Fowler and Fujino return to squad ahead of Chelsea clash | OneFootball

Mary Fowler and Aoba Fujino have returned to City's matchday squad ahead of our WSL top-of-the-table tie with Chelsea.

It’s Australia international Fowler’s first involvement since rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament in April 2025, while Fujino also returns to make her first squad since December.

Elsewhere, Andrée Jeglertz names an unchanged starting XI at the Etihad Stadium from the side who beat London City Lionesses last weekend.

A battle between the WSL’s top two, City hold a nine-point advantage over Chelsea heading into the game, but the visitors are the only side to beat Jeglertz’s side this season.

It promises to be a thrilling clash at the Etihad...

Teams

City XI: Yamashita, Rose, Knaak, Greenwood (C), Casparij, Blindkilde Brown, Hasegawa, Hemp, Kerolin, Miedema, Shaw.

Subs: Keating, Clinton, Coombs, Fowler, Ouahabi, Coffey, Fujino, Beney, Prior.

Chelsea XI: Hampton, Carpenter, Bright (C), Buurman, Cuthbert, James, Thompson, Girma, Baltimore, Kaptein, Walsh

Subs: Spencer, Peng, Nusken, Reiten, Rytting Kaneryd, Kerr, Potter, Beever-Jones, Sarwie

Tactics

We expect Ayaka Yamashita’s goal to be protected by the usual fluid defensive backline, which alternates between a three and a four.

Jade Rose, Rebecca Knaak and Alex Greenwood are expected to line up as a defensive three, with Kerstin Casparij given greater freedom to join the attack on the right flank.

Laura Blindkilde Brown and Yui Hasegawa will start as a midfield two, with Lauren Hemp set to start on the left in front of Greenwood.

At the sharp end, Kerolin and Vivianne Miedema start behind Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, though the system allows them to float around the pitch where required.

Fowler and Fujino

Regardless of if our returning duo feature today or not, their inclusion provides a huge boost heading into the business end of the season.

Before her injury, Fowler had been one of the Blues’ standout performers in 2024/25 and finished the campaign as the only player to hit double figures for goals and assists.

The Australian’s intelligence and versatility will make her a key asset in multiple attacking positions, though she seems destined to excel in the fluid front three under Jeglertz.

Fujino has also continued to impress in her second full season at City. Her creativity and energy could be the difference as legs tire in the latter stages today.

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First vs. Second

Much of City’s success this season has come from our mentality of taking each game as it comes, but there’s no hiding from the potential significance of this match.

The Blues hold a nine-point advantage ahead of Sunday’s showdown, so a win today would stretch that gap to 12 over the reigning champions with eight games to play.

However, there are still 24 points to play for after today’s clash, so while this is a huge opportunity, City remain in the drivers’ seat should Chelsea emerge as the victors.

Goals, goals, goals

Today is also a battle between the WSL’s best attack and its meanest defence.

City’s 36 goals this season are unmatched, with Shaw leading the way in the scoring charts on 13 so far.

But Chelsea have conceded just eight this season in the WSL, so something has to give at the Etihad Stadium.

Make sure you stay until the end today though, as City’s ten goals after the 75th minute are also a league high!