2025–26 WSL Gameweek 8 Preview & Predictions
Arsenal–Chelsea headline Gameweek 8 at the Emirates; United host Villa, City travel to Everton, Spurs visit newcomers London City, and winless West Ham and Liverpool chase first points.
🌍 Weekend Landscape
Gameweek 8 serves up a high-stakes clash at the Emirates as Arsenal welcome leaders Chelsea in a match that will probably decide Arsenal’s title hopes.
The Manchester heavyweights have opportunities to solidify their positions against struggling sides – United at home to Aston Villa, and City travelling to Everton.
Tottenham Hotspur, flying high in fourth, face a tricky away game at newly promoted London City Lionesses, who have shown they can compete despite defensive frailties.
At the bottom, both West Ham United and Liverpool are desperate for their first points of the season, each hosting matches that could finally get them off the mark.
Manchester United vs Aston Villa
Sat 8 Nov, 12:00 PM | Leigh Sports Village Stadium | Broadcast: Sky Sports
Model win probabilities: MUN 64% – 15% draw – 21% AVL
Manchester United
United come into this fixture on the back of a 3–2 away win at Brighton, where Jessica Park starred (1 goal, 1 assist) in a hard-fought victory.
They remain unbeaten and sit 3rd with 17 points (5–2–0 record). Goal difference is +14 (GF 19, GA 5), averaging 2.43 points per match – an indication of both prolific scoring and a sturdy defence.
Underlying metrics: xG 13.1 vs xGA 8.7 → xGD +4.3 (+0.62 per match). This solid positive xGD reflects United’s general control in games, even if their actual goal tally exceeds expected due to clinical finishing.
Form: D–W–D–W–W – five matches without defeat, and momentum building after two straight wins.
Aston Villa
Villa shared a 3–3 thriller with Everton last week, trading leads throughout a wild afternoon at Villa Park to extend their unbeaten run.
They are 8th in the table with 7 points (1–4–1), having scored and conceded 7 goals (GD 0). Despite only one win so far, their points-per-match is 1.17, reflecting a propensity for draws.
Underlying metrics: xG 9.0 vs xGA 10.1 → xGD –1.1 (–0.19 per match). Villa’s underlying numbers are essentially even, suggesting they’ve been competitive in performance.
Form: L–D–W–D–D – unbeaten in four (a win followed by two draws). They’ve become tough to beat, but turning stalemates into victories is the next step.
Squad Value Snapshot
Manchester United ~€6.27m vs Aston Villa ~€1.65m – roughly 3.8× higher for United, signalling a significant gulf in squad investment and depth on paper.
Head-to-Head
Last six WSL meetings: Man United 5W, Aston Villa 0W, 1D. The Red Devils have notched several emphatic wins in this fixture (including 5–0 and 4–0 in recent years), underlining their historical dominance.
Prediction
The model strongly favours United at home (64% win chance). Villa’s resilience and draw habit could make this closer than United would like.
Most likely scorelines: 2–0, 1–0, 3–0.
Arsenal vs Chelsea
Sat 8 Nov, 12:00 PM | Emirates Stadium | Broadcast: Sky Sports
Model win probabilities: ARS 39% – 28% draw – 33% CHE
Arsenal
Arsenal swept Leicester City aside 4–1 away in their last outing, with Stina Blackstenius scoring a brace and Alessia Russo striking early to set the tone. That result made it back-to-back wins for the Gunners as they rediscover form.
They currently sit 5th with 14 points (4–2–1), and a game like this is an opportunity to close the 5-point gap to the top. Their goal tally is 17 for, 7 against (GD +10), translating to 2.00 points per match. After some early stumbles, they appear to be gathering momentum.
Underlying metrics: xG 13.2 vs xGA 6.2 → xGD +7.0 (+1.00 per match). Arsenal’s underlying numbers are excellent on both sides of the ball – a strong defence backed by a capable attack.
