How to watch WSL on TV/live stream & predictions - gameweek 19
The WSL moves into April with the 2021/22 season reaching a dramatic climax. Both the title race and the fight for Champions League places still hang very much in the balance, ensuring that every week between now and the end of the campaign will be tense and exciting.
All 12 clubs are back in action after recent Covid-19 postponements, with the schedule kicking off on Friday night and continuing until Sunday evening.
Manchester United are back at Leigh Sports Village after their historic match at Old Trafford last week, while form dictates that Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City should all win.
Here is all the info you need about how to watch every match live - plus score predictions...
Friday 1 April
Birmingham vs Everton
When is kick off? Friday 1 April, 19:00 (BST)
Where is the match being played? St Andrew's
TV channel/live stream? FA Player (UK & international)
Highlights? FA Player, BBC Sport website
Referee? Amy Fearn
Despite losing three games in a row, Everton will take confidence from the way they started against Manchester United last weekend. The Toffees also beat Leicester and Aston Villa in successive WSL matches immediately prior to their current streak, which has been against top four sides.
Birmingham, meanwhile, have only taken four points this season but have at least improved in recent weeks. The losing score-lines have generally been much closer than they were earlier in the campaign and they may see this as an opportunity, even though relegation is all but confirmed.
Prediction: Birmingham 1-1 Everton
Saturday 2 April
West Ham vs Man City
When is kick off? Saturday 2 April, 11:30 (BST)
Where is the match being played? Chigwell Construction Stadium
TV channel/live stream? Sky Sports Premier League (UK), FA Player (international)
Highlights? Sky Sports Football YouTube, FA Player, BBC Sport website
Referee? Elizabeth Simms
Manchester City were surprisingly beaten by West Ham in the reverse fixture back in October against he backdrop of a terrible injury crisis. Things are very different now, although this fixture still has the potential to be one of a handful of remaining banana skins for City.
Gareth Taylor's side, while still fourth in the table and trailing Manchester United by three points, will be favourites to claim the final Champions League spot. They have a game in hand and would be expected to eradicate the shrinking deficit in goal difference quite soon.
Prediction: West Ham 0-3 Man City
- West Ham vs Man City: TV channel, live stream, team news & prediction
- Chloe Kelly poised to be in Man City squad for first time in 11 months
Sunday 3 April
Man Utd vs Brighton
When is kick off? Sunday 3 April, 12:00 (BST)
Where is the match being played? Leigh Sports Village
TV channel/live stream? FA Player (UK & international)
Highlights? FA Player, BBC Sport website
Referee? Abigail Byrne
Manchester United enjoyed a dream day at Old Trafford last weekend, beating Everton after initially going a goal behind. Manager Marc Skinner later remarked that conceding early was probably what sparked his team into life, with their second half performance ultimately very dominant.
Brighton are no pushover and have won three of their last four WSL games to rise back into the top half. They also took points off Chelsea in January but have lost every other time they have faced one of the current top four this season. United should be too strong for them.
Prediction: Man Utd 3-1 Brighton
Leicester vs Arsenal
When is kick off? Sunday 3 April, 12:30 (BST)
Where is the match being played? King Power Stadium
TV channel/live stream? BBC Two/iPlayer (UK), FA Player (international)
Highlights? FA Player, BBC Sport website
Referee? Rebecca Welch
After the disappointing of exiting the Champions League on Thursday night, Arsenal have got one of the kindest fixtures they could have hoped for as they face a Leicester side coming off the back of a 9-0 home defeat by Chelsea last weekend.
The heavy nature of that defeat was unusual for Leicester. Despite struggling for points all seasons, they have rarely been completely battered. Combined with a potential European hangover and some changes for Arsenal, this one should be much closer.
Prediction: Leicester 0-2 Arsenal
Tottenham vs Aston Villa
When is kick off? Sunday 3 April, 14:00 (BST)
Where is the match being played? The Hive
TV channel/live stream? FA Player (UK & international)
Highlights? FA Player, BBC Sport website
Referee? Farai Hallam
Successive Covid-19 postponements mean that three weeks have passed since Tottenham's last game. They are still not completely out of contention in the Champions League race, although given that their must-win games in hand are against Arsenal and Chelsea it feels beyond them.
This should be a chance to get back to winning ways for them on their own pitch. Aston Villa are currently four games without a win, while it was Spurs who won the reverse fixture in the West Midlands when the clubs last played earlier this season.
Prediction: Tottenham 2-0 Aston Villa
Chelsea vs Reading
When is kick off? Sunday 3 April, 18:45 (BST)
Where is the match being played? Kingsmeadow
TV channel/live stream? Sky Sports Main Event (UK), FA Player (international)
Highlights? Sky Sports Football YouTube, FA Player, BBC Sport website
Referee? Emily Heaslip
Chelsea now know they are in the driving seat for the WSL title. They lead Arsenal by a point and will retain the trophy for the third successive season if they can keep their focus and at least match the Gunners over the final few weeks.
That starts here against Reading, although Emma Hayes' Blues must be careful because they were stunned by the Royals in a shock result in the reverse fixture in December. However, that was when Reading were in much better form than they are right now.
Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 Reading
For more from Jamie Spencer, follow him on Twitter and Facebook!
