Chelsea Women will resume their Women's Super League title defence when they travel to the Chigwell Construction Stadium for Sunday's meeting with West Ham United Women.
The Blues are sitting six points clear at the top of the table, while the visitors will head into the weekend in 10th position.
Match preview
© Imago
West Ham being 2025 with a three-point cushion to the relegation spot after winning two, drawing two and losing six of their 10 league matches.
The Hammers waiting to play their first game since losing 3-1 away to Aston Villa on December 15 after last weekend's Women's FA Cup meeting with Liverpool was called out due to a frozen pitch.
As a result, they will now begin 2025 with an almighty test against reigning WSL champions Chelsea, although they may be table to take confidence from the fact they have won their last two home league matches.
The Hammers edged out Leicester City via a 1-0 scoreline in November, before they enjoyed more success in their next home league outing against Crystal Palace, fighting back from two goals down to clinch a 5-2 victory at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.
They will be hoping home advantage can help them avoid defeat in a WSL meeting with Chelsea for the first time since playing out a 1-1 draw in March 2019.
© Imago
Sonia Bompastor boasts an unbeaten record as Chelsea head coach, having overseen 16 wins and one draw in 17 competitive matches since taking over the reins from Emma Hayes in the summer.
That solitary draw took place in Chelsea's most recent WSL match in December, with the Blues having to settle for a 1-1 scoreline in their away meeting with Leicester City.
As it proved, the Blues still managed to extend their lead at the top of the table to six points due to Man City's loss to Everton, leaving them well set to win a sixth consecutive WSL title.
Chelsea will head into their first league fixture of 2025 off the back of a successful Women's FA Cup outing against second-tier Charlton Athletic, with Mayra Ramirez, Guro Reiten, Aggie Beever-Jones and Niamh Charles all finding the net in a 4-0 victory to maintain their 100% home record under Bompastor.
The Blues will certainly fancy their chances of claiming all three points in Sunday's encounter, having won each of their previous nine WSL matches against West Ham, including a 2-0 away victory in their most recent meeting in March 2024.
- W
- L
- W
- W
- W
- L
- W
- W
- W
- D
- W
- W
Team News
© Imago
West Ham midfielder Kristie Mewis is unavailable for selection after announcing in November that she is expecting her first child.
Katelin Talbert, Shekiera Martinez and Princess Ademiluyi could all be available for selection after returning from their respective loan spells.
Viviane Asseyi will offer one of West Ham's main attacking threats, having scored five goals in each of her last five competitive matches.
As for the visitors, they will be unable to call upon midfielder Wieke Kaptein, who suffered a back injury in the recent cup win over Charlton.
The Blues are also without the services of Sophie Ingle, Mia Fishel, Aniek Nouwen and Sam Kerr, but Johanna Rytting Kaneryd is back available after missing the last two matches with a calf issue.
Sjoeke Nusken is expected to feature in the Chelsea midfield despite starting on the bench for last weekend's FA Cup outing.
West Ham United Women possible starting lineup:
Szemik; Li, Tysiak, Zadorsky, Denton; Piubel, Siren, Gorry, Asseyi; Ueki, Pavi
Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:
Hampton; Bronze, Bright, Bjorn, Baltimore; Nusken, Cuthbert; Macario, James, Reiten; Ramirez
We say: West Ham United Women 0-3 Chelsea Women
Chelsea may have dropped two points in their most recent WSL outing, but we do not expect the Blues to experience another slip-up on Sunday, and we believe they will showcase their wealth of talent to record a 10th consecutive victory in WSL meetings with West Ham.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
