The Conti Cup final has thrown the Fantasy WSL calendar into disarray. A third of the teams in the league aren't playing at all this weekend, and will earn no fantasy points. We've asked the Scout who they recommend to get you through.
Goalkeepers & Defence
Mary Earps & Maya Le Tissier
While Manchester United, playing at home against Everton, offers a strong fixture for any United player, we can't pass up this defensive pairing. Five of United's six clean sheets have come against sides in the bottom three this season, a group which includes Everton, and which includes their last match-up.
Playing Everton at home very much puts United in their element, with Mary Earps the most reliable goalkeeper choice of the fixtures this weekend, and Maya Le Tissier bagging bonus points in her last four games. Four of these bonus points were also gained while not keeping a clean sheet, offering some reassurance in case Everton manage to clinch a goal.
Sam Tierney
In yet another week with poor defensive fixtures, Sam Tierney's attacking potential against Aston Villa is cast in a flattering light. Two goals and three assists this season gives her one of the best attacking records of any defender. Combine this with Villa's poor defensive record (currently six games without a clean sheet), and her heavy involvement against Brighton, a fixture that saw the ball fly from end-to-end, we think she's worth backing.
Alex Greenwood
On the face of it, we admit, playing Liverpool away doesn't scream like a fixture we expect Greenwood to pick up a clean sheet. City stands out because they're the strongest defensive side in the league, and this game is critical to their chances of winning the title. Greenwood is a key player in that squad, and so will feature heavily.
Midfield
Katie Robinson
Brighton vs. West Ham looks set to be a goal-fest. Brighton have scored 11 times in their last three games, and are facing a West Ham side that has only kept one clean sheet all season. Robinson stands out for us as she's Elisabeth Terland's unofficial second-in-command, and the pair make an incredible duo. Her five attacking returns, including a crucial goal against Leicester last weekend, put her firmly on our radar.
Jordan Nobbs & Kenza Dali
Firstly, let's talk about the fixture. Aston Villa, despite their overall performance, is a side that has scored at least once in their last 12 league games. They're facing a Leicester side that has only managed to keep clean sheets against Everton. We're anticipating goals.
Jordan Nobbs is coming into form, with three attacking returns in her last five games. Kenza Dali is also showing signs of improvement, scoring her first goal of the season against Everton, and her history shows confidence against Leicester, scoring several times against them last season. Both also look likely to get bonus points, especially Nobbs, whose 4 bonus points puts her joint-second within Villa, alongside Anna Patten.
Katie Zelem
Manchester United’s captain has two assists in her last three matches, and has our favourite fixture this weekend. She returned in the reverse fixture, is on set piece duty, and is guaranteed minutes. In other words, Zelem will keep you interested all the way to the end of the Everton game.
Importantly, she’s also a strong contender for bonus points, being joint-second among all midfielders. This puts her on par with Grace Clinton & Aurora Galli (5), and only a step behind her impressive colleagues Maya Le Tissier (7) and Nikita Parris (6).
Forwards
Adriana Leon
With four returns in the last four games, including against Arsenal, Adriana Leon is on fire right now. As we mentioned with Nobbs and Dali, the fixture looks to be an attacker's dream, and Leon is our first choice to capitalise on that. With a stroke of luck, it could be a huge haul on Saturday.
Elisabeth Terland & Viviane Asseyi
With only two clean sheets this season between them, the West Ham & Brighton game is shaping up to be a rush of goals, and we expect their star strikers, Elisabeth Terland, and Viviane Asseyi, to be at the forefront.
Terland is at the top of her game, scoring 12 goals so far this season, while Asseyi and the Hammers show fierce attacking potential at home. Their last game against Chelsea (also at home) saw them narrowly miss out because of a mistake by the referee.
