Man City vs Chelsea - WSL: TV channel, live stream, team news & prediction
Manchester City and Chelsea have provided some of the best and most memorable WSL action in recent years, but this weekend's clash is likely to be slightly different.
The clubs have had contrasting fortunes so far in 2021/22. For Chelsea it has largely been business as usual, going well in the WSL and Champions League - they come into this game specifically off the back of a 7-0 win in Europe in midweek.
Manchester City, on the other hand, are struggling. Injuries have opened gaping holes in the squad and they have been losing games at an alarming rate. It has left them struggling for points and any hope of securing a first WSL title since 2016 has long since gone out of the window.
This is everything you need to know about the game...
How to watch Man City vs Chelsea on TV/live stream
What time is kick off? Sunday 14 November, 15:00 (GMT)
Where is it being played? Academy Stadium
TV channel? Sky Sports Premier League (UK), FA Player (international)
Highlights? BBC Women's Football Show (UK), FA Player (UK & international)
Referee? Rebecca Welch
Man City team news
City have been ravaged by injuries all season, which has badly affected their results. There are no new concerns for under pressure boss Gareth Taylor, but no players are ready to return either.
That means City will be without striker Khadija Shaw again, while Steph Houghton, Lucy Bronze, Ellie Roebuck and Karen Bardsley remain out. Chloe Kelly is a longer-term absentee.
Vicky Losada, Hayley Raso and Alanna Kenndy, who had injury problems earlier in the season, are on the bench.
Chelsea team news
Influential midfielder Ji So-yun returns as expected after being rested against Servette in the Champions League. Pernille Harder has missed the last three games and has not made it here either. Dutch defender Aniek Nouwen is also absent.
Maren Mjelde made her return to action from long-term injury as a substitute in midweek and could get some more minutes to build up her fitness here, depending on how the game goes.
Lauren James has a chance of making an appearance after another week of training.
Man City vs Chelsea confirmed lineups
Man City: Taieb; Stanway, Scott, Greenwood, Stokes; Walsh, Angeldahl, Weir; Park, White, Hemp
Chelsea: Berger; Bright, Carter, Eriksson; Fleming, Leupolz, Ji, Reiten; Cuthbert, Kerr, Kirby
Man City vs Chelsea head to head
An indicator of how this game could go came last month in an FA Cup semi-final delayed from the 2020/21 season. City had all the same issues they do now and were taken apart by Chelsea in a pretty convincing 3-0 score-line at the Academy Stadium.
it is a far cry from the close and incredibly tense games of recent seasons. This game in April of last season finished 2-2 and was effectively a title decider as only two points separated by the end of the campaign. It was the only points dropped by either in the final nine games of the season.
There was a 3-3 draw at the Academy Stadium in February 2020, the last WSL game before the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2019/20 season.
For the most part, Chelsea have often just had the edge. They won the Community Shield at the start of last season and knocked City out of the Continental Cup in extra-time at the quarter-final stage. City haven't actually beaten Chelsea since April 2019 when they met in the FA Cup.
Man City vs Chelsea score prediction
Injuries have left Manchester City simply unable to compete at their usual level this season. That was clear when they surprisingly lost to Real Madrid, Tottenham and West Ham, were torn apart by Arsenal and were soundly beaten by Chelsea only two weeks ago.
That won't change until they have players back in action and at full fitness. Even those who are available, like Vicky Losada, Hayley Raso and Alanna Kennedy, all of whom arrived in the summer, have had their seasons interrupted because of injuries and are lacking match fitness.
Chelsea are not at absolute full strength because of Harder's expected absence, but their depth is phenomenal and a fairly comfortable win for them is to be expected.
Prediction: Man City 0-3 Chelsea
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