This WSL weekend felt like a shift in the landscape. The derby at the Etihad changed the mood at the top. Chelsea’s historic unbeaten run survived, but their grip on the title loosened. Liverpool stood tall. Arsenal and Tottenham fought out a fierce contest in a stadium that was not the main venue for a north London derby. West Ham finally won. Brighton scored four. London City stunned Villa. Every match mattered, and every match told a story.
Before diving into the action, one remarkable note about Chelsea demands attention. Chelsea have not failed to win in consecutive league games since December 2021. That record remains intact, but only by the finest margins. With their unbeaten run now stretched to a WSL record of thirty-four matches, this weekend raises a question that is echoing around the league. Is the title race over?
Manchester City 3 Manchester United 0: Manchester belongs to City
Manchester City delivered a commanding performance at the Etihad, overwhelming Manchester United and signalling their intent to control the title race. City took the lead after twenty-six minutes when Rebecca Knaak rose highest to head home following a spell of constant attacking pressure. United rarely recovered from that moment. Just before half-time, Bunny Shaw reacted quickest to a loose ball in the six-yard area to make it two. City was not finished. Lauren Hemp broke forward in stoppage time and smashed in a third goal to complete a devastating first half.
The second half was a matter of control. United could not break down City’s structure, and City managed the tempo calmly. There were no notable injuries and no incidents beyond the sending off. This victory placed the pressure directly on Chelsea before they travelled to Liverpool the following day.
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1: A record extended and a title picture complicated
Chelsea entered the match knowing the stakes. Manchester City had opened up a four-point advantage, and Chelsea needed a response. They were also defending a historic record spanning multiple seasons. With this draw, Chelsea now holds the longest unbeaten run in WSL history with thirty-four matches without defeat.
Alyssa Thompson gave Chelsea the perfect start. She cut inside with confidence after a transition move and curled a superb right-footed shot into the top corner after only nine minutes. It was a brilliant solo moment that unsettled Liverpool immediately. However, Liverpool were not interested in playing the role of supporting cast. In thirty-two minutes, Lily Woodham slipped an intelligent through ball in behind Chelsea’s back line. Beata Olsson timed her run perfectly, held off the defender and finished confidently into the far corner.
Olsson spoke afterwards and credited the assist as the key moment. She explained that Lily did the hard work and that Liverpool knew their pace could challenge Chelsea’s centre-backs. Woodham noted separately that Liverpool needed to stick together in moments like these and that a single opportunity could change the match.
Chelsea believed they had won it late in the match when Aggie Beever Jones turned in a close-range finish. The flag went up immediately. The decision was correct, but the frustration was evident.
It was also a landmark afternoon for Millie Bright, as she reached 211 WSL appearances, an extraordinary measure of longevity in the league.
Another moment that quickly gained attention concerned Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor. She did not appear for the post-match press conference, and according to multiple reports, there was no demand from Chelsea’s camp for any alternative interview opportunity. No quotes or explanation were provided.
Chelsea remain unbeaten and continue their historic run, but the draw leaves Manchester City in control of the title race. Whether Chelsea can chase them down remains one of the season's defining questions. Their upcoming meetings with European giants raise another storyline entirely. Supporters are beginning to ask whether Chelsea can step up against Barcelona on the kind of difficult, cold night that English football fandom half-jokes about. The reality is that Chelsea will need another level of performance if they want domestic and European success simultaneously.
Tottenham Hotspur 0 Arsenal 0: A gritty derby that refused to open up
The north London derby took place at Brisbane Road, not at either club’s main stadium, but the atmosphere surpassed expectations. Tottenham supporters began their anthem, and were immediately answered by the 1,300 travelling Arsenal fans singing The Angel. The game had a real derby feel from the opening minutes.
Spurs were brighter in the early exchanges. Eveliina Summanen tested Daphne van Domselaar with a direct free kick. Cathinka Tandberg forced a foul from Lotte Wubben Moy. Moments later, Vinberg managed to get goal side of the Arsenal defender before Wubben Moy recovered sufficiently to make the block. Emily Fox went close at the other end after cutting inside and hitting a left-footed strike that Kop saved comfortably.
