Chelsea Football Club is in a precarious state as the Women’s Super League (WSL) 2023-24 season hits the halfway mark. Chelsea, another powerhouse in women’s football, has had a difficult start to the season. They’ve seen drops in every single passing metric from last season. Millie Bright is about to make history! This weekend, she has the opportunity to do just that, as her 211th game would set a new WSL appearance record. The season thus far has reached a crucial tipping point. As other teams scrummage for the top position, Tottenham wants to show they deserve to be considered alongside the elite.
This weekend’s fixtures present a huge opportunity for several clubs. The Gunners, who conceded no goals in this fixture last season winning 3-0, will look to pull the same trick. There’s no doubt that Leicester City needs a win desperately. The latter have otherwise lost on their last 20 WSL travels. With the clock ticking down, Chelsea and Leicester find themselves in crucial matches that may well decide the outcome of their entire campaigns.
Chelsea’s Struggles and Opportunities
Chelsea’s advanced performance metrics this season have looked fine on the surface but have been wildly misleading. The club is trailing in virtually every statistical category from a season ago’s championship run. This weekend provides them an opportunity to make amends. Chelsea are on course to break their own WSL record. If they can get at least a draw against all of them opponents, they’ll set a new unbeaten streak of 34 games.
Despite their recent struggles, Chelsea remains unbeaten against teams in the bottom half of the table this season, winning all five encounters against such clubs. At the other end of the spectrum, they have struggled in their three matches (all defeats) against teams in the top half of the standings. This trend leads one to question their capacity to deliver under pressure as they strive for uniformity in their delivery.
It has been a tough stretch for the entire team recently. It’s Millie Bright’s possible record-extending appearance that adds the intrigue to Chelsea’s otherwise comfortable looking fixture. Bright’s leadership on the pitch serves to inspire her teammates to raise their level of play. Away from the pitch, she challenges them to improve on their disappointing recent performance.
Leicester’s Long Winless Streak
Leicester City is staring relegation in the face as the club heads toward one of its most important matches in recent memory this weekend. The Foxes have not won an away fixture in their last 20 games home or away. They’ve tied seven times and lost thirteen times in this woeful spell. It is a make or break weekend for Leicester. If they lose, they will break the record for the longest winless streak on the road in WSL history.
Despite their pre-season turmoil, Leicester seems to have stabilized under the guidance of manager Rick Passmore. The team’s progress shows they can be better, but they need to turn those improvements into runs. This weekend’s contest is important in a variety of ways. An exciting win would be a massive shot in the arm and a confidence builder.
The expectation is certainly very much there for Leicester as they face Chelsea. The stakes are steep for both teams. Chelsea is hellbent on keeping the unbeaten run going, and Leicester is desperately battling to stop their depressive run. The result of this clash may very well shape their paths for the rest of the campaign.
Manchester City and Other Contenders
Manchester City certainly will be confident heading into the weekend. Appropriately enough, their forwards have netted a robust 15 goals so far, far and away the best team attacked—by at least six goals. City’s freakish dominance over every team not in last season’s top four emphasizes their strengths. It makes them dangerous dark horses in their perpetual quest to retake the banner.
Tottenham Hotspur are looking to get closer to **the big boys, at least** in the league. They style on opponents with a high-tempo, direct style of play that’s consistently brought them success against teams they’ve been matched up against. They need to be more consistent in order to regularly challenge the elite teams on a national level.
Everton are another club in a precarious position, just above the relegation zone. In fact, they’ve yet to repeat the three points they claimed on opening day against Liverpool. The heat keeps increasing as they head into games which may decide their future in the league. With Everton languishing in the bottom half of the table, a quick turnaround is crucial to avoid the looming shadows of relegation.
At the same time, Brighton have been looking to dig themselves out of a rut this season. After failing to replicate the success of previous years, Brighton is eager to find form and regain some momentum during this crucial stretch of matches.
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