WSL 2025–26 Matchweek 2: Preview & Predictions
City–Brighton and West Ham–Arsenal under Friday lights, Chelsea’s Villa test, London City’s home WSL debut, Everton–Spurs toss-up — full Gameweek 2 analysis with probabilities and scoreline forecasts.
🌍 Weekend Landscape
Matchweek 2 of the Barclays WSL brings a Friday night double-header and plenty of intriguing storylines across the weekend.
Both Manchester City and Arsenal are in action under the Friday night lights – City return to the Joie Stadium to host Brighton, while Arsenal face a tricky London derby away at West Ham.
On Sunday, champions Chelsea travel to Villa Park for what could be their first real test of the season, with Aston Villa looking to extend their unbeaten run to 7.
Newly promoted London City Lionesses make their home WSL debut against a high-flying Manchester United, and Everton host Tottenham at Goodison Park in front of an expected big crowd.
Meanwhile, Leicester City and Liverpool clash in an early-season battle for points after both suffered heavy defeats on opening weekend.
With six teams currently tied on three points, this round could start to separate the contenders from the strugglers.
G1 — Manchester City vs Brighton
Fri 12 Sept, 7:30pm | Joie Stadium | Broadcast (UK): Sky Sports
Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ | Model win probabilities: MCI 66% – 19% draw – 15% BHA
City’s first home game under new head coach Andrée Jeglertz.
Baseline, Form & Squad
City are looking to rebound after a 2-1 loss at Chelsea in the opener, a match in which they were competitive but ultimately fell just short. Aggie Beever-Jones and Maika Hamano scored for the champions before an own goal gave City hope.
Brighton, meanwhile, began with a gritty 0-0 draw away at Aston Villa — an organised, low-error display. Under Dario Vidošić, Brighton improved their attacking output last season (a club-best league tally) but still need consistent chance conversion against top-four defences.
Squad value snapshot (Soccerdonna): Man City ≈ €7.36m vs Brighton ≈ €2.02m — a clear depth edge to City.
Head-to-Head (WSL, last 10)
Manchester City dominate this fixture with 8 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss against Brighton, scoring 32 goals and conceding 8 (an average of 3.2 scored and 0.8 conceded per game).
City did the league double last season — 1–0 at home (29 Sep 2024) and 2–1 away (30 Mar 2025).
Brighton’s only win in this run came with a 1–0 away upset on 12 Nov 2023, while the lone draw was a 0–0 stalemate back on 13 Sep 2020.
Bottom line: History and recent form both lean City.
Intangibles
New era at home: First Joie Stadium outing for Jeglertz — expect tempo and territory from the hosts.
Prediction: City to control and create. Brighton’s structure can keep it respectable early, but City’s attacking depth and set-play threat point to a home win.
Most likely scorelines: 2–0, 2–1, 1–0.
G2 — West Ham United vs Arsenal
Fri 12 Sept, 7:30pm | Chigwell Construction Stadium (Dagenham)
Broadcast (UK): Sky Sports Premier League
Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆ | Model win probabilities: ARS 75% – 12% draw – 13% WHU
Baseline, Form & Squad
Arsenal opened with a 4–1 win at the Emirates against London City. They fell behind to a 17’ penalty, then turned the game through Olivia Smith (debut stunner) before Chloe Kelly, Stina Blackstenius and Frida Maanum sealed it.
West Ham began with a narrow 0–1 loss at Spurs, undone by a late Beth England penalty after a largely disciplined defensive display. Clear chances were scarce.
Squad value (Soccerdonna): Arsenal ~€9.44m vs West Ham ~€1.55m — a sizeable gap in depth and top-end quality.
Head-to-Head (WSL, last 10 )
Arsenal lead the series with 8 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss, scoring 30 goals and conceding 7 (averages of 3.0 for and 0.7 against per game).
They did the double last season — 2–0 away (20 Oct 2024) and 4–3 at home (2 Mar 2025).
West Ham’s only win in this span was 2–1 at home on 4 Feb 2024, while the draw was a 0–0 on 5 Feb 2023.
Notably, 7 of Arsenal’s 8 wins were by two or more goals, including a 9–1 thrashing on 12 Sep 2020.
