Looking Ahead To City’s WSL Clash With Chelsea
The pair’s third meeting of the season, but first to take place on Filbert Way, sees the Foxes host the Blues to mark the WSL’s return following last weekend’s Vitality Women’s FA Cup ties.
Check out all the key information you need to know ahead of the encounter with the west London club below…
The Foxes camp
Goals from Jemma Purfield and Sam Tierney were not enough to take anything from the trip to Walton Hall Park last time out, with hosts Everton triumphing 3-2 courtesy of Anna Anvegård’s second-half winner.
Suffering back-to-back league defeats for the first time under Lydia Bedford, Leicester will be aiming to get back on track in the final match of this month, before facing another home fixture against title-chasing Arsenal next weekend.
Sitting in 11th position, the Foxes remain on 12 points, four behind Aston Villa in 10th with five games to play in 2021/22. They remain the only side in the division yet to draw a fixture this season.
The opposition
An injury-time winner from Sam Kerr ensured Chelsea kept pace with Arsenal at the top of the WSL table, defeating Aston Villa 1-0 in dramatic fashion two weeks ago.
Emma Hayes’ side have won all three of their league fixtures since a goalless draw against the Gunners, conceding just one goal in the process, to stay two points behind their London rivals, but with a game in hand.
The Blues reached the FA Cup semi-finals in stunning fashion on Sunday, defeating Birmingham City 5-0 at Kingsmeadow and will have their sights set on retaining the trophy they won in December.
The capital club also featured in this season’s Continental Tyres League Cup Final, losing 3-1 to Manchester City earlier this month having lifted the cup in the previous two campaigns.
In the dugout
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has presided over a hugely successful period in the capital club’s history since arriving in August 2012, including winning five WSL titles, three FA Cups, three League Cups and the Community Shield.
The 44-year-old was awarded an MBE for services to football in 2016 and has collected the FA WSL Manager of the Year award at the end of the last two seasons, as well as guiding the Blues to the UEFA Women’s Champions League Final for the first time in 2020/21.
Ones to watch
There is international quality throughout Chelsea’s ranks, but Sam Kerr and Fran Kirby, a pair crucial to the Blues’ league title triumph last season, have once again been influential during 2021/22.
Australian international Kerr continues to lead the way at the top of the WSL’s top goalscorer charts, scoring 12 in 14 games, as well as laying on three assists, while England forward Kirby has six goals and six assists.
With world-record signing Pernille Harder often playing alongside the duo, there is always concern for opposition defences. The Denmark forward has hit the net five times in the league this term.
Last time out
A closely-fought WSL encounter between the sides at Kingsmeadow on 10 October, 2021 ended in a 2-0 victory for Chelsea courtesy of late goals from Pernille Harder and Fran Kirby, though the Foxes came away unfortunate not to take anything from the game.
The pair were also drawn against each other in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup Fifth Round last month, with the home side running out 7-0 winners following Leicester defender Sophie Howard’s early red card, which was later rescinded.
Harder and Fran Kerr both scored twice, while Ji So-Yun, Aniek Nouwen and Beth England also added their names to the scoresheet in London.
Ticket news
Match tickets are currently on general sale for the encounter at King Power Stadium, priced at £7 for adults, £3.50 for over-65s and under-18s and free for under-8s.
Please note that all tickets for this fixture will be emailed to the lead purchaser. You will be required to print the tickets at home. For more information and to buy tickets in the West Stand, click HERE.