With the Women’s Super League reaching the business end of the season, the race for European qualification is tighter than ever.
Four teams are in the running for the top three bracket, meaning of course, one will be left heartbroken. Out of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City, who will be the one to fall away from the pack?
We’ve taken a look at the games each of the top four have left to play, and compared them to the results earned in the reverse fixtures. Here’s how the WSL top four would look using the previous amount of points earned from these upcoming teams.
4th — Manchester City (51 points)
Following a less-than-ideal start to the season, Manchester City left themselves with a lot of ground to make up throughout the campaign.
Victories over Reading, Liverpool, and Everton in the reverse meetings put City in good stead, but based on their draw against Man United, they just miss out on the last Champions League spot.
Although they would be level on points with Arsenal, the Gunners do have a far superior goal difference, and it can be assumed that this won’t change too drastically in these final weeks.
Embed from Getty ImagesMan City’s reverse fixtures (10 points won)
- Reading 0-3 Man City
- Man City 2-1 Liverpool
- Man City 1-1 Man United
- Everton 1-2 Man City
3rd — Arsenal (51 points)
Arsenal have enjoyed a strong season, despite an ever-growing injury list. Losing several key players throughout the campaign, the Gunners have increasingly relied on their squad depth.
With victories over Leicester, Brighton, Everton, and Aston Villa, plus a draw against Chelsea, a repeat of these fixtures would see Arsenal finish on 51 points — four short of last year’s tally. Despite finishing level on points with Manchester City, Arsenal’s current superior goal difference would more than likely see them take the third Champions League qualification spot.
Embed from Getty ImagesArsenal’s reverse fixtures (13 points won)
- Leicester 0-4 Arsenal
- Arsenal 4-0 Brighton
- Arsenal 1-0 Everton
- Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
- Aston Villa 1-4 Arsenal
2nd — Chelsea (53 points)
Chelsea are currently many people’s favourites to lift the trophy, have claimed the title five times, including during the last three consecutive campaigns. However, this system sees them just miss out on the top spot.
The reverse fixtures provided Chelsea with a loss to Liverpool and a draw to Arsenal, alongside wins against Everton, Leicester, West Ham and Reading. With these results, Chelsea would finish on 53 points, just one point separating them from United.
Embed from Getty ImagesChelsea’s reverse fixtures (13 points won)
- Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea
- Everton 1-3 Chelsea
- Leicester 0-8 Chelsea
- Chelsea 3-1 West Ham
- Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
- Chelsea 3-2 Reading
1st — Manchester United (54 points)
As one of the newest teams in the WSL, Manchester United have enjoyed an excellent season. With an FA Cup final looming, many are tipping the Reds to lift their first league title.
Just four games remain for Marc Skinner’s side, with them taking 10 points in the reverse fixtures. Wins to Tottenham, Aston Villa and Liverpool combined with a draw to Manchester City would see the Reds finish on 54 points to win their first ever WSL title.
Embed from Getty ImagesMan United’s reverse fixtures (10 points won)
- Man United 5-0 Aston Villa
- Spurs 1-2 Man United
- Man City 1-1 Man United
- Man United 6-0 Liverpool