Bottom line: Recent history and performance levels — lean heavily Arsenal.
Prediction: Arsenal strong favourites. West Ham’s defensive organisation can keep it tight for spells, but Arsenal’s chance creation and midfield control should tell over 90’.
Most likely scorelines: 1–3, 1–4, 1–2.
G3 — London City vs Manchester United
Sun 14 Sept, 12:00pm | Hayes Lane (Bromley) | Broadcast (UK): Sky Showcase / Sky Sports+
Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆ | Model win probabilities: MUN 75% – 13% draw – 12% LCL
First ever WSL home match for London City Lionesses.
Baseline, Form & Squad
Manchester United started with a statement 4–0 over Leicester — Toone early, Terland before the break, Malard twice late. Debut minutes for Jess Park.
London City opened with an eye-catching moment at the Emirates — Asllani put them 1–0 up from the spot before Arsenal roared back to win 4–1. London City began with six debutants, which showed both promise and the expected cohesion issues.
Squad snapshot (market values): Man United ≈ €6.27m | London City ≈ €2.19m — the edge sits firmly with United.
London City have star power — United have star power and cohesion.
Head-to-Head (WSL, 0)
First-ever WSL meeting between the clubs. They have, however, met twice in the Championship, now WSL 2, with Manchester United coming out on top resoundingly on both occasion with a 13–0 aggregate scoreline.
Intangibles
Occasion: London City’s first WSL home match at Hayes Lane should deliver energy and a good crowd.
New-look LCL: A blockbuster summer (Geyoro and more) means upside — but chemistry takes time.
Prediction
Prediction: United to control territory and tempo. London City’s quality can land a punch — but over 90 minutes United’s structure and firepower should tell.
Most likely scorelines: 1–2, 1–3, 0–2.
G4 — Aston Villa vs Chelsea
Sun 14 Sept, 12:00pm | Villa Park | Broadcast (UK): Sky Sports
Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ | Model win probabilities: CHE 62% – 21% draw – 17% AVL
Baseline, Form & Squad
Chelsea began their title defence with a hard-fought 2–1 win over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. Goals from Aggie Beever-Jones and Maika Hamano, with City pulling one back via an own goal. It was controlled, composed, and very Chelsea.
Aston Villa opened with a 0–0 at Brighton. It wasn’t flashy, but it extends Villa’s unbeaten league run to six (five straight wins to end last season, plus this draw) — a useful platform under Natalia Arroyo.
Squad value (Soccerdonna): Chelsea hold the highest valuation in the WSL; Villa ~€1.65m — underlining the resource gap.
Villa are stubborn right now — but Chelsea still carry the heaviest punch.
Head-to-Head (last 10, WSL)
Scoreboard: One-way traffic — Chelsea W10-D0-L0, goals 25–1; both teams scored in just 1/10 games.
Chance quality (xG): Chelsea 20.0 – 5.1 Villa (≈ 2.00 vs 0.51 per game).
At Villa Park: Chelsea W5-0-0, goals 15–0 (xG 11.7–3.0).
Most recent season (2024–25): Two tight 1–0 Chelsea wins — closer on the day, but Chelsea remained the stronger side.
Bottom line: Villa have improved, but this matchup has been almost entirely on Chelsea’s terms.
Prediction: Villa’s structure should make this a contest, especially early. Over 90, Chelsea’s chance creation and set-piece threat tip it. Chelsea to edge it.
Most likely scorelines: 0–2, 1–2, 0–1.
G5 — Leicester City vs Liverpool
Sun 14 Sept, 12:00pm | King Power Stadium| Broadcast (UK): Sky Sports+
Difficulty: ★★★☆☆ | Model win probabilities: LIV 45% – 25% draw – 30% LEI
Baseline, Form & Squad
Leicester opened with a tough 0–4 loss at Manchester United, creating little and conceding in waves. It’s early days for Rick Passmore, appointed just before the season, and this is their first home test to reset the tone.
Liverpool lost 1–4 to Everton at Anfield despite an early lead, undone by a debut hat-trick from Ornella Vignola. New head coach Gareth Taylor is still bedding in ideas, and with Rachael Laws still sidelined, protecting the box is a priority.
