Chelsea retained their WSL title last season and also broke new ground in Europe when they became the first English club since Arsenal in 2007 to reach the Champions League final.

The Blues were comprehensively beaten by Barcelona in the European showdown but that setback and the increasingly fierce competition at home will only drive them on.

Their squad hasn’t changed much but there wasn’t any need for major changes given the level they are already at. The question now is can they retain the WSL title again, becoming the first club since the formation of the league a decade ago to win three in a row, and go one better in Europe.

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In: Aniek Nouwen, Lauren James

Out: Jamie-Lee Napier, Emily Murphy

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1. Zecira Musovic (GK)
3. Aniek Nouwen (DF)
4. Millie Bright (DF)
5. Sophie Ingle (MF)
7. Jess Carter (DF)
8. Melanie Leupolz (MF)
9. Bethan England (FW)
10. Ji So-yun (MF)
11. Guro Reiten (MF)
14. Fran Kirby (FW)
16. Magdalena Eriksson (DF)
17. Jessie Fleming (MF)
18. Maren Mjelde (DF)
19. Lauren James (FW)
20. Sam Kerr (FW)
21. Niamh Charles (DF)
22. Erin Cuthbert (MF)
23. Pernille Harder (FW)
24. Drew Spence (DF)
25. Jonna Andersson (DF)
28. Carly Telford (GK)
29. Jorja Fox (FW)
30. Ann-Katrin Berger (GK)

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Emma Hayes is rightly revered as one of the best managers working in women’s football anywhere in the world. Her long-term ambition and drive took Chelsea to the Champions League final last season, while her winning mentality continues to make the Blues the team to beat.

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Chelsea have an array of world-class players throughout the squad, few more so than Pernille Harder, who is the world’s most expensive female player, and 2020/21 WSL golden boot winner Sam Kerr. But Fran Kirby’s return last season following long-term illness really made the Blues sing.

The 28-year-old was one of only two WSL players last season to record double figures in both goals and assists, having a direct involvement in 27 of Chelsea’s 69 league goals in total, and comes into this season as reigning FWA footballer of the year and PFA player of the year.

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It seems obvious because even at 19 she was Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer, but eyes this season should be firmly fixed on new signing Lauren James.

Ex-United boss Casey Stoney has called the teenager ‘a talent that I haven’t seen in the women’s game before’ and huge things are expected of arguably the most naturally gifted player that England has ever produced following her big-money move to Chelsea.

Critics who have suggested James may not get sufficient playing time in Chelsea’s star-studded squad to further her development need only look at how Niamh Charles blossomed last season.

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Live TV broadcasts have been chosen for games up to 10 October, other dates and/or kick-off times after that point remain subject to change. All games except those chosen for live TV broadcast will be available to stream free via the FA Player.

5 September 2021 – 12.30pm – Arsenal vs Chelsea (Sky Sports Premier League)
12 September 2021 – 12.30pm – Chelsea vs Everton (BBC Two)
26 September 2021 – 12.30pm – Manchester United vs Chelsea (BBC Two)
2 October 2021 – 11.30am – Chelsea vs Brighton (Sky Sports Premier League)
10 October 2021 – 12.30pm – Chelsea vs Leicester (Sky Sports Premier League)
6 November 2021 – 12.30pm – Aston Villa vs Chelsea
14 November 2021 – 2pm – Man City vs Chelsea
21 November 2021 – 2pm – Chelsea vs Birmingham
12 December 2021 – 2pm – Reading vs Chelsea
19 December 2021 – 2pm – Chelsea vs West Ham
9 January 2022 – 2pm – Chelsea vs Tottenham
16 January 2022 – 1pm – Everton vs Chelsea
23 January 2022 – 2pm – Brighton vs Chelsea
6 February 2022 – 2pm – Chelsea vs Manchester City
13 February 2022 – 2pm – Chelsea vs Arsenal
6 March 2022 – 3pm – West Ham vs Chelsea
13 March 2022 – 2pm – Chelsea vs Aston Villa
27 March 2022 – 2pm – Leicester vs Chelsea
3 April 2022 – 2pm – Chelsea vs Reading
24 April 2022 – 2pm – Tottenham vs Chelsea
1 May 2022 – 2pm – Birmingham vs Chelsea
8 May 2022 – 12.30pm – Chelsea vs Manchester United

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For Chelsea not to win the WSL title again in 2021/22, someone else has to be better and that simply is not the case. Manchester City ran the champions extremely close last season but have arguably fallen away ever so slightly with their summer business and cannot boast the same squad depth.

Arsenal are still too far away to challenge, so if Chelsea do what they do best the WSL trophy will be staying at Kingsmeadow for a third year in a row. Their ability to rotate should also underpin another run deep into the Champions League, possibly all the way.

Predicted final league position: 1st

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