Tottenham were threatening on the counterattack. Arsenal pressed aggressively but left gaps that Spurs tried to exploit. On seventeen minutes Jess Naz drove down the right and delivered a low cross that Vinberg narrowly failed to convert. Arsenal responded with moments of creativity but struggled to break the defensive line. Kyra Cooney Cross fired over from distance. A corner led to a collision between Steph Catley and Clara Holdt. Arsenal’s possession share remained unusually low at around forty percent and Renee Slegers demanded more control throughout the first half.
There were few clear chances. Beth Mead connected well with a volleyed square pass to Alessia Russo but the finish went wide. Blackstenius forced Kop into a strong save at the near post. McCabe received a yellow card for a tactical foul on Olivia Holdt. By half time both sides were level and the match remained tight.
Arsenal substituted McCabe at half time after Spurs had targeted her late in the first half. Olivia Smith also entered and immediately changed the match. She dribbled past several defenders, cut the ball back and presented Blackstenius with a golden chance which was lifted over the bar. Smith was causing chaos and Spurs struggled to contain her. Fox went close after another Smith cut back.
Attendance was announced as six thousand seven hundred and eighty eight which is nearly double the previous WSL attendance record at the stadium. Arsenal’s momentum grew but Tottenham defended with resilience. Drew Spence produced several key blocks. Toko Koga timed interventions perfectly, especially when dealing with Russo on the flank. Maanum and Caldentey both had opportunities but missed the target.
Late in the match an injury stoppage paused play when Kop raced out of the box and collided forcefully with Alessia Russo after claiming a long ball. Van Domselaar later misjudged a clearance that offered Spurs a final attacking moment. The match ended scoreless and Arsenal were left frustrated.
Caitlin Foord spoke afterwards and described the match as frustrating. She explained that Spurs crowded the box effectively and that Arsenal needed a better final product. Martin Ho said he had instructed his players to remove emotion from the derby and to focus on performance rather than occasion. He praised their courage and indicated that the young attacking line is still learning when to take risks. Renee Slegers stated that Arsenal needed clearer and bigger chances and she felt the team’s second half accuracy was not good enough.
Aston Villa 1 London City Lionesses 3: A surprising result at Villa Park
London City Lionesses produced one of the most impressive results of the weekend by winning three one at Villa Park. Saki Kumagai gave them the lead in the twelfth minute with a header from a set piece. Villa equalised through Kirsty Hanson on thirty three minutes after a sharp counter attack. London City struck back decisively. Isobel Goodwin scored early in the second half after a fast break and Kumagai added a second header four minutes later. Villa dominated possession but the visitors were superior in both boxes and deserved the result.
Brighton 4 Leicester City 1: A statement performance
Brighton delivered a commanding win against Leicester City with a performance full of pace, movement and attacking confidence. Four goals from four different players reflected Brighton’s fluidity. Leicester struggled with the intensity and Brighton’s finishing quality told throughout the match. The post match reaction from the Brighton camp highlighted their belief in sharing goals across the team.
West Ham 3 Everton 1: Relief for the Hammers
West Ham finally recorded their first win of the WSL season and they did it emphatically with a three one victory over Everton. Anouk Denton opened the scoring before Amber Tysiak headed in a second. Shekiera Martinez added a composed finish in the second half. Everton responded through Katja Snoeijs but the match had already swung decisively in West Ham’s favour. The club described the performance as aggressive, confident and long awaited.
The weekend as a whole
This was a weekend where the table tightened at the top and stretched at the bottom. Manchester City set the tone on Saturday. Chelsea survived but faltered on Sunday. Arsenal failed to find the goal they desperately needed. Tottenham showed organisation and growing maturity. West Ham and Brighton enjoyed their best days of the season. London City produced a shock that could reshape the relegation picture.
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