MY ACCOUNT
The Women’s Super League title race took another twist at the weekend as Manchester City beat champions Chelsea 2-0 at the Academy Stadium.
With Arsenal and Manchester United also picking up impressive wins, we take a closer look at the teams in the frame to lift the trophy.
Who is in the mix?
Matchday 16 results showed the title race is truly alive with four teams firmly in the mix.
League leaders United put four past West Ham at Old Trafford on Saturday, while Filippa Angeldahl and Lauren Hemp’s first-half strikes saw City leapfrog Chelsea to go second yesterday.
Arsenal also kept their title hopes alive after a Caitlin Foord brace helped the Gunners claim bragging rights over Tottenham with a 5-1 win in the North London derby.
Tight at the top
United and City are currently tied on 38 points, with Marc Skinner’s side at the summit on goal difference.
Defeat to Gareth Taylor’s in-form team spoiled Chelsea’s chance to return to the top and they sit just one point below on 37 points.
Crucially, however, the Blues have a game in hand over their Manchester rivals.
A rocky start to 2023 means Arsenal are slightly behind in fourth with 35 points but they could make up ground courtesy of a game in hand.
With just three points separating the top four, the title race is set to go down to the wire.
Can United win it for the first time?
United are chasing their first WSL title having finished fourth for the last three seasons.
Skinner’s team face a tricky run-in, with two title rivals in their remaining six matches.
They kick off April with a trip to relegation candidates Brighton, while two tough tests against Arsenal and Aston Villa follow.
The next two matches are at home to Tottenham and rivals City before they finish the season at Liverpool on the final day.
City building momentum
City encountered a shaky start to the season after losing their opening two league games to Villa and Chelsea but their response has been incredible.
They have gone 14 games undefeated in the WSL since that 2-0 defeat to the Blues last September, meaning the momentum is firmly with them in the hunt for the title.
Where can the race be decided?
As the home stretch approaches, there are plenty of games where the title race could throw up more twists and turns.
Arsenal have the toughest fixtures ahead of them, having to play all three title rivals in their remaining games.
A Manchester derby is also on the cards in the penultimate round of fixtures but Chelsea and the Gunners have a game in hand following postponements due to frozen pitches in January.
Those rescheduled fixtures mean Emma Hayes’ side will host Liverpool on May 3, while Jonas Eidevall’s side travel to Brighton a week later.
