Chelsea title favourites, as Leicester look to survive – WSL talking points

The 2022-23 season in the Women’s Super League comes to a close on Saturday, with issues yet to be decided at both ends of the table.

Here, PA News breaks down the main talking points heading into the finale.

Chelsea in pole position

Holding a two-point lead at the top, five-time champions Chelsea will secure the title for the fourth consecutive year – to complete a league and FA Cup double – if they beat Reading at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. While Emma Hayes’ side, currently on a six-game winning streak in which they have scored 24 goals and conceded one, are certainly well-placed to do so, they face opponents fighting for their lives WSL. Kelly Chambers’s Royals there need a win to have any chance of survival, two points clear of Leicester in 11th. Reading shockly won 1-0 at home to Chelsea last season, before losing 5–0 and 3–2 in subsequent meetings at Kingsmeadow, and went into this competition on a five-match run, conceding 16 times over the course of them. the last four games.

United done

Marc Skinner’s second-placed Manchester United, who kept the title race alive with a dramatic 2-1 win over Manchester City on Sunday, will look to capitalize on any Chelsea slip-up when they play away to Liverpool . Should the Blues draw, United would probably need to win their game by six goals to go top. While it could be a trophyless season for the Red Devils – beaten by Chelsea in the FA Cup final – they have already secured a record WSL points tally and their first ever Champions League qualification.

Arsenal destined for Europe

Arsenal are three points clear of Manchester City in the third and final Champions League spot and their goal difference superiority means European football is all but sealed for Jonas Eidevall’s League Cup winners, who host Aston Villa. City will miss out on the Champions League spots for the first time since 2014, their inaugural WSL season. Gareth Taylor’s side, who need to overturn an 11-goal deficit against the Gunners, finish their campaign by playing Everton at the Academy Stadium.

Leicester looking to finish the job

Leicester boss Willie Kirk will try to fulfill his rescue mission at the club when they play away to Brighton. The Foxes were left without a point at the foot of the table when Kirk succeeded Lydia Bedford in November – since then they have secured 13, winning four times. Although they have a two-point advantage over Reading, their goal difference is three less. Brighton and Tottenham, in 10th and ninth respectively, confirmed their safety last weekend when Spurs hammered Reading 4-1.

Golden Boot for Daly?

Fifth-placed Villa have had an impressive season, with the form of Rachel Daly key. And the 31-year-old is on her way to the Golden Ice with 21 WSL goals scored so far this season, three more than her closest rival, Khadija Shaw from Manchester City. It looks a good sign for England’s World Cup campaign, as do the exploits of United goalkeeper Mary Earps, who has kept 13 clean sheets in the league this season to win the Golden Glove award.