Women’s Super League football returns after the international break and Manchester City will be targeting three points to cut Chelsea’s lead at the top of the table to two points.
Women’s Super League Preview: Manchester City Looking to Close the Gap on Chelsea
Manchester City Aiming for an Eighth Straight Win in the Women’s Super League
Gareth Taylor’s side take on Birmingham City at St George’s Park, looking for an eighth straight win.
City have been in superb form in recent weeks and took the bragging rights in the Manchester derby last time out by recording a 3-0 victory over Manchester United on February 12.
The strength of their squad was highlighted after Taylor saw seven players from his current squad feature in England’s 6-0 friendly victory over Northern Ireland on February 23, along with Everton loanee Jill Scott, who made her 150th cap.
There was more success on the international stage for City’s Rose Lavelle, who was named as the USA’s Most Valuable Player following their successful defence of the SheBelieves Cup with a 6-0 win over Argentina in the final on February 25.
Birmingham’s focus will be on moving further away from bottom club Bristol City after gaining 11 points from their 11 FAWSL games to date.
Carla Ward’s side are without a win in their last four games since beating Aston Villa 1-0 in a second city derby match on November 14.
Aston Villa Host Arsenal
Aston Villa welcome Arsenal to the Banks’s Stadium in a rearranged FAWSL after the game was postponed two weeks previously due to a frozen pitch.
Villa had gone five games without a win until Mana Iwabuchi’s stunning long-range strike secured a crucial 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur last time out.
Despite that result, they are still very much in the relegation picture with ten points from 12 games to date and sit four points clear of bottom club Bristol City, albeit with two matches in hand.
Arsenal head into games following back-to-back defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea that have all but ended their realistic hopes of challenging for the title.
Joe Montemurro’s side still have a top-three finish in their sights though and a victory would take them to within six points of Manchester United with a game in hand.
Tottenham Hotspur Welcome Everton to the Hive
Tottenham host Everton in another rearranged FAWSL match that fell victim to the wintry weather earlier in the year.
Spurs head into the game after back-to-back 4-0 and 1-0 defeats to Chelsea and Aston Villa respectively following a run of three straight victories since Rehanne Skinner’s appointment as head coach in December.
A win would surely put to bed any lingering fears of being dragged into a relegation dogfight, while Everton have their sights set higher and are currently just four points adrift of Arsenal in fourth.
Willie Kirk’s team drew 1-1 in their last two encounters with Reading and Birmingham City respectively.
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