The landscape of the Women’s Super League shifted significantly this weekend, with drama at both ends of the table reshaping the season’s narrative.
At the summit, Manchester City further solidified their commanding position, but they were made to work for it. Facing a resilient London City Lionesses side, the league leaders found the breakthrough in the 86th minute through their prolific striker Bunny Shaw. The Jamaican’s decisive finish, maintaining her remarkable goal-per-game average this campaign, secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory. The result extends City’s lead at the top to a formidable nine points, underscoring their ability to grind out results even when not at their fluent best.
That lead was widened thanks to a major setback for defending champions Chelsea, who fell 2-0 at home to Arsenal. The Gunners, despite being hampered by injuries and suspensions, produced a dominant performance at Stamford Bridge. The victory showcased the squad’s resilience in high-pressure situations, though it also highlighted a recurring inconsistency that has seen them drop costly points elsewhere. The win narrows the gap to Chelsea to a single point, but a significant chasm remains to the top, raising questions about both clubs’ title credentials this term.
At the other extreme, the long wait is over for Liverpool. The bottom-placed Reds finally secured their first league victory of the season on their 13th attempt, defeating an in-form Tottenham with two stoppage-time goals. Teenager Mia Enderby was instrumental in both, with her relentless drive epitomizing a high-intensity performance that finally yielded a deserved reward. The result provides a vital lifeline, keeping Liverpool within reach of the clubs directly above them.
That battle for survival grew even tighter as West Ham United claimed their first away win of the season, defeating Leicester City 2-1. Two spectacular strikes, a curled free-kick and a powerful drive from a wide position, were enough to secure the points for a side visibly transformed under new management. The tactical setup allowed their wing-backs to thrive, executing a effective counter-attacking strategy that delivered maximum impact.
For Everton, however, home woes continued. A 1-0 defeat to Brighton at Goodison Park marked a sixth consecutive league loss on their own ground this season. The performance was characterized by a stark lack of creativity and a clear focal point in attack, with the visitors comfortably outpassing them in the final third. The discontent among supporters was audible at the final whistle, increasing the pressure for an immediate turnaround in fortunes.
Meanwhile, Manchester United reinforced their top-four ambitions with a 4-1 comeback victory over Aston Villa. After a tense first half, three goals in an eight-minute second-half burst, including a first club goal for substitute Hanna Lundkvist, turned the game decisively. The result demonstrates the growing squad depth available as they look to build consistency and close the gap on the sides above them.
The weekend’s action proved that while the title race may be acquiring a clear favourite, the fights for European qualification and top-flight survival remain fiercely and fascinatingly contested.