Chelsea discover themselves needing to rapidly put Sunday’s disappointing Conti Cup last defeat behind them because the video games now come thick and quick in an awfully busy March.
This week’s WSL conflict with Brighton, postponed just a few days due to Sunday’s last, is the second of seven video games throughout 4 completely different competitions the Blues will play this month.
Having taken factors off Chelsea in every of the final three WSL seasons – together with a win at Kingsmeadow in February 2021, Brighton could possibly be thought-about a bogey aspect.
But the Seagulls have had loads of upheaval this week, bidding farewell to supervisor Jens Scheuer after little greater than two months within the job. Amy Merricks, who was in cost all through November and December after Hope Powell left the membership, is the interim boss once more.
When is kick off? Wednesday 8 March, 19:30 (GMT)
Where is the match being performed? Kingsmeadow
TV channel/stay stream? Sky Sports Main Event/Football (UK), Paramount+ (US), FA Player (International)
What time does TV protection within the UK begin? 19:00 (GMT)
Referee? Abigail Byrne
Chelsea stay with out Pernille Harder, whereas Fran Kirby can be a doubt after having a PRP injection final week. Emma Hayes mentioned on the time it will possibly take round per week to subsequently cool down.
The Blues introduced an settlement to signal Belgian goalkeeper Nicky Evrard this week however she will not truly be part of the membership till the summer time.
Goalkeeper Megan Walsh has put in some impressed performances towards Chelsea prior to now and will exchange Australian vetern Lydia Williams.
The return of Merricks to the helm might see a 4-4-2 system introduced again, with Scheuer havig switched to 4-2-3-1 in his final league sport in cost final month.
Whether a rotated aspect or not, Hayes will count on a response from Chelsea after talking about complacency within the Conti Cup last efficiency towards Arsenal.
There will likely be no favours from Brighton given their file on this fixture – Merricks took 4 factors from three WSL video games in her earlier stint in cost – and there’s a big quantity at stake on condition that that is one in all two video games in hand on Manchester United, who prolonged their lead on the prime of the desk to 4 factors on Sunday, earlier than they then face one another this coming weekend.
Victory right here would put Chelsea again inside some extent of United earlier than the Red Devils arrive at Kingsmeadow on Sunday, nonetheless with an extra sport in hand to play after, which means the title race initiative could be very a lot with the reigning champions. But failure to get the job achieved towards Brighton and solely an enormous win on Sunday would given them an opportunity of going again prime then.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Brighton
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