FROM a few surprise managerial departures to Chelsea making Naomi Girma the WSL’s first million dollar signing, this season has been eventful.
While the battle for the title and top-flight survival have been settled, today could see champions Chelsea go unbeaten.
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Ahead of the 12:30pm kick-off of the final six games that will wrap up this season, here is a brief look at how teams have fared this term.
Chelsea
While Champions League glory has eluded them, domestically Chelsea have been almost unstoppable this term.
A home win or draw against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge today would see Sonia Bompastor’s side achieve their goal of an invincible run.
The team, who will be given a guard of honour from their visitors, would also become the first to complete 22 games without defeat in the WSL.
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For Bompastor the opportunity to create history in her first season at the Blues’ helm would be one of the highlights of her stellar career.
Ahead of today’s game the Blues boss said: “It means a lot because probably it will be the only time in my career to be in that situation.
“In the women’s or men’s game when the team is able to achieve that, they stay in history as I already said.
“I’m thinking about Arsenal, the men’s team, when they have been invincible. People always talk about it.
“When you have this opportunity being that close to make history, you just need to make sure you do that because it will stay forever.
“I think even for your kids later to have this history to tell to some other people, it would be nice.”
While Chelsea could end this term with 60 points than they did last season, not all their displays have been completely flawless.
West Ham fought from 2-0 down to claim an away draw the champions with Brighton and Leicester also bagging points.
However the champions have been very more tenacious in their capturing of silverware with a league and title double achieved.
And they hope to make it a treble when they face Man United in this year’s Women’s FA Cup
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Arsenal
Following early season wobbles and Jonas Eidevall’s standing down as Gunners boss last October, Arsenal have been mostly impressive under Renee Slegers.
With Slegers at the helm the team went on a 13-game unbeaten run earlier this term that was halted by 1-0 loss to Chelsea at the end of January.
In the Champions League they have been comeback queens overcoming two and one-goal deficits to knock out Real Madrid and Lyon in the quarters and semi-finals.
While Arsenal will battle in the final for the first time in 18 years, the team with the most FA Cup and League Cup wins bowed out of both contests this term.
For the first time in three years a Women’s League Cup decider did not feature the Gunners.
And surprise losses to Aston Villa and Brighton included them shipping nine goals in their last two WSL games.
Against Manchester United at the Emirates today in their final league match this season they will be keen to prove those results were a blip.
Victory today would seal a second spot for Arsenal and their highest finish in the league since the 2021-22 campaign.
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Manchester United
Following the disappointment of missing out Champions League action this season, Man United have achieved their target of claiming a place in next term’s contest.
Defeat of Arsenal at the Emirates today would see the Red Devils end this term second in the top tier for the second time in their history.
It would also be a considerable improvement on the fifth place finish that led to Marc Skinner facing criticism from some United supporters.
His side have one of the best defensive records in the league this term with Phallon Tullis-Joyce shining in goal.
Ahead of United’s Arsenal visit the USA shot stopper has kept 13 clean sheets in 21 top-flight games.
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Manchester City
Injury struggles derailed Man City’s trophy chase this season with star striker Khadija Shaw among the players currently sidelined.
The team pipped to last term’s title on goal difference was among the favourites to push Chelsea all the way.
They are currently the only team to have beaten Barcelona in Europe this term.
However the high of that 2-0 group stage October win has been followed by some tumultuous moments.
These include Chloe Kelly’s loan transfer to Arsenal and the sacking of boss Gareth Taylor
Having suffered Champions League and FA Cup heartbreak, the Cityzens are eager to end this term with a home win against Crystal Palace.
This month along with Man United they will be competing in the megabucks inaugural seven-a-side tournament World Sevens.
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Brighton
UNDER Dario Vidosic Brighton look set to achieve their highest ever finish in the league.
The head coach, who has previously spoken of his admiration of the playing style of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona sides, has revamped Brighton.
The team’s expansive style has earned them plaudits with Fran Kirby, Nikita Parris, Vicky Losada, Marisa Olislagers among the players who have impressed
Michelle Agyemang, on loan from Arsenal and midfielder Maisie Symonds have also shone for the Seagulls.
Albion have at times been punished playing out from the back, with their heaviest loss this term occurring at Arsenal last November when they were beaten
However this week saw Albion get revenge with their 4-2 defeat of the Gunners in their final home game this term.
