🏏 Wed, 18 Mar 2026 19:00 GMT
Chelsea Women
vs
Brighton Women
4-2-3-1 vs 4-3-1-2
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- Third-placed Chelsea (33 pts) host eighth-placed Brighton (17 pts). Chasing leaders City, Chelsea cannot afford to drop points, yet they have failed to close out games in recent weeks with two wins and three draws in their last five.
- In this season's Matchday 11, Chelsea won emphatically 3-0 away from home. Brighton have struggled with three losses, one draw and one win in their last five, and the question is how far they can push Chelsea.
- Brighton field three former Chelsea players. Fran Kirby (a two-time PFA Player of the Year), Jelena Cankovic and Maelys Mpome all face their old club. Kirby in particular, nicknamed 'Mini Messi', is a former England international who won numerous titles at Chelsea.
- Chelsea's 4-2-3-1 meets Brighton's 4-3-1-2, both shapes loaded through the centre. The battle for the ball in the congested midfield zone will decide the match.
- Lauren James's outstanding individual skill is the biggest threat to Brighton's defence. They must also be wary of Keira Walsh's long passes igniting quick counters.
- Brighton's Fuka Tsunoda is on the bench. A defensive midfielder who won back-to-back WE League titles with Urawa Reds Ladies, she is expected to raise the midfield's defensive intensity coming off the bench.
- Chelsea's Naomi Girma against Brighton's front two is another talking point. The USA centre-back, signed for a world-record fee, will look to shut down Brighton's attack.