🌍 Weekend Landscape
Manchester City remain the only team with a perfect league record after three matchweeks. The main thing to watch this weekend is how they handle the turnaround from Europe. City came from two goals down to draw with Bayern in midweek before facing Charlton on Saturday.
Arsenal and Chelsea also had difficult moments in Europe. Arsenal controlled much of their game against HB Køge but struggled to turn that control into goals, eventually needing a stoppage-time penalty to win. Chelsea beat Austria Wien 1–0 in midweek, but there is a concern around Keira Walsh ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Arsenal.
Manchester United produced the eye-catching result of the midweek games, beating WSL2 side Sheffield United 10–1. There were also wins for Liverpool, Everton, London City and Brighton against WSL2 opposition, while Tottenham and West Ham drew 0–0, with West Ham winning on penalties. For United in particular, the question now is whether that big win gives them something to build on as they return to the league against West Ham.
Charlton Athletic v Manchester City
Sat 26 Sep, 13:30 · The Valley
Model: Charlton 8% · Draw 16% · Manchester City 76%
Most likely scorelines: 0–2 (11.2%) · 0–3 (10.0%) · 1–2 (8.9%)
Manchester City remain the league’s only perfect side, with 11 goals from their first three matches. Charlton are still looking for their first point after defeats to Liverpool, Everton and London City, and they also lost 4–0 to Brighton in the Players Cup in midweek.
City are clear favourites here. The one thing to watch is how they handle the turnaround from Tuesday’s trip to Bayern, where they had to come from 2–0 down to earn a draw. Charlton have conceded nine goals in their first three league games, so keeping City quiet will be a difficult task.
STAT TO WATCH | 11 goals in three league matches
City have scored at least three goals in each of their first three WSL games, while Charlton have conceded nine across their opening three.
London City Lionesses v Brighton
Sat 26 Sep, 17:00 · CopperJax Community Stadium
Model: London City 36% · Draw 32% · Brighton 31%
Most likely scorelines: 1–1 (15.0%) · 0–0 (12.5%) · 1–0 (10.9%)
There is very little between these two on paper. London City have scored seven goals in their first three league games, including four against Charlton last weekend. Brighton are still looking for their first league win, but they created 3.17 xG against Aston Villa last weekend and only scored once in a 1–1 draw.
Both teams also won in midweek, with London City beating Leicester 2–0 and Brighton beating Charlton 4–0. For Brighton, the question is whether they can start turning the chances they are creating into goals.
STAT TO WATCH | 3.17 xG, one goal
Brighton created 3.17 xG against Aston Villa but scored only once.
Manchester United v West Ham United
Sun 27 Sep, 13:00 · Progress With Unity Stadium
Model: Manchester United 37% · Draw 33% · West Ham 30%
Most likely scorelines: 1–1 (15.0%) · 0–0 (13.1%) · 1–0 (11.5%)
Manchester United scored 10 against Sheffield United in midweek, but their league attack has been a different story. They have taken one point from their first three games and created just 1.19 xG, although last weekend’s draw at Arsenal was a better result.
West Ham have three points from their opening three games and also won on penalties against Tottenham in midweek. This looks like a tight game on paper.
STAT TO WATCH | 1.19 xG in three league matches
United have created just 1.19 xG across their opening three WSL games. After scoring 10 in midweek, the question is whether they can create more when they return to the league.
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa
Sun 27 Sep, 14:00 · Brisbane Road
Model: Tottenham 56% · Draw 27% · Aston Villa 18%
Most likely scorelines: 1–1 (12.8%) · 1–0 (11.8%) · 2–0 (11.2%)
Tottenham have taken seven points from their first three league games and scored 11 goals, including seven against Crystal Palace last weekend. They drew 0–0 with West Ham in the Players Cup in midweek before losing on penalties.
Aston Villa are still looking for their first league win after draws with Chelsea and Brighton and a defeat to Manchester City. They did beat Nottingham Forest 2–0 in the Players Cup on Wednesday.
STAT TO WATCH | 11 goals in three league matches
Tottenham have scored 11 goals in their opening three WSL games, while Villa have conceded six.
Birmingham City v Crystal Palace
Sun 27 Sep, 14:00 · St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park
Model: Birmingham City 39% · Draw 32% · Crystal Palace 29%
Most likely scorelines: 1–1 (14.9%) · 0–0 (12.6%) · 1–0 (11.5%)
There is very little between these two on paper. Birmingham have one point from their first three league games, with a 2–2 draw against Brighton their only point so far. Their other two games were defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea.
Palace took four points from their first two games without conceding, beating Everton and drawing with Arsenal, before losing 7–0 to Tottenham last weekend. They responded with a 1–0 win over Watford in the Players Cup on Wednesday.
STAT TO WATCH | Four points and two clean sheets before Spurs
Palace did not concede in their opening two league games before allowing seven against Tottenham.
Liverpool v Everton
Sun 27 Sep, 14:00 · St Helens Stadium
Model: Liverpool 43% · Draw 34% · Everton 23%
Most likely scorelines: 0–0 (16.4%) · 1–0 (15.3%) · 1–1 (14.6%)
Liverpool have scored seven goals in their first three league games, including four against Charlton and two against Manchester City. They also beat Sunderland 4–2 in the Players Cup in midweek.
Everton lost their opening game to Crystal Palace but have since beaten Charlton and West Ham 1–0. They also beat Birmingham 2–0 in the Players Cup on Wednesday.
STAT TO WATCH | Two 1–0 league wins in a row
Everton have followed their opening-day defeat with two consecutive wins without conceding.
Chelsea v Arsenal
Sun 27 Sep, 16:30 · Stamford Bridge
Model: Chelsea 25% · Draw 29% · Arsenal 46%
Most likely scorelines: 1–1 (14.0%) · 0–1 (10.4%) · 0–0 (9.7%)
Chelsea have taken seven points from their first three league games, scoring eight goals. After drawing with Aston Villa on the opening weekend, they beat Manchester United 5–0 and Birmingham 2–0. They also beat Austria Wien 1–0 in the Champions League in midweek.
Arsenal are also unbeaten, but have scored only twice in their first three league games. They needed a stoppage-time penalty to beat HB Køge in midweek.
STAT TO WATCH | Two league goals in three matches
Arsenal have scored only twice in their opening three WSL games, while Chelsea have kept clean sheets in their last two league matches.