Manchester City capitalised on Chelsea’s recent dip in form, although it is only a dip by their usual standards, as they are typically relentless in finding ways to win. City moved to the top of the table with a four-point cushion over Chelsea, their biggest rivals. Unlike Chelsea, City are not competing in the Champions League this season and can therefore focus entirely on the WSL, aside from some League Cup fixtures. Chelsea, by contrast, is balancing the league with their pursuit of a first Champions League title, a trophy that has eluded them for years.
City’s control at the top has been strengthened by their 3-2 victory over Arsenal and their dominant 3-0 win against Manchester United in the derby. They have maintained their momentum, while Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal have all dropped points in direct clashes, leaving them further down the table. Chelsea did win the WSL opener 2-1 against City. Still, they have since failed to beat Manchester United and were fortunate to draw against Arsenal despite opening the scoring in both matches. Chelsea have extended their unbeaten streak in the WSL to a record 34 matches, but some recent performances have been concerning. Their 1-1 draw with Liverpool stands out, as Liverpool were bottom of the table and had only earned their first point of the season the week before.
Chelsea have been fast starters this season. Across both the WSL and the Champions League, they have scored nine times in the first fifteen minutes of matches. In their last two league games against Arsenal and Liverpool, Alyssa Thompson scored in the ninth minute on both occasions. However, they have struggled to maintain control in the second half. For the first time since December 2021, Chelsea have failed to win in consecutive league games after recording two straight draws. Last season, the title race was effectively ended on 16 November when Chelsea beat Manchester City 2-0 to reclaim the top spot, and no team managed to overtake them again. Chelsea remain the only unbeaten side in the WSL this season, but they cannot afford to keep drawing if they want to retain the title.
The finest margins can decide the WSL title. In the 2023–24 campaign, it appeared that Chelsea had let the league slip on Emma Hayes’ final run when they lost 4-3 to Liverpool. However, results elsewhere allowed them back into contention, thanks in part to Manchester City's loss to Arsenal. Chelsea then beat Bristol City 8-0 and went on to defeat Manchester United 6-0 on the final day, lifting the trophy on goal difference, finishing seven goals ahead of City. History shows that the title race can go down to the last moment, but it can also be effectively won by November, as Chelsea finished twelve points ahead of Arsenal last season.
Arsenal may already be out of the running. They are eight points behind Manchester City and come into this weekend having won only five of their twelve matches across all competitions. They have dropped vital league points against top sides. After winning the Champions League, they entered the season with high expectations, but the domestic consistency needed for a title push has been lacking. Arsenal thrive in high-pressure knockout football, as seen last season when they overturned deficits in both the quarter-final and semi-final second legs of the Champions League. This contrasts with their league form, where they last won the WSL title in 2019 and have struggled to find the same resilience. They have won two League Cups since then, again in knockout format.
Their situation has been made more difficult by injuries to Kim Little, Leah Williamson and Katie Reid. They have lacked sharpness in the final third, as seen in the Spurs match, and have looked unconvincing defensively. Arsenal have also developed a concerning habit of conceding first, doing so against Manchester City, Chelsea, London City Lionesses and West Ham. The team often seems to respond only under pressure, which aligns more with the mentality needed for knockout ties than with the sustained discipline required over a league season. Renée Slegers’ side has dropped seven points in their last five WSL games alone, which is more than Chelsea dropped in the entirety of last season. Chelsea only dropped six points on their way to the 2024–25 title, and Sonia Bompastor has yet to lose a WSL match as Chelsea manager. If Chelsea continues their form, it is difficult to see Arsenal making up the gap.
Manchester United are seven points off the top and are also unlikely to re-enter the race. Their strongest performances this season have come in the Champions League, where they are unbeaten with three wins from three and sit at the top of a group featuring Barcelona and Lyon. At some stage, they may need to choose where to focus their efforts, as they do not have the squad depth to sustain high-level performances in both competitions, unlike Chelsea and Manchester City. United have now lost back-to-back league matches, including a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa and a heavy 3-0 loss to Manchester City.
Manchester City’s title hopes will depend heavily on keeping Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp fit and firing. Both players have started the season well, and when they are available, they give City a significant advantage. Their absence through injury last season caused destabilisation, as City do not yet have the depth of Chelsea or even Arsenal in certain positions. If they remain fit, City may be difficult to stop. If they do not, the race could reopen.
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