We’ve delved into all of the stats using the Squawka Comparison Matrix to pick out a combined Manchester City Women and Chelsea Women XI ahead of the WSL clash on Sunday.
Check the stats and see our eventual combined XI below. The players we’ve chosen to compare are a combination of the team’s most used XI so far this season and predicted lineups for the match itself.
Goalkeeper: Ayaka Yamashita vs Hannah Hampton
Hannah Hampton was named as Fifa’s The Best Goalkeeper earlier this season, and she wins this matchup. But Ayaka Yamashita is no fool. She’s more involved with Man City’s passing game than Hampton at Chelsea, which is impressive considering the latter’s ability on the ball. But Hampton does come out on top for accuracy.
Hampton has also been the busier goalkeeper, averaging more saves per 90 minutes in the WSL this season with a better save percentage too. She’s also conceded fewer goals per 90 and kept more clean sheets.
Winner: Hannah Hampton
Right-back: Kerstin Casparij vs Ellie Carpenter
While Lucy Bronze may have been Chelsea’s first-choice right-back for some time, she has shifted to centre-back. So Ellie Carpenter has been playing as their wing-back, and is their selection here. Kerstin Casparij has been one of the most consistent right-backs in the WSL for some time, even though she may not get the recognition she deserves.
But it is Carpenter who comes out on top. Given her more attacking style of play, especially as a wing-back, Carpenter leads this match-up on crosses attempted and take-ons completed. But it is only slightly for the crosses at 3.9 to 3.8. The pair are also level on chances created per 90. Casparij does come out on top for tackles made, clearances and ground duel success rate. That’s not enough to take the spot from Carpenter, though, who also leads for interceptions and ball recoveries.
Winner: Ellie Carpenter
Centre-backs: Jade Rose vs Rebecca Knaak vs Lucy Bronze vs Naomi Girma vs Millie Bright
Chelsea are likely to line up with a back three here, giving three centre-back options. As mentioned, Bronze is likely to tuck in from the right, joining Naomi Girma and Millie Bright. In terms of our centre-back metrics, Bright leads the way. She sits ahead for tackles made at 1.8 per 90, just ahead of Jade Rose’s 1.6. Bright also wins more of her aerial duels and makes for clearances. Again she just about beats Rose for the latter.
Rose — who is likely to start after injury worries — has performed really well this season alongside Rebecca Knaak at the heart of the Man City defence. And it’s likely a centre-back partnership that will lead Man City to the title. But Bronze takes the second centre-back spot thanks to her success in quantity of ground duels won, as well as interceptions and ball recoveries. Of course, that is helped by her time spent as a full-back.
Winners: Lucy Bronze & Millie Bright
Left-back: Alex Greenwood vs Sandy Baltimore
Sandy Baltimore is expected to be Chelsea’s choice at left-wing-back, while Alex Greenwood should continue on the left for Man City. As a converted winger, the Frenchwoman excels in the more offensive metrics, almost doubling Greenwood for crosses attempted. But Greenwood matches Baltimore on 1.8 chances created per 90.
Baltimore does also hold her own in the defensive metrics, edging ahead on tackles made at 0.9 to 0.7 per 90, and interceptions at 1.1 to 0.8 per 90. But Greenwood still sits clear for ball recoveries and clearances, the latter at an impressive 3.2 per 90. It’s not enough to usurp Baltimore, though.
Winner: Sandy Baltimore
Defensive midfielder: Yui Hasegawa vs Keira Walsh
This is a matchup between two of the best players in their position. Not just in the WSL, but in the world. And Yui Hasegawa wins pretty comphrensively. The Man City midfield maestro is exceptional, and integral to the team. She’s excellent on the ball, averaging 21.7 forward passes per 90 — which is just ahead of Keira Walsh’s 21.6. Walsh does have the better accuracy, but again they’re pretty close.
Despite her small frame, though, Hasegawa is tough to beat. She bests Walsh for duels won, ground duel success rate, interceptions and tackles made. Even though she loses the ball recoveries battle, it’s close at 5.4 to Walsh’s 5.5. And, of course, Walsh does have more success with aerial duels. But that doesn’t take anything away from Hasegawa.
Winner: Yui Hasegawa
Defensive midfielder: Laura Blindkilde Brown vs Erin Cuthbert
Laura Blindkilde Brown has been a very good part of Man City’s team this season, as a bit of a surprise package. She’s not the name many expected to have this role in the midfield, but she complements Hasegawa well. On the other side of this battle, Erin Cuthbert remains one of the best — and more underrated — midfielders in the WSL. And the Scot does edge this battle.
Cuthbert is one of Chelsea’s key attacking players, as shown by her shots and chances created per 90. She’s the definition of a box-to-box midfielder, and a ball winner. She averages 7.9 ball recoveries and 1.8 interceptions per 90, which is better than Blindkilde Brown. But this isn’t a walkover. Blindkilde Brown bests Cuthbert on tackles made, take-ons completed and ground duel success rate.
Winner: Erin Cuthbert
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Wingers: Kerolin vs Lauren Hemp vs Alyssa Thompson
Now, Chelsea’s formation doesn’t really have full-blown wingers at the moment. But they do often have Alyssa Thompson on the pitch, even if she has been playing more as a partner to Sam Kerr. The American has thrived for Chelsea signing joining in the summer, and has been one of the best players of an underwhelming attack. But there is no real comparison between her and her Man City counterparts right now.
Kerolin had a delayed start of the season due to injury and personal reasons. But the Brazilian has been excellent since returning to Man City’s team. Kerolin averages 2.0 shots on target per 90 in the WSL this season, with 0.9 goals. She matches that average for assists, while also creating an impressive 3.4 chances per 90 — Kerolin sits just ahead of Lauren Hemp in that metric. Hemp is also excellent and one of Man City’s key creative players, creating 2.9 chances per 90. She’s also won 54.55% of her attempted take-ons, which is the best of this trio.
Winners: Kerolin & Lauren Hemp
No.10: Vivianne Miedema vs Lauren James
Lauren James hasn’t played much this season, only recently returning from injury. But that has worked for her in this matchup against Vivianne Miedema. The Dutchwoman has been at her best in recent times, which has been a joy to watch after injuries halted the career of one of the WSL’s best players. This season, Miedema averages 1.6 shots on target per 90 and has scored 0.5 goals, still holding her goalscoring threat as a former striker.
But she’s creative too, averaging 0.4 assists per 90 from 2.3 chances created. James does beat Miedema on the latter, at 3.9 chances created per 90, but she is yet to provide an assist. James does get ahead in the duels, though. She averages per take-ons completed per 90, more fouls won and more ball recoveries. And that’s enough to just about edge ahead of Miedema on the head-to-head.
Winner: Lauren James
Striker: Bunny Shaw vs Sam Kerr
Bunny Shaw is arguably the best striker in the world right now. She’s definitely the best in the WSL. And that’s shown by her domination of his matchup with Sam Kerr. Although Kerr is not the player she once was pre-ACL injury, the Australian is still one of the best. She has been more creative at Chelsea this season, often finding herself out wide, and that’s shown in her 2.6 chances created per 90 and 0.4 assists.
But it’s Shaw on top in the key striking metrics. The Jamaican striker averages 5.3 shots per 90 minutes and has hit the target with 2.7 of them. She even averages 1.1 goals per 90, which is an incredible return. Her conversion rate of 19.4% is impressive too, better than Kerr’s 15.38%. Shaw is tough to stop too, and opposition defenders often have to resort to fouls. But even then she has still averaged 2.0 take-ons completed per 90.
Winner: Bunny Shaw