Form: D–D–L–W–W – after a sluggish spell (two draws and a loss), Arsenal have won their last two games. The uptick in results and solid defensive foundation have them looking more like their usual title-challenging selves.
Chelsea
Chelsea arrive having controlled a 2–0 home win over London City Lionesses, where they professionally handled the contest (goals from Carpenter and Sam Kerr) to remain unbeaten.
Top of the league on 19 points (6–1–0), the reigning champions have 14 goals scored and just 3 conceded (GD +11). They average 2.71 points per match and have yet to taste defeat, underlining their consistency.
Underlying metrics: xG 16.0 vs xGA 7.5 → xGD +8.5 (+1.21 per match). This is one of the league’s strongest profiles – Chelsea generate plenty of quality chances and concede very few. Their numbers back up the eye test: a well-balanced side capable of control in all phases.
Form: W–W–D–W–W – four wins in the last five and undefeated through seven rounds. Aside from a draw in a tough away game at United, Chelsea have been in championship-caliber rhythm.
Squad Value Snapshot
Chelsea ~€11.88m vs Arsenal ~€9.44m – roughly 1.3× higher for Chelsea. Both clubs boast the league’s most valuable squads; Chelsea hold a modest on-paper edge in resources, but essentially it’s two heavyweights going head-to-head with plenty of quality on each side.
Head-to-Head
Last six WSL meetings: Chelsea 4W, Arsenal 1W, 1D. Chelsea have held the upper hand in this rivalry recently – they are unbeaten in the last three encounters (all wins) since Arsenal’s 4–1 victory in December 2023.
These match-ups are often tight despite the scorelines; even when one side wins by a couple of goals, the games tend to hinge on key moments.
Prediction
Virtually a toss-up. The model gives Arsenal a slight home lean (39% vs 33% for a Chelsea win, with a sizable 28% draw chance), reflecting how evenly matched these sides are. Home advantage and recent attacking form offer Arsenal hope, while Chelsea’s championship pedigree means they rarely come away empty-handed.
Most likely scorelines: A low-scoring deadlock or narrow decision – 1–1 is the single most likely outcome, with 1–0 or 0–1 next. In other words, a one-goal margin either way or a draw seems the probable scenario in this showdown.
London City vs Tottenham Hotspur
Sun 9 Nov, 11:55 AM | Copperjax Community Stadium | Broadcast: Sky Sports | YouTube
Model win probabilities: LCL 40% – 27% draw – 33% TOT
London City Lionesses
London City come into this match after battling gamely in a 0–2 loss away at Chelsea, a respectable showing in their first-ever WSL meeting with the champions.
The Lionesses sit 6th with 9 points (3–0–4) in their debut top-flight season. They’ve scored 7 and conceded 16 (GD –9) so far. While three wins in their opening seven is a solid return, the 2.29 goals conceded per match underscores where the issues lie.
Underlying metrics: xG 9.7 vs xGA 12.9 → xGD –3.2 (–0.46 per match). The underlying numbers suggest London City have been out-created by opponents on balance, especially defensively. They can produce chances (around 1.4 xG per game) but their open style has left gaps at the back.
Form: W–L–W–W–L – three wins in the last five matches for the newcomers. Confidence may be a bit bruised after last week defeat, but they’ll view this home match as an opportunity to reset and claim a big scalp.
Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs come into this on the back of a 2–1 comeback victory vs Liverpool – behind on 11′, level through Toko Koga on 19′, then Beth England’s 52′ strike settled it, followed by a control-heavy second half.
Tottenham occupy 4th place with 15 points (5–0–2). They’ve netted 9 goals and conceded 8 (GD +1), averaging 2.14 points per match. Despite their high position, their goal difference is only marginally positive, indicating many tight contests.
Underlying metrics: xG 8.4 vs xGA 10.5 → xGD –2.1 (–0.30 per match). Spurs’ results have slightly outpaced their underlying performance. They’ve been clinical in low-scoring games, winning by fine margins, even as they often concede more shots or chances than they create.
