The spotlight in women’s football was on Chelsea last weekend as they managed to overcome their recent League Cup heartbreaks.
For the first time in three years, they ended a string of final defeats, securing their first silverware of the season.
But away from Pride Park, there was another significant event that could have a huge impact on the Women’s Super League (WSL) title race—Manchester United’s surprising 3-1 loss to Liverpool at home.
What This Loss Means for Chelsea’s Title Charge
United’s defeat handed Chelsea an eight-point lead at the top of the table, with only six games left to play.
This unexpected result also pushed Manchester United down to third place, with Arsenal leapfrogging them on goal difference.
The timing couldn’t be more crucial, as Chelsea are now firmly in control of the title race.
The WSL has been incredibly close in recent years, with no team winning by more than two points since the 2018-19 season.
With Chelsea in the driving seat and undefeated under manager Sonia Bompastor, who took over from Emma Hayes last summer, the next few games are beginning to feel more like a procession towards the title.
Chelsea’s Upcoming Fixtures and What They Need to Do
Chelsea’s next challenge is away at Manchester City this Sunday, where they will look to bounce back from their midweek Champions League defeat.
A win in this match could be the first step toward securing the WSL title, but there are still several important games to come.
If Chelsea manage to beat City, followed by wins over West Ham and Crystal Palace, they could clinch the title with a draw against Manchester United on April 27 at Leigh Sports Village.
This is assuming that Arsenal and United win their next games.
If United triumph in their upcoming matches, which include fixtures against relegation candidates Aston Villa, Everton, and West Ham, the title race could effectively be decided by the end of April.
Arsenal, on the other hand, face tougher competition with a visit from Liverpool, but after that, their remaining games against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa look winnable.
If everything goes according to plan for Chelsea, they could secure the title before the season even ends.
A Quicker Path to Glory: If Chelsea and Rivals Drop Points
If Chelsea can win their next three matches, and if Arsenal and United drop points along the way, there’s a possibility they could clinch the title even earlier.
A draw at home against Crystal Palace on April 20 could be enough if Chelsea have built a 10-point lead by then.
This would be possible if both Arsenal and United slip up in their upcoming matches.
The earliest possible time Chelsea could wrap up their sixth consecutive title would be on March 30 at Kingsmeadow, in a match against West Ham.
However, this scenario is very dependent on Chelsea winning their games against City and West Ham, as well as Arsenal and United both losing their next two matches.
While mathematically possible, this outcome seems unlikely.
If Chelsea Slip Up: What Happens Next?
If Chelsea drop points against Manchester City, things could become trickier.
In this case, they would still need to win their remaining games, but the earliest they could win the title would be in their home match against Manchester United, assuming Arsenal and United also drop enough points in their own fixtures.
The next few weeks are going to be pivotal for Chelsea, and while they’re in the driver’s seat, there’s still work to be done if they’re to secure the WSL title once again.
The race is heating up, and fans will be eagerly watching as the drama unfolds!