It’s crunch time in the Women’s Super League – after six months of spectacular goals, brilliant individual performances, and shock results, the season is coming to an end.
By Nancy Gillen
Three teams are still vying for the title, but it’s Manchester City who are currently top of the WSL table. They lead with 46 points, three points ahead of Chelsea, who have a game in hand. To make matters even more exciting, City also have a superior goal difference of just one.
Arsenal sit in third, nine points behind City but with a game in hand. While it’s very unlikely the Gunners will be lifting the WSL trophy at the end of the season, only a couple of unexpected results would put them right back into contention.
Will City prevent Chelsea from clinching a fifth successive league title, will Emma Hayes be leaving the Blues with another WSL winners’ medal in her pocket, or could Arsenal spring a massive surprise?
Emma Hayes’s farewell tour
While City are currently top of the table, Chelsea remain favourites to win the WSL for the fifth season in a row. This would be a fitting farewell to Hayes, who announced in November she would be leaving the club at the end of the season to take charge of the United States women’s national team.
It’s been a difficult last season for Hayes, who has had to deal with a spate of injuries to her key players. Strikers Sam Kerr and Mia Fishel are both sidelined with ACL injuries, while captain Millie Bright has missed the majority of the campaign with a knee problem.
But Hayes has the ability to nurture players into crucial components of her team when she needs them most. Young forward Aggie Beever-Jones has been a revelation for Chelsea this season, making the most of her limited time on the pitch with a WSL-leading 1.75 goals per 90 minutes.
Midfielder Johanna Rytting Kaneryd has also stepped up her game this season, recording five assists so far. This, combined with her three goals, puts her top of the WSL assist rankings. Meanwhile, the effervescent Lauren James is Chelsea’s highest scorer this season with 13 goals.
These players have softened the blow of multiple injuries among the Chelsea squad and have ensured the side have only dropped points on three occasions this season – a draw and a loss to Manchester City, and a defeat to Arsenal.
The Blues have a slightly easier run-in as the season comes to an end, coming up against Aston Villa, Liverpool, Bristol City, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.
Manchester City will need Chelsea to drop points against one of these teams to have a chance of winning the WSL.
Manchester City back on top
City have fallen short in the WSL title race in recent years, last winning the title in 2016. But they have benefitted from a settled squad this season, putting them in contention to end Chelsea’s league dominance.
Gareth Taylor’s side have been impressive in both attack and defence. Bunny Shaw has been on fire, scoring 19 goals and setting up three more. In fact, she is the WSL player with the highest average FotMob rating this season, achieving 8.15.
Alex Greenwood has not only been a rock in the heart of City’s midfield, but has often been the starting point as her team progress the ball up the field. Boasting a league-high 86.3 accurate passes per 90 minutes, she is crucial to City’s composed build-up play.
Khiara Keating, just 19 years old, is another supreme talent for City. She has kept seven clean sheets so far this season, the highest in the WSL. She also tops the league for her save percentage of 81.3%.
City evidently do not have many weaknesses, but they still must play Arsenal at home. This is the trickiest game in their run-in, which also includes West Ham, Bristol City and Aston Villa, and it really is a must-win if City want to stun Chelsea and lift the WSL trophy at the end of the season.
Arsenal’s role to play in the WSL title race
Despite victories against Chelsea and Manchester City this season, Arsenal only have themselves to blame for crashing out of the title race after shock losses to Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham.
Defender Lotte Wubben-Moy has been Arsenal’s standout player this season, earning an average FotMob rating of 7.49, but the team’s attack has often misfired during crucial games.
It seems very unlikely the Gunners will be able to catch the two teams above them in the table, but they could still be pivotal in determining where the WSL title goes this season.
If Arsenal were to beat City on the penultimate weekend of the season, Chelsea would gain crucial breathing space at the top of the table and would likely be gifted that fifth successive WSL title.
But if City overcome Arsenal, it could set up a mouthwatering final day of the season. The pressure will be on Chelsea, who must travel to Old Trafford to take on United. This could be where they slip up, handing the initiative back to City.
Whatever happens, it’s set to be one of the most thrilling conclusions to a WSL season yet.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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