The Blues welcome Bristol City to a fan-free Kingsmeadow this weekend, with Emma Hayes’ team determined to win all three points to keep pace with title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal.

City host Brighton this weekend, bolstered by the marquee signings of Alex Greenwood and Lucy Bronze from Lyon. Add Yankee talent Rose Lavelle to the mix, and the City squad has really stepped up a gear in their battle to win the Women’s Super League for the first time in three years. Arsenal are away to West Ham.

There will be no room for complacency in Hayes’ squad, despite the players knowing they’ve won 10 of their last 11 WSL matches with Bristol City, netting 40 goals along the way, including scoring six times in two of the last three meetings.

The Robins have conceded 44 goals in their 13 top-flight matches against the reigning champions, with their 1-11 defeat to Arsenal in December 2019 in their last such match the heaviest defeat any side has suffered in a Barclays FA Women’s Super League match.

The Chelsea manager’s concern (though she is remaining supportive throughout) is to get the best out of striker Sam Kerr, who had seven shots against Manchester United last time out, but only managed one goal.

Hayes sees it as a positive that Kerr is continually getting into scoring positions (the Australian has averaged four shots a game across her five Barclays FA Women’s Super League appearances), with only the Gunners’ Vivianne Miedema averaging more.

Sunday lunchtime’s match at Kingsmeadow can be viewed on the FA Player.