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18 mins: The drums are banging inside the Academy Stadium.
Shaw collects a pass in the box and tries to find half a yard of space but Eriksson tracks her and blocks her eventual shot.
16 mins: This has been a relentless start to the match with chances at both ends.
14 mins: Greenwood swings in a corner from the right but Eriksson is there to meet it. Chelsea break after Morgan fails to win a challenge against Cuthbert despite being favourite to get the ball.
Ingle lets fly from 25 yards, the shot takes a deflection and Roebuck does well to palm it away.
12 mins: Greenwood has taken the most recent City goal-kick. Is Roebuck injured? It seems an odd tactic otherwise.
On another note … one of these City players walks past my house most days. In case you were interested.
10 mins: Kerr is looking the most dangerous player on the pitch currently. She think she has beaten the offside trap but is called back by the assistant’s flag. It is a close call.
The Australian has a chance a few moments later but drags her shot wide from 20 yards.
8 mins: Kelly swings in a corner from the left but Leupolz just about heads it away. The ball comes back and Chelsea struggle to clear but the danger ends when Shaw sends it behind for a goal-kick.
6 mins: Kerr chases a long ball over the top from Ingle; Greenwood follows her into the box and puts the striker under pressure, ensuring her shot is straight at Roebuck.
There is a lot going on in this match.
4 mins: Kelly latches onto a pass down the right flank and swings in a cross that is straight at Eriksson. The defender completely misscontrols the ball and it goes towards the net but Berger is there to prevent an own goal.
2 mins: Chelsea make the most of a poor touch in midfield from City and turn over the ball. Reiten tries to put in a cross but it hits the sidenetting.
City have a chance of their own thanks to fine work on the left from Hemp; the winger puts in a fine pass to Kelly inside the box but Carter does enough to turn it behind for a corner.
A lively start.
Kick off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
Friends of the Guardian Robyn Cowen and Rachel Brown Finnis are on comms. And here come the teams!
The managers have spoken.
Gareth Taylor: “Our performance has got to do enough to win the game. It is as simple as that. If we were not successful in winning today, that would be it (for a title challenge). It is a must-win for us.”
Emma Hayes: “I do relish this period and the players do, too. We like games, accumulation and being in a flow. On the defensive front we are more difficult to beat.”
On Millie Bright: “She just misses out today, she will be back next week.
The game is being shown on BBC One in the UK, just in case you were wondering.
City’s Bunny Shaw has 15 goals in as many WSL matches this season. She is leading the scoring charts by league’s scoring charts by four. In addition to goals, she also has four assists to her name. She is, arguably, the most important player in the WSL currently.
Moonchester and Moonbeam are primed. Who is your favourite football mascot?
For balance … here is your friend and mine Karen Carney on Lauren James.
Get in the mood for today’s game with Suzanne Wrack’s interview with Lauren Hemp.
There is no Millie Bright for Chelsea after she suffered an injury in midweek, which is good news for City and Bunny Shaw.
Starting lineups
Man City: Roebuck; Morgan, Houghton, Greenwood, Aleixandri; Hasegawa, Angeldahl, Coombs; Kelly, Hemp, Shaw
Subs: MacIver, Casparij, Stokes, Fowler, Castellanos, Raso, Ouahabi, Kennedy, Blakstad
Chelsea: Berger; Mjedle, Eriksson, Buchanan, Carter; Leupolz, Ingle, Reiten; James, Kerr, Cuthbert
Subs: Musovic, Perisset, Fleming, Kaneryd, Charles, Abdullina, Cankovic
Hello!
I hope you are not too upset about losing an hour’s sleep. Hopefully this match will liven you all up.
After Manchester United went back to the top of the table last night, we have two teams that could replace them at the summit playing this Sunday lunch. Admittedly, for Manchester City to take first they will need to beat Chelsea 16-0 here but you never know.
A win of any sort for City would see them leapfrog Emma Hayes’ side, putting them above Chelsea for the first time this season. City are unbeaten in 13 in the league, while Chelsea have lost only once all season, so it should be an entertaining encounter.
Chelsea won their midweek Champions League quarter final first leg in Lyon this week, giving them a boost and a touch of leeway in the tie, but they might have fancied a more straightforward game in between.
Here’s to a cracker!
Kick-off: 12.40pm BST
English (US)