Where to Watch – Sky Sports (& FA Player – Excluding UK)
My Prediction – Manchester City 3 – 2 Liverpool
Mary Fowler of Manchester City celebrates after scoring their 4th goal against Durham last time out in the FA Cup.
Image Credit – NurPhoto, Getty Images
Today (21st Jan) will see two of footballs giants go head to head as Liverpool head to Manchester to face their rivals in blue, Manchester City. The fan proclaimed derby being crucial to both sides, a win for City would draw them equal on points with Arsenal in 2nd and a win for the Reds would draw them ever closer to the dream top 3 finish and Champions League?! Will Manchester City add to their 4 game streak to keep the dream of a WSL title alive or will Matt Beard’s Merseyside Red’s cause another upset against a WSL giant, after beating the Gunners on their on turf on the opening day of the season? Catch the latest team news, form guide, my predictions and more below!
Head to Head:
Total Games – 9: Manchester City (7), Liverpool (2), Draw (0)
Last Time Out:
Last season in the WSL the results were divided! City took the three points in the first league fixture back in October of 2022, winning 2 – 1. Goals came the way of Bunny Shaw and Hayley Raso for City and Katie Stengel netted for visitors, Liverpool. When the two teams came together again in May the result was flipped! With Liverpool winning 2 – 1. Goals for Tash Dowie and Missy Bo Kearns in red and Lauren Hemp in sky blue.
The sides have also clashed this season, back in November they came together in the group stages of the Continental (League) Cup. The result went the way of away side City, with the entertaining affair ending Liverpool 3 – 4 Manchester City. The Liverpool goals came courtesy of Gemma Bonner, Natasha Flint and Mia Enderby and for victors City they came from Filippa Angeldal, Jess Park and Chloe Kelly (x2).
My Prediction – It’s safe to say that goals aren’t scarce when these two sides come together and I reckon today won’t be any different with my bets going towards a 3 – 2 Manchester City victory. With injuries to key goal contributors, Liverpool are immediately disadvantaged and although they can make up for that in other areas, the class and pace of Manchester City’s forward line is hard to over come. For me, the home advantage edges City, as well as their recent form in the league, winning 4 on the bounce.
Manchester City:
The home side are coming into today’s clash after a successful first half of the season. The side currently sit third in the WSL, with Arsenal up above having played one more game then them and are three points better off. After failing to finish in the top three last season, and therefore failing to achieve Champions League football they have definitely bounced back, advancing in all competitions they’ve encountered thus far.
Their most recent success being their 0 – 4 victory away at Durham in the FA cup last weekend, setting up an exciting 5th round tie away at Arsenal. Laura Coombs and Mary Fowler contributed one goal a piece, with their sole summer signing, Netherlands midfielder Jill Roord at the double in a game which saw the sky blues dominant on and off the ball, with 79% of the possession and 21 shots on goal.
“We’re three points behind Chelsea and have been the really dominant team, we’ve given ourselves a really good opportunity to go and attack things in the second half of the season.” – City manager Gareth Taylor on Manchester City’s performance so far.
Jamaica’s Bunny Shaw is one to watch for City, with the forward falling just short of the golden boot in her 2022/23 WSL campaign. She’s back on track, topping the leader board again this season with 9 goals in the 9 games she has played (and two assists!), 2 goals clear of Lauren James in second.
“They’ve made a good start and they (Liverpool) are improving all the time, the squad transfer business has been good and it is a difficult game for us, there’s no doubt about that. We’ve played them quite a bit recently and we nee to be in top form in all areas to be successful in this game.” – Gareth Taylor on the Liverpool test.
Team News:
Out – Alanna Kennedy & Julie Blackstad (Transfer OUT to Hammarby)
The only injury concern for City comes the way of Australian defender Alanna Kennedy, who will miss the tie against Liverpool. There was also news yesterday that Norwegian midfielder, Julie Blackstad has left the club and joined Hammarby in Sweden on a permanent move after going on loan at the beginning of the season. After joining in January of 2022, the versatile midfielder went on to make 36 appearances with 10 goals. The talent she brought to the league will certainly be missed by spectators.