Their first defeat of Arsenal in the WSL has put them on course for their highest finish with the team in fifth spot.
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Liverpool
MATT BEARD’s March exit from the Reds’ helm came as a surprise to some WSL observers.
Before being axed from his job the ex-Liverpool gaffer had expressed concerns in regard to investment and budget for the team.
Interim women’s team boss Amber Whiteley has been doing a solid job overseeing the side who hope to end a run of three losses.
Highlights this season include their solid 3-1 defeat of Man United at Anfield in March.
Gifted Canada forward Olivia Smith was among their best performers in that game scoring twice.
Away from WSL action they knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup and gave Chelsea a run for their money in the semi-finals before falling to a narrow 2-1 defeat.
Having finished fourth last term, the Reds hope to drop no lower than sixth this season.
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West Ham
Rehanne Skinner’s Irons have had a stunning turnaround to their season.
Their upturn in form has been followed by the experienced head coach signing a one-year contract extension last month.
In late March West Ham were in a relegation scrap and second from bottom following a 2-0 home loss to Chelsea.
Since then the Irons resurgence has been remarkable with the team sitting seventh and unbeaten in six of their last eight games.
The signing of Shekiera Martinez last July from Freiburg has proved to be a masterstroke.
The Germany Under-23 striker has scored 10 goals in 11 WSL appearances.
Defeat of Leicester, if Chelsea beat Liverpool, would see the Irons claim sixth spot, their highest league finish in three years.
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Everton
THE Toffees have struggled with injuries at times this term with seven players including experienced midfielder Maren Mjelde currently sidelined.
Fitness concerns aside Brian Sorensen’s players have impressed in the second half of this season.
Standout results include a 2-1 home defeat of Man City last December and a derby triumph over Liverpool at Anfield last Sunday.
Twins Karen and Sara Holmgaard have been among their side’s most impressive performers in this campaign
High points include Sara providing Karen with an assist during Everton’s 2-1 draw with City last month.
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Aston Villa
Natalia Arroyo’s side look set for a strong finish after a topsy turvy season which included a managerial sacking.
The Villans parted company with head coach Robert de Pauw last December following a tough run of one win in nine games
The team faced a fierce fight for WSL after a run of seven winless games from January 25 to March 23.
However the team have been on a roll since then with four straight victories and Arroyo winning April’s WSL manager of the month award.
Their dramatic recovery was capped by a 5-2 trouncing of Arsenal last month.
With Villa bidding farewell to Rachel Corsie, Jordan Nobbs, Danielle Turner and Maz Pacheco, they will be keen to end this season with a home win against Brighton.
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Tottenham
Compared to their achievements last term, including an FA Cup final debut, Tottenham have had it tough at times this season.
A difficult run from February 2 this year has left Robert Vilahamn’s side on the verge of going winless in 10 games.
These results have also left his side tenth – four places lower than their sixth-place finish last term.
Vilahamn will want Spurs to avoid an unwanted milestone when they visit Everton today.
They hope to avoid losing on the last day of the season for the first time in their WSL history.
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Leicester City
Gritty performances against their rivals in the bottom half of the table helped Leicester survive their battle to avoid the drop
The team are currently seven points above relegated Crystal Palace who they drew with last time out.
While they struggled earlier this term, going winless in their first six games, they gathered a bit of momentum in the season’s second half.
Among their players who have impressed are skipper Janice Cayman and Wales forward Hannah Cain.
High points for their team include them claiming a draw last December against eventual champions Chelsea.
A result that led to the Foxes ending the champions’ 13-game winning run at that stage of the season.
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Crystal Palace
While their two opening WSL encounters ended in brutal 4-0 and 7-0 losses (to Tottenham and Chelsea), Palace occasionally showed they could hold their own
The now-relegated Eagles, guided to the top tier by Laura Kaminski, were seen as strong favourites for the drop.
However a defeat of Leicester last October followed by draws with Liverpool and Everton suggested they could be a threat to rivals in the lower half of the table
The sacking of head coach Kaminski in late February was followed by the Eagles picking up one win and a draw from their next seven games.
Under boss Leif Smerud the team were unable to build on an impressive March defeat of Aston Villa losing their next five matches.
