Two of the WSL’s perennial title contenders will be looking to get their seasons back on track after early blips when champions Chelsea host Manchester City at Kingsmeadow on Sunday.
The Blues had been due to open their season in a showpiece fixture against West Ham at Stamford Bridge, but that game was postponed following the death of the Queen and they then suffered a shock defeat by newly-promoted Liverpool last weekend.
Following a turbulent summer in which they lost a host of key players — including England stars Ellen White, Georgia Stanway, Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh — to retirement or transfers, City also got their campaign off to a losing start last weekend as they went down in a 4-3 thriller against Aston Villa.
“We both had difficult results on Sunday so we both need to bounce back and get a win,” said Fran Kirby, whose side are three points behind early pacesetters Arsenal.
“It’s always difficult when we play Manchester City, they’re a quality side. We just have to do what we can in training to put it right.”
Chelsea will hope to have forward Pernille Harder back after she missed the Liverpool loss with a tight hamstring, while midfielder Jessie Fleming is set to be available after returning to training this week following an illness.