Form: L–W–W–L–W – three wins from their last five, a solid return with results generally trending positive. The sequence alternates, but the take-away is momentum. Spurs have been edging tight games and arrive with confidence.
Squad Value Snapshot
London City ~€2.30m vs Tottenham ~€2.29m – on paper almost identical squad valuations. Despite Tottenham’s higher league standing, the two clubs operate with virtually the same financial resources.
Head-to-Head
First ever WSL meeting between London City and Tottenham. The Lionesses are in their inaugural top-flight season, so there’s no league history between these sides.
Prediction
The model projects a very tight contest: London City have a slight edge at 40% win probability. Despite Tottenham’s strong start to the season, their less convincing underlying stats and playing away from home level things up.
Most likely scorelines: 1–1, 1–0, 0–1.
West Ham United vs Leicester City
Sun 9 Nov, 12:00 PM | Chigwell Construction Stadium | Broadcast: Sky Sports | YouTube
Model win probabilities: WHU 43% – 26% draw – 31% LEI
West Ham United
West Ham are coming off a 0–1 defeat away to Manchester City – a seventh straight loss, but one in which the Hammers defended resolutely. Impressively, they limited high-flying City to just one shot on target, showing improved organisation despite eventually succumbing to a single goal.
Unfortunately, that effort didn’t change their points tally: West Ham remain rooted to the bottom (12th) with 0 points (0–0–7). They’ve scored only 2 goals and conceded 18 (GD –16). Averages of 0 points and over 2.5 goals conceded per match highlight the depth of their struggles this season.
Underlying metrics: xG 6.6 vs xGA 14.7 → xGD –8.0 (–1.15 per match). The underlying numbers mirror West Ham’s dismal record. Chance creation has been very limited (barely 0.9 xG per game), while defensively they’ve been under constant siege.
There are signs of defensive improvement (as seen vs City), but overall they’ve been second-best in virtually every match, and the stats underscore the need for more threat going forward.
Form: L–L–L–L–L – seven losses from seven in the league. West Ham’s form line speaks for itself. However, the narrow loss to City could serve as a confidence booster in terms of defensive solidity. This home fixture against a fellow bottom-half side represents a critical opportunity to finally get on the board.
Leicester City
Leicester’s latest outing was a 1–4 home defeat against Arsenal, where a late consolation goal from substitute Noémie Mouchon was all they could muster. The Foxes were outclassed in that match, which snapped a small unbeaten run they had built through draws.
Leicester sit 10th with 5 points (1–2–4). They have scored 4 goals and conceded 12 (GD –8), averaging 0.71 points per match. Scoring has been a real challenge – with only four goals in seven games, they are the 3rd lowest scorers in the league.
Underlying metrics: xG 3.1 vs xGA 10.2 → xGD –7.1 (–1.01 per match). These figures highlight Leicester’s difficulties. Offensively, an xG of roughly 0.44 per game is alarmingly low – they struggle to create quality chances.
Defensively, they concede a high volume of opportunities (over 10 xGA total). Their goalkeeper and last-ditch defending have earned them some draws, but the pressure is constant. Improving their attack is imperative to relieve the strain on their defence.
Form: L–L–D–D–L – after two early losses, Leicester strung together two consecutive draws before the recent defeat. That run showed defensive resilience and fighting spirit, but without victories, they remain near the bottom. They will target this match as one they can win, given the opponent’s form, but must find more cutting edge up front.
Squad Value Snapshot
West Ham ~€1.56m vs Leicester ~€1.01m – roughly 1.5× higher for West Ham. Both clubs operate on the league’s lower end of the financial spectrum, so while West Ham have a small on-paper edge in squad value, neither side boasts significant resources. It’s a matchup of relatively modest squads by WSL standards.
Head-to-Head
Last six WSL meetings: West Ham 3W, Leicester 1W, 2D. West Ham have historically held the upper hand, with just one loss in their last six. But a closer look show that Leicester have grown more competitive in this fixture over time, coming out on top in their most recent encounter.
