WSL preview: Albion travel to Chelsea on Sunday

Our women’s team will look to bounce back from two consecutive WSL defeats when they face Chelsea on Sunday, kick-off 2pm.

To get your tickets for the game at Kingsmeadow, please click here.

View from the bench

Head coach Melissa Phillips said, "They have had some decent results from pretty tough games despite not having a lot of preparation time because of the World Cup and then the first international break. They are still integrating some new signings but they have got a lot of quality on the ball. We know it's going to be a tough game but we have had a good week on the training pitch working on the things we need to improve and we're looking forward to the game a lot."

Past meetings

We’ve taken just one point from our previous five meetings with Chelsea – a 0-0 draw in January 2022.

Our last victory ended a 33-game unbeaten streak for Chelsea in February 2021, when Megan Connolly’s corner flew straight in to secure a 2-1 win. It was a result that would prove to be an important springboard as we went onto secure our highest ever finish in the WSL of sixth that season. Chelsea haven't lost a home game in the WSL since. 

Player to watch

Three of Chelsea’s players were shortlisted for the Ballon d’Or 2023 last month – Millie Bright, Sam Kerr and Guro Reiten. So you could take your pick from any of those three as the player to watch, but we will focus on Kerr, the Blues’ Player of the Year for the past two seasons. 

The Australia international made her first league start of the season last weekend against West Ham as she continues her return from a calf injury, but her manager Emma Hayes has said that she needs time to get back to her best as she’s ‘rusty’. The 30-year-old still managed to get on the scoresheet against the Irons, nodding in Niamh Charles’s cross.

Stats and facts

Chelsea have won six of their nine WSL games against Brighton and Hove Albion (D2 L1), winning both against the Seagulls last season, their first double over them since 2018-19.

Brighton’s only previous WSL victory over Chelsea came in a 2-1 win in February 2021 at Kingsmeadow, which was the last time the Blues lost at home in the competition.

Chelsea have won 42 of their last 45 home matches in the Women’s Super League (D2 L1), with their only defeat in this time coming against Brighton in February 2021. They’ve won 17 consecutive home games, scoring 51 goals at an average of three per game in this run.

Brighton and Hove Albion have lost five of their last six WSL games, winning the other 2-1 against Everton on MD1 of this season. They are looking for consecutive away victories for the first time since March 2022.

Chelsea have won 37 of their last 38 WSL matches when scoring the first goal – they lost the other 2-1 against Liverpool in September 2022.

Brighton have lost three of their last eight Women’s Super League games when scoring first (W3 D2). No team has lost more WSL games in 2023 after scoring the first goal than the Seagulls.

Chelsea have completed the most passes (1,571) and are averaging the most possession (64%) in the WSL this season. Two of the three players to complete the most passes in the WSL this season are Chelsea duo Millie Bright (218) and Jess Carter (217).

Chelsea striker Sam Kerr has been directly involved in one goal in all five of her WSL appearances against Brighton (3 goals, 2 assists). Kerr has scored six goals in her last eight WSL appearances, netting against West Ham on MD3.

Brighton’s Katie Robinson has only passed the ball five times to teammate Elisabeth Terland in the WSL this season but she’s created four chances for her. In the competition, only Guro Reiten to Lauren James (5) has created more chances for a teammate this season.

Chelsea’s Niamh Charles has more assists than any other WSL player this season (3). She has six assists in her last 10 appearances, the most of any player in the competition since the start of April.

Match officials

Referee: Stacey Fullicks

Assistants: Ceri Williams, Nicoleta Bria

Fourth official: Jon Ashworth-Sears