WSL Football is back, so is Fantasy! The international break saw the Lionesses edge closer to booking their place at next summer's World Cup. Plenty of BWSL and BWSL 2 stars were on show for their countries, but now we must turn our attention back to domestic football.
Matchweek five was one to remember in the BWSL. Manchester City came from behind twice to beat Arsenal 4-2, with Lauren Hemp scoring twice. London City put six past Tottenham thanks to two goals each from Alexia Putellas and Kadidiatou Diani, and Manchester United kept their first clean sheet of the season thanks to an impressive display from Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
Looking ahead to matchweek six, and with the BWSL 2 sides in Subway League Cup action, this is an all-BWSL team. Chelsea host Tottenham in what will be the weekend’s standout fixture. Meanwhile, Arsenal welcome Birmingham on Saturday and the Gunners will want to pick up all three points for only the second time this season. Charlton have another tough game as they face Eva Olid’s Manchester United, who will be looking to put a run of good results together after a difficult start to the season.
It’s tough to pick a team with so many players in good form, but we’ve gone for five in midfield, because that’s where the points are. Keep an eye on team news before the deadline, but here’s who we think will be in the points this week.
The Back Line
Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United) - £5.5m
Tullis-Joyce made eight saves in the 1-0 win over Liverpool, and helped United keep their first clean sheet of the season. She’s on 27 points already, averaging 5.4 a game, so despite a tough opening run of fixtures, the United States international has been racking up the save points.
This week's fixture looks like a nice one for Tullis-Joyce. Manchester United travel to Charlton, who sit bottom of the table with no points. The Addicks have conceded 15 goals so far this season, including five against Brighton last time out. There’s plenty of clean sheet potential, with this one and potentially save and bonus points on offer.
Ellie Carpenter (Chelsea) - £7.0m
Carpenter is a regular choice in our fantasy selection, and it’s not hard to see why. She’s the top-scoring defender in the game on 48 points, five clear of the next best. At 34%, plenty of people know how good she is. She’s part of a Chelsea side who are proving to be defensively solid this season. Sonia Bompastor’s side kept a sixth clean sheet in a row in matchweek five, and in the league, they’ve conceded just once so far.
Carpenter is given licence to fly forward and has become integral to Chelsea’s attacking play. She averages 7.85 touches in the opposition box per 90 minutes, making her one of the league's top five across any position. Tottenham are the visitors to Stamford Bridge this week, and while they’ll want a response after losing 6-1 to London City, we’re backing Carpenter to have a big influence at both ends of the pitch.
Grace Fisk (Liverpool) - £5.0m
The Liverpool captain is proving to be one of the most consistent defenders this season. She scored twice on the opening day, and she’s up to 34 points at an average of 6.8 per game. After making her international debut for England during the break, she will want to put in another big performance against Aston Villa.
Villa have conceded 11 goals in the opening five games, and with Gareth Taylor’s side having conceded just six themselves, a clean sheet is a real possibility here for the Reds. At £5m, Fisk offers plenty of points potential for a relatively low spend.
Andrea Medina (Manchester United) - £5.5m
Medina is classed as a defender in the game, but United have been using her as an attacking winger, and it’s working. She scored her first club goal in the 2-1 win over West Ham and has put in some impressive performances despite United's tough start. She will be coming into the weekend's fixture full of confidence having just made her Spain debut. Medina is on 28 points so far this season, and only 5% of managers own her. With Charlton the opponents this week, we think she can have a big impact across all phases of the game.
A word of caution: she’s flagged as carrying a knock on the site, but given that she played for Spain, we think there’s a good chance she will play for United; just check team news before the deadline. If she’s fit, she could be the pick that helps you beat your mates.
The Midfield
Lauren Hemp (Manchester City) - £8.0m
It’s impossible not to pick Lauren Hemp. She’s averaging 13 points a game, and her eight bonus points are more than anyone else has picked up. Last time out, she was player of the match as City beat Arsenal 4-2, scoring two goals and setting up another.
She influences everything City does in attack. So far this season, she averages 3.2 key passes per 90 minutes, the most in the league, and her expected assists total of 3.05 is also the highest. Manchester City have won all five games and sit top on 15 points. Brighton are the visitors, fresh from a 5-1 win over Charlton, but City are scoring for fun right now, and Hemp is right at the heart of it.
Océane Hurtré (Birmingham City) - £6.0m
The newly capped France international has made a flying start to life in the top flight with Birmingham City. Hurtré is the game's top scorer with 53 points, and just 10% of managers own her. She’s been one of the division's standout players, scoring five goals in her first five games.
The Blues take on Arsenal this week, a tough opponent on paper, but they conceded four at Manchester City last weekend, so if Birmingham get their tactics right, Hurtré could make an impact. At £6m, she offers high output with relatively low ownership, and it’s pretty hard to leave her out when she just keeps finding the back of the net.