Prediction
The model leans towards West Ham finally breaking their duck, giving the Hammers a 43% chance of a home win (to Leicester’s 31%). This is arguably West Ham’s best chance so far to grab points, facing a team with similarly limited output. However, confidence is a huge factor – Leicester will fancy their chances to compound West Ham’s woes if the hosts can’t convert early dominance.
Most likely scorelines: 1–1, 1–0, 0–1. A low-scoring affair is expected. A 1–1 draw is on the cards if neither side can finish their opportunities, while a 1–0 win for either side would not surprise in what could be a nervy, scrappy contest.
Liverpool vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Sun 9 Nov, 12:00 PM | St Helens Stadium | Broadcast: Sky Sports
Model win probabilities: LIV 29% – 26% draw – 45% BHA
Liverpool
Liverpool’s search for a first point continued last week with a 1–2 home loss last weekend. They led Tottenham before falling 1–2 – a pattern of bright starts undone by inability to close out games.
The Reds languish in 11th place with 0 points (0–0–6), having scored 3 goals and conceded 12 (GD –9). They’ve played one game fewer than most, but nonetheless it’s been a dismal campaign so far.
Underlying metrics: xG 4.7 vs xGA 8.4 → xGD –3.7 (–0.62 per match). Liverpool’s underlying numbers confirm a team that is struggling, especially in attack. Creating less than 0.8 xG per game, they simply aren’t generating sufficient threat. Defensively, an xGA of ~1.4 per game isn’t catastrophic, but given their lack of scoring, even conceding one or two typically sinks them.
Form: L–L–L–L–L – five losses in five matches. The pressure is mounting to get something from a game. On a positive note, the last two matches saw Liverpool take the lead – if they can find a way to maintain their intensity and composure for 90 minutes, a result will come.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton pushed Manchester United to the brink in their last match, eventually falling 2–3 at home despite a late rally. That spirited performance against a top side showed Brighton’s capability, even though it was their third defeat in a row.
Brighton sit 7th with 7 points (2–1–4). In seven games they’ve scored 8 and conceded 8 (GD 0). Consistency has been lacking, but their goal difference of zero suggests they are better than their record.
Underlying metrics: xG 9.3 vs xGA 10.4 → xGD –1.1 (–0.15 per match). Brighton’s underlying stats are close to break-even. They create roughly as much as they concede in terms of chance quality.
Form: W–W–L–L–L — back-to-back wins were followed by three straight defeats, so early momentum has cooled. The performances haven’t fallen off a cliff, but game-management and lapses have proved costly; they’ll see this as a chance to steady things and stop the slide.
Squad Value Snapshot
Liverpool ~€2.67m vs Brighton ~€2.02m – roughly 1.3× higher for Liverpool. Despite Liverpool’s place in the table, their squad investment is slightly higher than Brighton’s. On paper, the Merseyside club has the resources edge, but so far it hasn’t translated into results.
Head-to-Head
Last six WSL meetings: Liverpool 5W, Brighton 0W, 1D. Liverpool have a significant historical advantage here, winning five out of the six recent clashes. Last season Liverpool did the double over Brighton (2–1 both home and away). This historical edge will give Liverpool confidence that this could be the matchup to kickstart their season.
Prediction
Brighton come in as the favourites according to the model (45% win probability). Given form and confidence levels, the Seagulls have a strong chance to claim three points if they play to their level. However, Brighton must be cautious – Liverpool’s desperate situation and positive head-to-head record in this fixture could galvanise the home side to finally get some points on the scoreboard.
Most likely scorelines: 0–1, 1–1, 0–0.
Everton vs Manchester City
Sun 9 Nov, 2:30 PM | Goodison Park | Broadcast: BBC
Model win probabilities: EVE 15% – 19% draw – 66% MCI
Everton
Everton are fresh from a chaotic 3–3 draw away at Aston Villa, a match where they led, fell behind, and ultimately rescued a point late on. Striker Kelly Gago was the hero with a brace, including a 90th-minute equaliser to cap the roller-coaster.
