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Hello and welcome back to our coverage of the Women’s Super League. Manchester City are in full control of the title race after Chelsea lost to Liverpool earlier this week but they face tough opposition to keep their march to the trophy going today in Arsenal.
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City are six points clear of defending champions Chelsea, the Blues have a game in hand, but if they lose to the Gunners this afternoon it opens the door for Emma Hayes’ team. There is no room for error with just two games left for Gareth Taylor’s team.
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Arsenal, meanwhile, have third-place secured but a win against City would see them leapfrog Chelsea into second. That may only be for a matter of hours with the Blues playing later today but it will be a target for the London club.
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City have been hit with some injuries, a significant one being Bunny Shaw who is out for the rest of the season with a broken foot. That is a blow for City but their squad depth means the likes of Chloe Kelly are getting more game time.
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We can take a look at the team news now before kick-off at 2.15pm BST.
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Key events
Mary Fowler has stepped up with the absence of Bunny Shaw and Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor told the BBC: “Mary has bookended this season well, she started well and she is finishing well.”
It is also Steph Houghton’s last home game with her retiring at the end of the season, Taylor added on the defender: “What Steph has brought to the club is incredible, she leaves a huge space.. You can’t really measure what she has given to the club.”
I’d love to hear from you, get in touch via email or X (@rendellx). Let me know your Sunday plans or your favourite WSL moment of the season.
One of the biggest stories of the weekend has been Chelsea’s Fran Kirby will leave the club at the end of the season. Take a read of the full story:
How does the title race shake out from here until the end of the season on 18 May? Well the two clubs who can still win the title are Manchester City and Chelsea, here are the fixtures they both have left:
Man City:
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Arsenal, 5 May
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Aston Villa, 18 May
Chelsea:
Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall said: “Our mindset this weekend is only to win. Let’s be honest, one point gives us absolutely nothing in regards to where we are in the league table. The only thing that can potentially give us something is to win, so that’s our aim and that’s what we’re going to do our very best to do.”
A lot of people, including Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, have said the title race is over and Manchester City are effectively just closing out the trophy now after the Blues’ loss to Liverpool. But City manager Gareth Taylor is keeping his team focused on the task at hand. “It’s changed nothing,” he insisted on Friday. “There’s been a lot of talk around it but the objective is the same: win the next game.” Read the full piece:
Liverpool v Manchester United kicks off at 2pm BST and you can keep up to date with all of that action here:
A fun fact for you: If Manchester City win today it will be their 15th in a row which will break a record of consecutive wins set by Arsenal back in 2020.
The team news is in.
Man City do not have Bunny Shaw because of that foot injury but Chloe Kelly starts once again.
Your team to face Arsenal! 🩵
XI | Keating, Aleixandri, Greenwood (C), Coombs, Fowler, Kelly, Hemp, Ouahabi, Park, Casparij, Hasegawa
SUBS | Startup, Stokes, Houghton, Angeldahl, Morgan, Pritchard, Blindkilde Brown, Mace, Kennedy#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/dnwC1jdON4
— Man City Women (@ManCityWomen) May 5, 2024
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Your team to face Arsenal! 🩵
XI | Keating, Aleixandri, Greenwood (C), Coombs, Fowler, Kelly, Hemp, Ouahabi, Park, Casparij, Hasegawa
SUBS | Startup, Stokes, Houghton, Angeldahl, Morgan, Pritchard, Blindkilde Brown, Mace, Kennedy#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/dnwC1jdON4
— Man City Women (@ManCityWomen) May 5, 2024
Arsenal, meanwhile, are without Vivianne Miedema due to a minor problem.
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
🇪🇸 @laiacodina5 in defence
🇳🇴 @FMaanum in the middle
🇨🇦 @cloe_lacasse down the wingLET’S DO THIS, GUNNERS! 👊 pic.twitter.com/et5wMYSYcA
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) May 5, 2024
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Preamble
Hello and welcome back to our coverage of the Women’s Super League. Manchester City are in full control of the title race after Chelsea lost to Liverpool earlier this week but they face tough opposition to keep their march to the trophy going today in Arsenal.
City are six points clear of defending champions Chelsea, the Blues have a game in hand, but if they lose to the Gunners this afternoon it opens the door for Emma Hayes’ team. There is no room for error with just two games left for Gareth Taylor’s team.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have third-place secured but a win against City would see them leapfrog Chelsea into second. That may only be for a matter of hours with the Blues playing later today but it will be a target for the London club.
City have been hit with some injuries, a significant one being Bunny Shaw who is out for the rest of the season with a broken foot. That is a blow for City but their squad depth means the likes of Chloe Kelly are getting more game time.
We can take a look at the team news now before kick-off at 2.15pm BST.