How to watch WSL matches on TV/live stream & predictions - gameweek 17
The WSL gears up for another weekend of action on Saturday and Sunday as the 2021/22 season prepares for the final stretch.
Big points are at stake up and down the league, with the title race and Champions League battle increasingly tense, while the middle chunk of the table remains extremely fluid as clubs continue to jostle for position.
This is how you can tune into every game live this weekend, complete with score predictions...
Saturday 12 March
Reading vs Man Utd
When is kick off? Saturday 12 March, 11:30 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Madejski Stadium
TV channel/live stream? Sky Sports Premier League (UK), FA Player (international)
Highlights? Sky Sports Football YouTube, FA Player, BBC Sport website
Referee? Lucy May
Manchester United returned to winning ways in the WSL last weekend when they thrashed Leicester following back-to-back league games without a win in February. Another three points here would be vital in their hunt for a Champions League place.
Reading, meanwhile, stemmed the tide of recent defeats with a steadying 0-0 draw against Tottenham last time out. They had been on an excellent run for several months until early February but then succumbed to two surprisingly heavy defeats.
Prediction: Reading 1-3 Man Utd
Everton vs Leicester
When is kick off? Saturday 12 March, 17:30 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Walton Hall Park
TV channel/live stream? FA Player (UK international)
Highlights? FA Player, BBC Sport website
Referee? Kirsty Dowle
Everton started the season with Champions League ambitions but could actually be leapfrogged by a Leicester side that began a maiden top flight campaign with nine successive defeats if they are beaten by the Foxes at home on Saturday evening.
The Toffees actually did win their last WSL game, a narrow win against Aston Villa. Last week, Leicester were thrashed by Manchester United, although they have still impressively taken 12 points from the last 24 that have been available to them.
Prediction: Everton 1-1 Leicester
Sunday 13 March
Tottenham vs Man City
When is kick off? Sunday 13 March, 12:30 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? The Hive
TV channel/live stream? BBC Two/iPlayer/BBC Sport website (UK), FA Player (international)
Highlights? FA Player, BBC Sport website
Referee? Emily Heaslip
A shock defeat to Tottenham in the second week of the season back in September kicked off a run of four WSL games without a win for Manchester City and set them a huge challenge just to qualify for the Champions League by the end of the campaign.
Spurs themselves are still very much in that fight for a European place next season. Another win for them over City here could extend the gap considerably, although with Gareth Taylor's side getting better and better - they also won the Continental Cup last weekend - it is a tall order.
Prediction: Tottenham 0-2 Man City
Chelsea vs Aston Villa
When is kick off? Sunday 13 March, 13:00 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Kingsmeadow
TV channel/live stream? FA Player (UK & international)
Highlights? FA Player, BBC Sport website
Referee? Abigail Byrne
A massive shadow hangs over Chelsea off the pitch following UK government sanctions on Roman Abramovich - the women's team will be affected as much as the men in terms of the economic stranglehold. But they will have no choice but to keep going as best they can.
Chelsea are also still potentially missing a handful of important players due to positive Covid-19 tests. Yet victory over an Aston Villa side that has struggled compared to early season hopes shouldn't be a problem thanks to superior quality and depth.
Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 Aston Villa
Birmingham vs West Ham
When is kick off? Saturday 13 March, 14:00 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? St Andrew's
TV channel/live stream? FA Player (UK & international)
Highlights? FA Player, BBC Sport website
Referee? Louise Saunders
The reverse of this fixture back in October saw Birmingham collect their first WSL point of the season thanks to a 1-1 draw. The Blues have frequently lost games this season but have still shown considerable promise at times - including giving Arsenal a scare again just last weekend.
A visiting West Ham, while tough to beat earlier in the season, have hit a poor patch of form at the wrong time. They have lost three of their last four WSL games, compared to tasting defeat only twice in their opening 11 league fixtures.
Prediction: Birmingham 2-1 West Ham
Brighton vs Arsenal
When is kick off? Sunday 13 March, 18:45 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Broadfield Stadium
TV channel/live stream? Sky Sports Premier League (UK), FA Player (international)
Highlights? Sky Sports Football YouTube, FA Player, BBC Sport website
Referee? Tom Reeves
Arsenal will expect Chelsea to have closed the gap on them at the top to just two points with a game in hand by the time they wrap up the WSL weekend away at Brighton. That makes a victory against the Seagulls crucial in the context of the title race.
The reverse of this fixture was played only recently and Arsenal had to come from behind to win it. Brighton have also won two WSL games on the bounce in the last couple of weeks, although the league leaders will always go into fixtures as the favourites.
Prediction: Brighton 1-3 Arsenal
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