Match Pack: Chelsea

At A Glance

Aston Villa are hunting for their first points of the season in the Barclays WSL when Chelsea visit Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday.

The team’s difficult run at the start of the current campaign has seen them defeated by Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

While the setbacks against the Red Devils and the Gunners felt unfortunate in many ways, many have admitted performances in between have not been up to their own lofty standards.

Emma Hayes brings her Chelsea side to WS1 after picking up 10 points from their opening four league matches.

The Blues’ sole hiccup, if we can call it that, came on the road against Manchester City in October, while they picked up wins against Tottenham, West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion.

They have threats all over the pitch but recent addition, Sjoeke Nüsken, netted twice in a 4-2 win over Brighton last time out.

Standout Stats

• Rachel Daly has been involved in 13 of her sides last 18 league goals (11 goals, 2 assists), 
  including scoring 50% of her sides goals this season (2 of 4).
• If Rachel Corsie plays and Villa beat Chelsea, it will be her 10th WSL victory as a Villa 
  player, joining 10 other players with 10+ wins under their belt for the club.

The Last Meeting

The last time Villa hosted Chelsea in the WSL, the imperious champions asserted their authority at the Bescot.

Goals from Jelena Čanković, Guro Reiten and Sam Kerr saw the Blues run out 3-0 winners en route to their fourth consecutive WSL title.

Villa came close to beating their opponents just two weeks later in the semi-final of the Vitality Women's FA Cup, but their wait for a first success against them carries over into this weekend.

Team News

Villa came through their last outing against Spurs unscathed, but they will be without Lucy Parker this weekend.

The defender, whose performances have impressed since joining the club this summer, sustained an ankle injury while on international duty for England.

Carla Ward confirmed in Thursday morning's press conference that Parker will be out for the visit of the champions.

Elsehwhere, it remains to be seen as to whether Kenza Dali will make her first appearance of the season having been ruled out since pre-season with an injury picked up at the FIFA World Cup.

The Boss