Our trip to Arsenal at 12:30 (UK) is the latest test of our credentials as challengers for this year’s title.
That’s before next weekend’s match with Brighton at the Joie Stadium that will be live on CITY+.
Gareth Taylor‘s side have started the new campaign positively, taking 10 points from our opening four games.
We’re level at the top of the table with reigning champions Chelsea, with the 1-1 home draw the only time either side have dropped points.
Here we’ll take a look at the stats that have contributed to the exciting start...
Solid as a rock
The foundation of any strong side is its defence. That’s no different for Gareth Taylor‘s side.
We’ve conceded only one goal - that very late Chelsea equaliser while down to nine players.
Liverpool in sixth have conceded two, but that has come at the cost of threat going forward. They have only scored four times, while we have nine goals.
That means our goal difference of +8 is the best in the division so far.
Our back five has been settled, with Khiara Keating stepping up and playing every minute in goal. The 19-year-old is the only goalkeeper with three clean sheets so far.
With an xGA (expected goals against) of 3.2 and a league leading save percentage of 91.7, Keating has had to do her fair share of the work to deny opponents.
She has been protected by Alex Greenwood, Alanna Kennedy and Laia Aleixandri in every game so far.
Esme Morgan has played three times, with Leila Ouahabi in the side on the other occasion.
With the likes of Steph Houghton, Kerstin Casparij and Ruby Mace ready to play when needed and two international goalkeepers supporting Keating, there is plenty to suggest we can be hard to score against all season.
Ma-Roord-ing start
Our summer signing Jill Roord has adjusted to life at City remarkably quickly.
The midfielder is our top scorer so far with three goals including an opening day strike at West Ham and two in the 5-0 demolition of Bristol City.
She has had a total of 10 shots, four of which have been on target.
The Dutch international also supplied Chloe Kelly for her goal against Leicester City, registering her first assist of the campaign.
She has so far achieved 16 shot creating actions - which can be a pass or a run. That is City’s best figure and the fifth best across the league.
Goals from everywhere
Roord has added an extra goal threat to City’s team early on in this new season, with the goals shared out amongst the players so far.
Bunny Shaw, last year’s record breaker, has two in two games so far and will be looking to match last year’s exploits now she is back to full fitness.
Kelly also has scored twice while Lauren Hemp and Laia Aleixandri have one each.
In terms of assists, Mary Fowler and Aleixandri both have two while Greenwood and Roord have one each.
Back to front
City’s typical playing style has continued to come to the fore this season.
Our defenders and deepest midfielder Yui Hasegawa have been pivotal in bringing the ball forward.
Five of the league’s top 10 players for passes into the final third are City players.
Alex Greenwood has passed into that section of the pitch on 34 occasions while Esme Morgan (29), Alanna Kennedy (28), Hasegawa (26) and Laia Aleixandri (26) are not far behind.
Most of the bigger sides have one defender capable of playing in this way.
However, no team can match the sheer number of players we have capable of breaking the lines with incisive balls meaning our threat really can come from anywhere on the pitch.
