Arsenal Women will win the league, with a game to spare, if they win away to Brighton on Sunday.
Arsenal go into Sunday’s game not only knowing that they can win the league but aware that a win would avoid a winner-takes-all finale against City at Borehamwood next weekend in the final game.
Arsenal’s last title was won under Laura Harvey back in 2012 with Jordan Nobbs, Danielle Carter and Kim Little the only survivors from that era.
The game has been moved, by Brighton, from Crawley Town to the Amex and the kick-off has also been moved to 12.15pm, clashing with the men’s game against Leicester at 12pm.
The Seagulls will be hoping for a big crowd at this potential title-winning game, but it could have been even larger had the authorities not scheduled the men’s and women’s games at the same time.
The starting 11 should see no surprises with long-term injuries to Jordan Nobbs and Lia Wälti and a short term injury for Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.
Every other player is fit to play and available to start.
The only question mark is at left-back as Joe Montemurro could bring in the returning Emma Mitchell to offer a more defensive option than Katrin Veje who is more of a winger.
The starting 11, therefore, should be stable and look like this: Sari Van Veenendaal; Lisa Evans, Leah Williamson, Louise Quinn, Katrin Veje; Dominique Bloodworth, Kim Kittle, Danielle Van De Donk; Katie McCabe, Vivianne Miedema, Beth Mead.
We should have a full bench available with Libby Harper, our young Academy keeper deputising again.
The rest of the bench should look like: Janni Arnth, Tabea Kemme, Emma Mitchell, Victoria Schnaderbeck and Danielle Carter. Academy regular Ava Kuyken is also available following last week’s 5-0 win against United in the FA WSL Academy cup final.
With so many key players in superb form, a win is expected against a side that managed to reach its target – staying up. Brighton have not played at the Amex for more than a year and will, therefore, have no real home advantage.