Local scores are getting settled once again in the WSL as we have two big derbies from the North West as well as some other key fixtures.

Let's get straight into our first big game, the Manchester derby...

Saturday

Manchester City vs. Manchester United

United manager Marc Skinner has just celebrated the birth of his second child and the manager is expected to be in the dugout for this one where he's hoping to celebrate once again.

The Red Devils certainly need a win against their local rivals if they want to keep up their hopes of catching up to Arsenal but they haven't done so in their two previous meetings this season.

Gareth Taylor's side won the first game between these two this season Old Trafford 3-1, helped by a rare Mary Earps error. City also went on to win again against United in the Conti Cup with Chloe Kelly and Lauren Hemp both on the scoresheet in that one.

City are of course level on points with Chelsea right now and they'll likely need to win every game from now until the end of the season to take the title (while hoping the current champions slip up down the line).

Sunday

Everton vs. Liverpool

The blue and red teams of Merseyside are in polar opposite veins of form right now. Everton won against Liverpool in the league earlier this season (with Megan Finnigan scoring the winner) but have only one of their last seven WSL games, losing the other six.

Liverpool meanwhile have been in better form with three wins in succession in the league, including a 3-1 victory over West Ham United last time out.

Matt Beard's team also won the last Merseyside derby when the two teams met in the Conti Cup back in December.

The Reds will be favourites once again going into this one although they will be without Sofie Lundgaard, who is out for the rest of the season due to injury.

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Bottom-of-the-league Bristol City gave a good account of themselves against Manchester United in their last game but as has happened so many times, their lack of quality in comparison to the rest of the WSL eventually told with the Robins slipping to a 2-0 defeat.

It's hard to see them getting anything out of Tottenham either, especially since Spurs won both the league and cup fixtures over Bristol City 3-1 and then 3-0.

Spurs are also coming off of a win at home to Leicester City last time out with Matilda Vinberg scoring the winner in the second minute.

Leicester City vs. Brighton & Hove Albion

Just two points separate these two in that congested block of teams below Spurs put above Bristol City.

Leicester had to settle for a point against Brighton in the league fixture earlier this season after having gone up 2-0 but ended up drawing 2-2 after Elisabeth Terland scored a late brace.

The Foxes are in better form than Brighton at the moment despite having lost narrowly to Spurs last time out. The Seagulls meanwhile have suffered 4-0 and 4-1 defeats to the two Manchester clubs in recent weeks and will be eager to get back to winning ways.

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Can West Ham derail Chelsea? The Hammers may have lost to Liverpool at the weekend but they did defeat Arsenal, take a point off Manchester United, and force Chelsea into extra-time in the FA Cup all in 2024 so they can rise to the occasion at times.

Rehanne Skinner will be hoping her opponents will also be tired from their midweek Champions League trip to Amsterdam in which Chelsea earned a healthy 3-0 aggregate lead.

That win over Ajax was the Blues' fifth victory in a row and their 15 wins from their last 16 games in all competitions. 

Chelsea have also won their last 14 games in a row against West Ham United and have never lost to them in all 16 ties. Even with some potential fatigue from travelling, you expect the visitors to win this one.

Aston Villa vs. Arsenal

Our final game of the weekend is a rematch of the Conti Cup semi-final that was played earlier this month. The Gunners won 4-0 in that game with Stina Blackstenius scoring a hat-trick and Frida Maanum grabbing the other one. 

But Jonas Eidevall now has the job of getting his players heads up once again after a bruising defeat to Chelsea that made their title challenge all the more unlikely and had the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool hopeful of further slip-ups.

Villa meanwhile are seventh in the league and hoping to potentially move into the top half of the table again should they shock Arsenal. However, Carla Ward's team have struggled against the top teams in the division this season, losing all of their games to the current 'top five' clubs of Chelsea, City, Arsenal, United, and Liverpool this year.

Plenty of exciting fixtures taking place this weekend in the #BarclaysWSL!

Which game are you most looking forward to? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/M2H4f0iQaD

— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) March 19, 2024