Chelsea flex title-winning credentials but Man City following closely

Chelsea flex title-winning credentials with win at Charlton

Manchester City asked the question. Chelsea answered with six goals.

Their emphatic 6-0 win at Charlton restored them to the top of the WSL on goal difference and showed just how many ways this team can hurt opponents.

Nathalie Bjorn opened the scoring, Melvine Malard struck twice and Ellie Carpenter also found the net before the break. Then the substitutes took over, with Aggie Beever-Jones scoring and Giulia Dragoni adding her first Chelsea goal.

That depth matters in a title race. Chelsea could withdraw Malard at half-time and still carry a threat, finishing with 34 shots and more than 70 per cent possession.

Charlton struggled to offer anything like the same danger, managing only one effort on target.

Lauren James being forced off after 32 minutes was the concern on an otherwise commanding afternoon. Chelsea and City are both unbeaten on 22 points, but this was a reminder of the standard required to keep pace at the top.

City find a way to keep the pressure on

There was a Ballon d’Or trophy at Hayes Lane, but Manchester City left with the prize they came for.

Alexia Putellas’ third award provided the backdrop to a demanding afternoon against London City Lionesses. City’s 2-1 victory owed plenty to their ability to take chances and respond when the game threatened to turn.

Bunny Shaw supplied the composure for the opener, rounding Mary Earps to score her ninth league goal of the season. When Fernandes eventually headed the hosts level, Lauren Hemp restored City’s lead just 122 seconds later.

That response was crucial. London City had already shown they could create openings, registering 18 shots and 2.95 expected goals by the 67th minute.

City were far from comfortable, but Mary Fowler’s excellent delivery and Hemp’s anticipation gave them the decisive moment.

Chelsea’s subsequent win means City finish the day second on goal difference. Yet taking three points from a game this difficult could prove every bit as valuable as a more convincing performance.

From polished product to project as Arsenal get another reality check

Renee Slegers and Arsenal looked like they had turned a corner in their season after back-to-back wins in the build-up to facing Aston Villa.

But the draw that followed, and the manner it arrived in, is yet another reminder that they remain way off the levels needed to enter the title race.

They had 27 shots, accumulating an expected goals value of 2.68, but were forced to wait until the final five minutes before finally finding the back of the net.

Arsenal were clearly the dominant team but the same clinical edge that has guided them to titles and trophies in the past is now lacking in this side.

They have scored just eight goals across their opening eight games, conceding nine.

It isn’t a disaster; they are unbeaten in four, but for a team used to being a polished product, the shift to a project is one that will take some getting used to.

Are Tottenham the best of the rest?

Tottenham put an end to their three-game losing streak in the WSL and flexed their muscles against Birmingham in a 4-1 win.

The lack of confidence was clear to see when the hosts struck the bar early on but after Julie Blakstad’s opener, there was only going to be one winner.

Spurs came racing out of the blocks to start the second half and quickly put the game to bed.

Two goals in three minutes from Olivia Holdt and Signe Gaupet created breathing room and all but secured the much-needed win.

London City Lionesses’ loss to Manchester City also cuts the gap to third place down to just three points.

The title race might be out of sight with a nine-point gap already opened, but the progress for Spurs is clear to see.

They could be the best of the rest this season.

Relegation fears growing by the day for Liverpool

Liverpool’s struggles are continuing and the threat of relegation is now looming.

They have now moved below West Ham following the 4-1 defeat to the Hammers and were lucky results went against both Birmingham and Crystal Palace, or they could have found themselves in the bottom two.

Facing West Ham was a chance to put an end to their losing streak, which now stretches to five games in all competitions, and the fixture list remains unkind going forward.

They host Arsenal in their next outing, a team eager to prove a point, and Brighton after that.

They avoided relegation last season but if they do not find a way to snap this run, their luck may run out come the end of the 2026/27 season.

Brighton find the finish their performance deserved

For much of the afternoon, Brighton looked in danger of leaving with familiar regrets about chances not taken.

They had almost 71 per cent possession and six shots after half an hour, while Crystal Palace had yet to attempt one. Then Annabel Blanchard produced a superb strike and Brighton were behind.

The challenge was to keep creating without letting frustration take over. They did exactly that.

Caitlin Hayes headed in Manuela Vanegas’ cross before Emilie Joramo supplied Sophie Peskett for the winner in a deserved 2-1 victory.

Fran Kirby had earlier missed a promising opening, while Pauline Peyraud-Magnin repeatedly kept the hosts out. By 88 minutes, Brighton had registered 19 shots to Palace’s five.

There is still an argument that Brighton should have made the closing stages more comfortable. But after falling behind despite their control, they showed the patience and persistence to turn their performance into points.

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