Three teams – Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal – are still fighting it out to claim a domestic double as the WSL season approaches its final two weeks.
In a topsy-turvy campaign, three of the country’s biggest clubs have a chance of lifting the WSL title on May 27, with six points separating the trio.
WSL leaders Man Utd take on second-placed Chelsea, who are just a point adrift their rivals, in Sunday’s sold-out FA Cup final at Wembley ahead of an epic finale to the league campaign.
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Arsenal, meanwhile, are five points behind Chelsea – both teams having played a game fewer than Man Utd – making them the outsiders in the title race, but the FA Women’s League Cup winners are not out of it just yet.
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So which team has the best chance of fending off challengers and fighting their way to the top prize?
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Manchester United
- Position: 1st
- Played: 20
- Points: 50
- GD: +42
Remaining WSL fixtures: Man City (H) – May 21, Liverpool (A) – May 27
Man Utd continue to maintain their lead at the top of the WSL, with a convincing 3-0 win against Tottenham on Sunday following on from a last-gasp 3-2 win against Aston Villa.
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Marc Skinner’s side are the league’s top goalscorers (53) and have also conceded the joint-fewest (11). That means they are also in the best possible position in terms of goal difference.
What is particularly noticeable is the way United spread their goals around their attack. If it is not Alessia Russo on the scoresheet, then it is Leah Galton. Or Ella Toone. Or super-sub Lucia Garcia.
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Highlights of the Women’s Super League match between Manchester Utd and Tottenham.
United’s only other concern is an FA Cup final against holders Chelsea on May 14. The Blues are also a major problem for United in the WSL with Emma Hayes’ side closing the gap to four points, but crucially with two games in hand.
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How United’s season concludes – with or without silverware – may well have an impact on whether top-scorer Russo, the subject of a world-record bid from Arsenal in January, stays at Old Trafford this summer.
The England forward’s contract expires in July, but could a WSL winner’s medal and the chance to represent Manchester United in their first Champions League campaign boost the club’s position at the negotiating table?
Chelsea
- Position: 2nd
- Played: 19
- Points: 49
- GD: +42
Remaining fixtures: West Ham (A) – May 17*, Arsenal (H) – May 21, Reading (A) – May 27
*live on Sky Sports
We are now at the business end of the season and this is Chelsea’s league to lose.
The fixture list is in their favour and a domestic double is still very much on the cards. As well as their game in hand on Man Utd, Emma Hayes’ Blues have already played the majority of the competing field – only a showdown with Arsenal remains, with two of their three remaining fixtures against non-title chasing competitors.
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Highlights of the Women’s Super League match between Chelsea and Everton.
No game is a gimme. But once Chelsea get going, there is very little that can stop them. Just ask Everton, who were on the end of a 7-0 thrashing by the Blues. Or Leicester, who were thumped 6-0 at a wet and windy Kingsmeadow. Those cricket scores have taken Chelsea level with Man Utd on goal difference.
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Chelsea are not without their struggles; injuries have blighted Hayes’ selections in recent weeks.
There continues to be concern over centre-back Millie Bright’s fitness – with the defender nursing a troublesome knee – while Fran Kirby is out for the rest of the season and will miss the summer World Cup. A timely boost has, however, seen Pernille Harder return to action in recent weeks after a lengthy hamstring lay-off, scoring four in her last two games.
However, Sam Kerr was taken off with a knock to her ankle at Kingsmeadow on Sunday, with all eyes on her fitness heading into the weekend’s FA Cup final.
Will such a toiling schedule prove to be Chelsea’s downfall as they pursue a fourth consecutive league title? Or will the holders, as they so often do, reign supreme?
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Chelsea manager Emma Hayes speaks to Sky Sports after her side’s impressive 7-0 win at home against Everton.
Arsenal
- Position: 3rd
- Played: 19
- Points: 44
- GD: +34
Remaining fixtures: Everton (A) – May 17*, Chelsea (A) – May 21, Aston Villa (H) – May 27
* Live on Sky Sports
Title credentials are built on the promise that key players stay fit and firing. Arsenal have not been so lucky.
In truth, they have been on the back foot since season-ending knee injuries to star forwards Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead around Christmas, which threatened to derail their campaign before it had even reached its midway point.
Now, captain Kim Little is out for the rest of the campaign, compounded by another notable absentee – England captain Leah Williamson, who suffered the same fate as both Miedema and Mead not long ago. Rotten luck for a player at the peak of her powers. To add to their injury problems defender Laura Wienroither became their fourth player to suffer an ACL rupture this season.
Victories over Tottenham and Man City threatened a late title race revival but a 1-0 loss last month to Man Utd rather scuppered plans.
Throw in a heartbreaking Champions League semi-final defeat to Wolfsburg and Jonas Eidevall’s side must now summon all the drive and spirit they possess to put setbacks to one side to keep their faint title hopes alive.
They bounced back from the aforementioned loss in Europe to move to within six points of current leaders Manchester United with a 1-0 win over Leicester, but though they still retain a game in hand, there is no room for error from here.
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Hosted by Caroline Barker, Three Players and a Podcast sees Jen Beattie (currently playing for Arsenal), Izzy Christiansen (currently playing for Everton) and Rachel Yankey (former WSL player and England international) bring three topics to the table each episode. Topical or historical, light-hearted or hard-hitting – we’ll discuss the important issues and debates surrounding women’s football.
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