The Toffees sit 9th with 5 points (1–2–4). They’ve scored 10 goals and conceded 14 (GD –4). Interestingly, their 10 goals scored is the most of any team in the bottom half – they haven’t had trouble finding the net in several games, but keeping opponents out has been a challenge.
Underlying metrics: xG 6.0 vs xGA 10.8 → xGD –4.8 (–0.69 per match). Everton’s underlying figures suggest that despite a few high-scoring games, overall chance creation has been modest (about 0.85 xG per game). Their goal tally of 10 outpacing an xG of 6 indicates some clinical finishing or even over-performance in front of goal.
Defensively, an xGA near 11 aligns with the 14 conceded – they give up opportunities and have been punished somewhat severely at times.
Form: L–L–D–L–D – winless in five (0–2–3), just two points taken. Flashes going forward, but defensive lapses and game-management have hurt.
Manchester City
City arrive in Merseyside after a workmanlike 1–0 home win over West Ham. Aoba Fujino’s first-half goal was all they managed on the scoresheet despite dominating possession and territory throughout.
Manchester City are 2nd with 18 points (6–0–1). They’ve scored 18 goals and conceded 8 (GD +10), averaging 2.57 points per match. That lone defeat came in their season opener, and they have been perfect since then.
Underlying metrics: xG 17.1 vs xGA 5.8 → xGD +11.3 (+1.61 per match). City boast the strongest underlying numbers in the WSL. They generate a barrage of chances (over 2.4 xG per game) while giving up very few (xGA under 0.9 per game).
Form: W–W–W–W–W – the sequence shows perfect five in five. City looks to be in full stride, blending a potent offense with a solid defence.
Squad Value Snapshot
Everton ~€1.50m vs Manchester City ~€7.33m – nearly 4.9× higher for Man City. On paper, City have an overwhelming advantage in quality at their disposal – one of the largest disparities in the league.
Head-to-Head
Last six WSL meetings: Manchester City 4W, Everton 1W, 1D. City have largely dominated this matchup in recent years, but there’s a twist last season – Everton stunned City 2–1 at home, and the reverse fixture ended 1–1, meaning Everton took four points off City last season.
Prior to that, City had won four in a row against the Toffees, often by narrow margins (two 2–1 wins and a 3–2 among them) plus one comfortable 4–1. The recent history will give Everton confidence that they can compete.
Prediction
Manchester City are clear favourites with a 66% chance to claim the win. Their superior form, firepower, and the sting of last year’s unexpected loss should ensure they approach this game with intensity.
Most likely scorelines: 0–2, 0–3, 0–1.
Final Word
Favourites: Manchester City and Manchester United come into the weekend as clear favourites in their fixtures – the model expects both to secure wins.
Brighton are also favoured to prevail away at Liverpool, despite the historical advantage that Liverpool has here.
The marquee fixture, Arsenal vs Chelsea clash is too close to call, and Tottenham’s trip to London City is another genuinely close one.
Matter of urgency: Both Liverpool and West Ham remain winless at the bottom, and the pressure is mounting. West Ham have perhaps their best chance yet to get on the board, playing at home against a fellow struggler (Leicester). Liverpool face a tougher task, but even a draw against Brighton would be a morale-boosting step in the right direction. For these clubs, any point earned this weekend would be hugely significant to stop the rot.
Upset radar:
Everton vs Man City – City are heavy favourites, but if they squander chances as they did last week, Everton have shown they can pounce. An early Everton goal could make this unexpectedly interesting.
Liverpool vs Brighton – Brighton carry the expectations, but Liverpool’s desperation and their past success in this fixture means an upset isn’t off the table.
This round could be pivotal at both ends of the table. A heavyweight duel in North London will influence the title race dynamic, while the lower-ranked sides scrapping for points could reshape the relegation picture.
Missed last week? Catch the full Gameweek 7 Recap + analysis in our archive.
Data sources: WSLAnalytics model | Squad values: Soccerdonna | Match stats: FBref & FotMob