This is a Chelsea Women predicted lineup for their clash with West Ham in the WSL. With Manchester City facing top-of-the-table opposition this weekend, the Blues will be aiming for a dominant win to gain an advantage over their title rivals.
Chelsea Women Predicted Lineup vs West Ham Women
How Chelsea Women Have Lined Up Recently
Hannah Hampton has been the first-choice goalkeeper with strong statistics to back up the decision. Zećira Mušović has proved to be a solid backup when given the chance due to her shot-stopping abilities. The back four has only consisted of Jess Carter, Kadeisha Buchanan, Niamh Charles and Ève Périsset in recent outings due to injuries.
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The defensive midfield pivot of choice is Erin Cuthbert and Melanie Leupolz with Sophie Ingle offering a rotational option. The front four consists of Guro Reiten, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Lauren James, and Sjoeke Nüsken. Fran Kirby, Aggie Beever-Jones, and Jelena Čanković have offered some versatility to the front four amid the tactical switches we’ve seen recently.
Cat Macacrio has featured from the bench recently as the only recognised striker still fit to play, but her minutes are limited as she continues her comeback from a lengthy injury.
Chelsea Women Recent Form and Tactics
Emma Hayes has been using a 4-2-3-1 as a preferred option this season but due to the list of absentees, she has shifted to a 4-3-3 and a 4-4-2 recently, largely due to the out-of-possession benefits. The 4-4-2 especially works with James being flanked by a pressing player to win the ball high and let runners get in behind the defence.
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Once upon a time, this was a team that looked defensively frail but now they’ve only allowed two goals in their last 10 games, and one of those was an own goal! This newfound steel hasn’t lessened their attacking output at all as they’ve still netted 12 times in their last five matches.
Chelsea Women Injuries to Consider
There were no updates provided during Hayes’ press conference aside from a comment that Mayra Ramirez and Nathalie Björn had returned to limited training. That likely means they’ll be left on the bench or out of the squad entirely to prepare for more important matches.
They are joined by long term absentees Sam Kerr, Aniek Nouwen, Mia Fishel, Millie Bright, and the duo of Maren Mjelde and Ann-Katrin Berger who have mysteriously disappeared from the squad entirely.
Chelsea Women Predicted Lineup
GK – Zećira Mušović
LB – Niamh Charles
CB – Jess Carter
CB – Kadeisha Buchanan
RB – Ève Périsset
CM – Erin Cuthbert
CM – Sophie Ingle
CM – Jelena Čanković
AT – Guro Reiten
AT – Fran Kirby
AT – Johanna Rytting Kaneryd