Form:
Manchester City Most Goal Involvements (23/24):
1. Bunny Shaw – 13 (10 goals, 3 assists)
2. Jill Roord – 11 (8 goals, 3 assists)
3. Chloe Kelly – 10 (5 goals, 5 assists)
4. Lauren Hemp – 8 (5 goals, 3 assists)
5. Mary Fowler – 5 (4 goals, 1 assist)
Liverpool:
Liverpool have made quite some impact in their second season back in the top division of the Women’s Super League. They started with a bang, away at Arsenal for the first weekend where they caused an upset, taking the three points and cementing their place in the upper half of the table. They haven’t stopped there, firmly placed in 5th equal on points and results with rivals Manchester United, separated only by goal difference.
Their fluid attacking play, combined with a brick wall esk defense has served them well, as well as a sensible balance of experienced players and young talents. Matt Beard has produced silverware for the side in his previous spell winning consecutive WSL titles in the 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons. I firmly believe that he could be the person to bring them more success in the top division and beyond even if that doesn’t occur this season.
The Reds enter this tie off the back of a tense 0 – 1 victory away at fellow WSL club Bristol City, a win coming cutesy of a Gemma Bonner 85th minute short range shot. A victory which they achieved despite being down to 10, after midfielder Ceri Holand was sent off in the 60th minute.
The Reds should not be underestimated with wins against giants Manchester United and Arsenal already. They could full well add Manchester City to their hit list today.
“It will be exciting for the neutral definitely, City have probably been the best team in the league this season. But our games against them have been competitive.” – Liverpool manager Matt Beard on City test.
“We want to do well in every game we play and we know we have our fans behind us. They are amazing. We hear them every game and they just spur us on to push us on and do what we’re capable of” – Mel Lawley on the impact of the fans.
Liverpool Women with their fans after 1st day victory vs Arsenal
Image Credit – Liverpool FCW (instagram)
Team News:
In – Yana Daniels, Mel Lawley & Sophie Román Haug
Out – Leanne Kiernan (Hip), Gemma Bonner? (Concussion Protocols), Faye Kirby (ACL), Ceri Holland (Suspension)
“With Leanne, you’ve got to remember that she has been out for 15 months and when you come back you can pick up minor injuries here and there. So, it’s nothing major, it’s a minor one and we are not anticipating it to be long.” – Matt Beard on Leanne Kiernan’s latest injury blow.
“I think even from pre season, we’ve come into the season flying. The squad is stronger than ever, which is a positive (as) it brings more competition in training and fighting for your place. But whoever starts, we’re all behind each other and will keep pushing each other.” – Liverpool forward Mel Lawley on competitiveness in the squad this season.
Form:
Liverpool Most Goal Involvements (23/24):
1. Sophie Román Haug – 6 (4 goals, 2 assists)
2. Marie Höbinger – 5 (3 goals, 2 assists)
3. Natasha Flint – 3 (3 goals, 0 assists)
3. Gemma Bonner – 3 (3 goals, 0 assists)
3. Mia Enderby – 3 (1 goal, 2 assists)
Match Week 11 Fixtures (19th – 21st January) – All Times GMT: 19th: Leicester City 0 – 1 Aston Villa (COMPLETED)
20th: Arsenal 2 – 1 Everton (COMPLETED)
21st: Chelsea vs Manchester United – 12:30, BBC Two** Brighton & Hove Albion vs Bristol City – 14:00, The FA Player Manchester City vs Liverpool – 14:30, Sky Sports** West Ham United vs Tottenham Hotspur – 18:45, Sky Sports**
*International only, due to the 2:45 – 5:15 Blackout period the match will not be streamed live in the UK.*
**All games can also be streamed on the FA Player, Overseas only.**