Daniëlle van de Donk (London City) - £4.5m
Van de Donk is enjoying life with London City at the moment. The Dutch international had a hand in three of the goals in LCL’s 6-1 victory over Tottenham, scoring one and setting up two more. She’s up to 39 points for the season, with three goals and two assists to her name, and at £4.5m she represents brilliant value for money.
Everton are up next, and while they’re not an easy side to break down, with just four conceded in five, London City have scored 15 in five, and Van de Donk is proving to be one of their most important players. We’re backing her to put in another big performance this week.
Lisa Baum (Arsenal) - £6.5m
Given Arsenal’s recent form, this might seem like a bold one. However, it’s fair to say that Lisa Baum has been the Gunners’ brightest spark. She’s a direct winger who loves to run at her opponents and has scored two of Arsenal’s four league goals this season.
She’s picked up 28 points so far this season, including a couple of bonus points, and only 9% of managers own her. At £6.5m, she’s an affordable way into an Arsenal attack that’s overdue some luck. The one concern is minutes. Baum has only played 345 minutes across five games, but she’s been Arsenal’s most consistent goal threat, and that counts for plenty in fantasy. Up against a Birmingham City side that has conceded 12 in five, Lisa Baum could prove to be a shrewd pick this weekend.
Alexia Putellas (London City) - £8.5m
If you want a premium midfielder you can trust, Putellas is the one. The former Barcelona player has been in some fine form of late. She’s on 40 points, with three goals, an assist and seven bonus points already.
She’s owned by 56% of managers, so it’s no secret that she’s one of the game's most reliable midfielders. Two clean sheets have added to her total too, which is a nice bonus for a creator.
London City have had no trouble finding the back of the net this season, and we fancy that to continue against Everton at home. The Toffees have looked hard to break down, having conceded just four goals so far, but we think Putellas and LCL’s firepower will be too much for them to contain.
The Forwards
Bunny Shaw (Manchester City) - £12.5m
The most expensive player in our team, and at 67% ownership you’ve probably got her already. We’re running out of new ways to explain why Shaw keeps making this list, but when a player is in this kind of form, you want her in your side.
She’s on five goals for the season, level with Hurtré and Tottenham’s Victoria Pelova at the top of the scoring charts, and she’s on 42 points, averaging 8.4 a game including seven bonus points. She added City’s fourth in the 4-2 win over Arsenal, so there’s no sign of her slowing down.
City face a Brighton side who have conceded seven in five, so there’s a good chance Shaw will carry on where she left off. Yes, she costs a good chunk of your budget at £12.5m, but leaving her out would be a brave call.
Alessia Russo (Arsenal) - £11.5m
If the international break did anyone any good, it was Alessia Russo. The Arsenal forward bagged three goals in two games for England. She looked sharp in front of goal, and she returns to club action full of confidence.
Russo has shown time and again why she’s considered one of the best forwards in the world. She’s so much more than just a goalscorer: she drops into pockets to link the play, and her movement pulls defenders out of position and creates space for others. That’s why so much of what Arsenal do flows through her, and even when she doesn’t get on the scoresheet, she can still rack up the involvement points.
Arsenal will be desperate to get their season up and running, and Saturday’s home game against Birmingham is the perfect opportunity. With the confidence she’s carrying back from international duty, Russo could put in a big performance.
Subs
Pauline Peyraud-Magnin (Crystal Palace) - £4.5m
If you’re not sure about Tullis-Joyce, Peyraud-Magnin is the one to swap in. She has 26 points, two clean sheets, and three bonus points, and remarkably only 2% of managers own her. Palace are at home to West Ham, who have struggled so far this season. At £4.5m, she’s a strong option from the bench.
Alejandra Bernabé (Liverpool) - £4.5m
If you want a Liverpool defender but don’t want to spend on Fisk, Bernabé is a nice swap. The Liverpool left back has played just about every minute and has racked up 26 points. It’s the same fixture as Fisk, so if the clean sheet comes, both of them should be in the points.
Hannah Blundell (Everton) - £4.5m
Blundell has 24 points so far, and at £4.5m, she offers excellent value for money. She’s a solid option at the back. However, London City away is a tough test after they put six past Tottenham, but if Everton can keep it tight, she’s worth considering.
Vivien Endemann (Liverpool) - £6.0m
Our third forward and the priciest of the subs, but she’s earned it. Endemann’s impressive performances for Liverpool have seen her rack up 29 in total. She’s contributed two goals and two assists to the Reds’ impressive start to the campaign. She’s a useful addition to our squad and if you fancy three forwards, she would be the way to go. If Liverpool get going at Villa, a few of your players should be in the points.
