The Barclays FA Women’s Super League returns on the weekend of 7-9 January 2022 with a full fixture card.
COVD-19 could yet have a say on whether all six games will go ahead, however, fans will remain hopeful of seeing some exciting football.
FAWSL Full-Time have taken a look at the opening fixtures of 2022 and we have identified three games which should create some intrigue and drama.
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur
In recent years, Chelsea’s fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur at Kingsmeadow would be nailed on home wins. Spurs are challenging for Europe this year though and they have the opportunity to leapfrog The Blues into second by winning this fascinating fixture.
Spurs have rewritten the history books this season, taking some points from Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United and they will be keen to build on that record by adding Chelsea to the list of upsets. It will be interesting to see how Chelsea return following the break with them having been battered with a gruelling pre-Christmas run of fixtures before being hit by a COVID-19 outbreak. The opening game of the New Year has the potential to be a cracker and is not as one-sided as it once was.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City
Brighton & Hove Albion’s fixture against Manchester City sees one side who ended 2021 in poor form go up against another which has endured a tough first half of the season. The home side have had to go back to the drawing board after losing four games on the spin to nil while Manchester City’s season has been disrupted and redirected by an injury crisis.
The two sides went into Christmas fifth and sixth in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League table and European hopes could be boosted or reduced depending on the result in this game. Manchester City could go into the match as favourites but squad availability may be a factor while Brighton & Hove Albion can be stubborn opponents in Crawley.
West Ham United v Manchester United
West Ham United couldn’t buy a win at home last season but manager Olli Harder has built a quality squad over the summer and The Hammers are no longer pushovers at The Chigwell Construction Stadium. Nine of their 13 points taken so far have come at home, a transformation from last season, and Harder’s side will believe that they can get a result against in-form Manchester United.
This fixture could play a part in the direction of both clubs’ seasons with West Ham United clinging onto the tails of the top six and Manchester United in pursuit of third-placed Spurs. Three points are so important for both clubs and they will be giving it their all as they look to start 2022 with a bang.
7-9 January 2022 Fixtures
7 Jan – Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur (7pm)
8 Jan – Aston Villa v Everton (12.30pm)
9 Jan – Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City (12pm)
9 Jan – Reading v Leicester City (2pm)
9 Jan – Birmingham City v Arsenal (2pm)
9 Jan – West Ham United v Manchester United (6.45pm)
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