With four teams chasing the 2022-23 WSL title as the red-hot run-in commences, here is analysis of their respective run-ins and title prospects.
Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City are all split by just three points entering the run-in, meaning that any slip-up could cost any of those four teams a shot at the title.
Throw in the fact that only the top three will achieve qualifcation for next season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL), it means that every point matters if teams want to secure the title or a top-three finish to qualify for UWCL.
Now, here is a look at the individual run-ins of all four teams in contention for this season’s WSL title given the tight margins separating the quartet entering a crucial final five weeks of the campaign.
Manchester United (41 points, Goal Difference – +37)
| Opposition | Venue |
| Arsenal | H |
| Aston Villa | A |
| Tottenham | H |
| Man City | H |
| Liverpool | A |
Despite sitting top with a slim one-point lead, Man Utd don’t have any games in hand so it is imperative that they ideally drop at least one point in this run-in.
Looking at first glance, I expect Utd to at least claim six points with wins over Tottenham and Liverpool whilst Villa away feels like a potential slip-up although I can see them somehow scraping a win in the Midlands.
Utd however must make home advantage count against Arsenal and Man City and a win against one of those two teams at minimum has to be vital if the Red Devils are to win the title for the first time.
Eventually I do think that they can get 13 points if can defeat Aston Villa, Tottenham and Villa whilst also claiming a win plus draw against Arsenal and Man City, although their fate could be out of their hands given how tight the title race unless they win all five fixtures.
Points prediction: 13 Points
Chelsea (40 points, Goal Difference – +28)
| Opposition | Venue |
| Liverpool | H |
| Everton | H |
| West Ham | A |
| Arsenal | H |
| Leicester | H* |
| Reading | A |
*Fixture is yet to be rescheduled but expected to slot in between matchweeks 21 and 22.
With one game in hand plus a point behind leaders – Man Utd, Chelsea realistically have their fate in their own hands and I can see them definitely getting maximum points against Liverpool, Everton and Leicester at home.
Arsenal though could be a potential slip-up but if Chelsea can avoid repeating the mistakes which cost them in the League Cup Final, I can see them snatching a draw given how impressive their home record has been this season.
West Ham away could again be tricky because the Hammers have been unpredictably inconsistent at home this season, yet I am backing Chelsea to get a result.
Reading on the final day though is going to be interesting given Chelsea’s busy fixture load especially if they also reach the UWCL Final – which takes place six days after their trip to Reading.
If they do indeed reach UWCL Final and the WSL title race is still alive on the final day, it will be interesting to see how Emma Hayes’ Blues approach that game especially if the Royals also need a win in order to survive which could add extra intensity to the fixture especially on Reading’s turf.
I though can see Chelsea winning five of their last six matches but Arsenal could well be where they slip-up.
Points prediction: 16 Points
Arsenal (38 points, Goal Difference – +30)
| Opposition | Venue |
| Man Utd | A |
| Leicester | H |
| Brighton | A |
| Everton | A |
| Chelsea | A |
| Aston Villa | H |
On first glance, their trip to Man Utd is instantly must-win for Arsenal because if they slip up at the first hurdle with defeat, I genuinely believe that will be their title gone although a draw won’t be much better unless they beat Chelsea in their penultimate game.
Jonas Eidevall’s Gunners though should comfortably beat Leicester, Brighton, Everton and Aston Villa, meaning that their trips to Utd and Chelsea are imperative because only wins in both teams looks likely to be enough for the title.
I however do see them drawing at Chelsea meaning that they likely must beat Utd to stand any shot of the title, but Arsenal’s away form has been disappointing in 2023 so far which means that they need a huge performance to get anything against the WSL’s top goalscoring team.
Points prediction: 13 Points
Manchester City (38 points, Goal Difference – +19)
| Opposition | Venue |
| West Ham | H |
| Reading | H |
| Liverpool | A |
| Man Utd | A |
| Everton | H |
With no games in hand and a much inferior goal difference compared to their rivals, the odds against Man City.
I however do expect them to beat West Ham, Reading and Everton at home plus Liverpool away, meaning that their title and Champions League hopes could rest entirely upon getting a win away to Man Utd, which i just can’t see happening based on their recent record and Utd’s much superior attack.
A draw away to Utd though would be a fair result in their final away game of the season but City will need results elsewhere to swing in their favour, otherwise I don’t see them achieving European qualification let alone the title.
Points prediction: 13 points
Chelsea Set to Snatch Title
If add the points prediction to the current points total of all four teams in the title race, Chelsea would snatch the title by just two points from Man Utd, underlining the realistic need for Marc Skinner’s Red Devils to win all remaining games because one slip-up could be decisive.
Both teams however are yet to play Arsenal which does add an extra layer of intensity because those two fixtures could be absolutely vital in the outcome of this title race.
Arsenal meanwhile would finish third on goal difference ahead of Man City and secure the last UWCL qualification spot, with the top four all split by just five points if the predictions were to come true.
Slip-ups from Man Utd and Chelsea coupled with unbeaten runs from Arsenal and Man City however would blow this titanic title fight wide open, so it would be a surprise if this title fight doesn’t go down to the final day.
| Position | Team | Points |
| 1 | Chelsea | 56 |
| 2 | Manchester United | 54 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 51 |
| 4 | Manchester City | 51 |