Early picture: Both sides are on 0 points (Leicester GD –4, Liverpool –3) and will view this as a springboard game.
Squad value (Soccerdonna): Liverpool ≈ €2.67m, Leicester ≈ €1.01m — a paper edge to Liverpool.
Results say it’s tight; on paper Liverpool carry a bit more quality.
Head-to-Head (last 6, WSL)
Scoreboard: Slight Leicester edge — Liverpool W2–D1–L3; goals LIV 8–9 LEI; BTTS in 3/6.
Chance quality (xG): Liverpool 7.0 – 4.2 Leicester (xG = expected goals, a simple measure of chance quality).
At King Power (Leicester home): Leicester W2–L1; goals 6–5; xG LEI 3.2 – 3.7 LIV (Liverpool actually created slightly better chances away).
Bottom line: Results lean Leicester; chances lean Liverpool — a genuine toss-up if finishing evens out.
Prediction: A balanced test with a slight Reds tilt. Liverpool’s paper edge and chance creation give them a narrow upside, but Leicester’s H2H confidence at home keeps this in draw territory.
Most likely scorelines: 1–1, 0–1, 1–2.
G6 — Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur
Sun 14 Sept, 2:30pm | Goodison Park | Broadcast (UK): BBC iPlayer
Difficulty: ★★★☆☆ | Model win probabilities: EVE 38% – 27% draw – 35% TOT
First WSL home game for Everton Women at their new permanent home.
Baseline, Form & Squad
Everton arrive on a high after a 4–1 derby win at Anfield, with summer signing Ornella Vignola scoring a debut hat-trick and Katja Snoeijs adding the other. Notably, Liverpool had xG of 1.6 vs Everton’s 1.0, this shows how clinical Everton was on the day.
Tottenham opened with a gritty 1–0 win over West Ham, decided by an 86’ Bethany England penalty in Martin Ho’s first league match in charge. The game produced few clear chances.
Early table: Everton 3rd (GD +3), Spurs 5th (GD +1) after Matchweek 1.
Squad value snapshot (Soccerdonna): Spurs ≈ €2.29m, Everton ≈ €1.53m—a modest edge to Spurs on paper.
Head-to-Head (last 10, WSL only)
Everton have the slight edge on results (W4-D4-L2) and goals (16–12). Both teams scored in 7 of 10. But on chance quality (expected goals, xG), Spurs lead 14.3–11.2, helped by two games where they created a lot (xG 4.2 and 2.9).
At home, Everton are unbeaten (W2-D3) even though Spurs generated more xG (7.9–4.8).
Last season’s league meetings: Spurs 2–1 Everton in December (England brace, incl. a penalty) and 1–1 in May, this shows the gap has tightened.
Last season defensive records for context: Everton conceded 32 in the league; Spurs 44.
Bottom line: Everton have finished their chances better; Spurs have left some out there.
Intangibles
Goodison factor: Everton Women’s first WSL home match at Goodison should boost attendance and atmosphere relative to Walton Hall Park.
Spurs momentum: Ho started with a win; Spurs ended last season winless in their final 10 league games—so that clean sheet and result matter psychologically.
Prediction: It’s close. Everton carry momentum and the Goodison lift; Everton are unbeaten in the last five home H2H (W2-D3), but Spurs took points in three of those trips—margins are thin. A draw is the base case; if someone edges it, we expect just a single moment.
Most likely scorelines: 1–1, 2–1, 1–2.
📝 Final Word
Matchweek 2 offers a Friday night double-header (City–Brighton, West Ham–Arsenal), a Villa Park check for the champions, London City’s first WSL home day, and a Goodison Park crowd for a proper Everton–Spurs toss-up.
Our model points to clear favourites in Man City, Arsenal and Man United, with Chelsea favoured but facing a live Villa punch. The true coin-flips are Everton–Spurs and Leicester–Liverpool—both shaped by form swings and fine margins.
Which way do you see the games going? Drop your predictions 👇
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Missed last week? Our full Matchweek 1 Review + analysis is live here.
Thanks for this article! Super helpful as I am making my fantasy transfers and formation for the week.
Curious what Chelsea's squad value is, I think it's missing in the article?