the FA Cup semi-finals would be a just reward for their impressive climb off the bottom of the WSL table after an important January transfer window breathed life into their depleted squad.
Chelsea v Tottenham
Nothing will save Chelsea from feeling disappointed at the end of the season, such are the ambitions of the club, but an FA Cup win to secure a domestic cup double would help lift the pressure after their Champions League exit and the likely relinquishing of their WSL title. Key to Chelsea progressing at the expense of Tottenham is being more clinical. Sonia Bompastor’s side weren’t bad against Arsenal, quite the opposite, but they failed to make the most of their chances. Injuries have been a huge problem too, stretching the squad so thin that Lucy Bronze has started the last two games at centre-back. Criticism of Bompastor has grown louder in recent months, but with change at the top of the women’s team after the departure of Paul Green, mounting injuries and an increasingly competitive league, that is perhaps a little misplaced. They meet a Tottenham team who have had consecutive 5-2 defeats by Manchester City and Arsenal. However, Martin Ho’s side have already exceeded expectations this season and the pressure is off. With Chelsea threadbare and having played in midweek, they have an opportunity to cause an upset that could really rattle the home side.
Birmingham City v Manchester City
Ambitious Birmingham City’s 1-0 defeat of Sunderland coupled with Charlton’s defeat by Crystal Palace meant they moved to the top of the WSL2 table on Wednesday night. The WSL2 title and promotion to the WSL is now in their hands. They will be riding high, but against FA Cup quarter-final opponents Manchester City their Cup run will surely come to an end. Andrée Jeglertz’s team earned an emphatic 3-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford last Saturday to maintain their nine-point lead at the top of the WSL, with games against Brighton, Liverpool and West Ham remaining. City are in formidable form, with a goal difference of 40, 22 greater than that of Chelsea in second and 14 ahead of third-placed Arsenal. Now the title is all but wrapped up, they can turn attention to a league and Cup double. City secured their only WSL title in 2016 and their third FA Cup win in 2020. For the level of investment put into the team, the silverware drought has been a huge letdown. This season, they have capitalised on their lack of Champions League football and they will have a squad strong enough to mount a real challenge across all four competitions next season. Birmingham are having a great year, but with Khadija Shaw, Vivianne Miedema and Kerolin first, third and fifth among the WSL’s leading scorers this season, the chance of the Midlands team keeping them at bay is slim. Should they (or Charlton) spring a huge shock, they would become the first team from outside the top flight to reach the final four since Everton in 2014-15.
