Gareth Taylor’s side make the journey down to London knowing a victory would both move us top of the WSL and send out a statement to our potential title rivals.
However, standing in our way are a Chelsea side who have been crowned champions in each of the past four seasons.
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Everything points towards a thrilling WSL showdown, which could have a huge bearing on the race for the league crown.
Below you can find a quick rundown of some of the impressive stats behind City and Chelsea’s campaigns to date ahead of Friday’s clash…
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Attack v Defence
One of the most hotly anticipated fixtures of the season sees the WSL’s most potent attack take on its sternest defence.
Chelsea have found the net 41 times so far this season and are the only side to boast a greater tally than Gareth Taylor’s side (35) in front of goal ahead of kick-off.
They’ve also scored in 43 of their last 44 matches. However, that occasion when they drew a blank came at the Joie Stadium in March 2023, when City deservedly ran out 2-0 winners.
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The visitors have been breached just eight times in the WSL this season – the best defensive record in the league – with Khiara Keating’s tally of six clean sheets also the best record for a goalkeeper in 2023/24.
City are also yet to concede on the road in all competitions in 2024, with the eight goals we’ve shipped split evenly at four apiece both at home and away.
Top scorers
As well as a battle for top spot in the WSL, City and Chelsea are also seemingly in a head-to-head tussle for the Golden Boot in 2023/24.
City’s Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw currently leads the way on a remarkable 13 goals in just 12 appearances, with the Jamaican finding the net at a rate of 1.31 per 90 minutes.
The forward is averaging just 69 minutes per goal in the WSL so far, with Chelsea’s Lauren James the only other player to have reached double figures before Friday’s clash.
The England international has 12 goals from as many matches for Emma Hayes’ side so far in 2023/24, but has provided one assist in comparison to Bunny’s three.
Home & Away
Friday’s showdown also sees the side with the strongest home form in the WSL this season take on the team with the best away record for 2023/24.
Chelsea haven’t lost at Kingsmeadow since Brighton came away with three points on 7 February 2021, but City have won five of our six fixtures on the road in the WSL this season.
Taylor’s side have conceded more than once on just a single occasion as well away from home in 2023/24, during our solitary defeat to Arsenal in November.
Form guide
City come into the tie with the longest current winning run in the WSL, having emerged victorious in each of our last seven league matches.
During that time we’ve scored an incredible 25 goals and conceded just four in return.
Unsurprisingly, the next longest ongoing sequence of victories in the competition is Chelsea’s, with Emma Hayes’ side having won their last four since losing 4-1 to Arsenal in December.
