Permutations in the WSL title race: what Chelsea and Man United need on the final day
The Premier League title race could be over. Things get much more dramatic in the women’s Super League as Chelsea and Manchester United battle it out to the final day.
United only reformed their women’s team in 2018, but they’ve gone from strength to strength during that time and their quartet of European champions – Alessia Russo, Nikita Parris, Ella Toone and Mary Earps – have seen them through an unexpected title challenge. They topped the table for most of the season.
However, Chelsea’s most recent FA Cup success over United was the 14th major trophy in Emma Hayes’ ten-year tenure and the unrelenting Blues have been breathing down United’s neck all season. They overtook United by beating West Ham 4-0 last Wednesday.
Both sides won at the weekend: United beat arch-rivals Manchester City 2-1 in a thrilling and tense Manchester derby, while Chelsea beat injury-plagued Arsenal 2-0 in Kingsmeadow.
Here are the full permutations ahead of the last day of the WSL season and in detail how each team could defeat the other to lift the trophy…
Emma Hayes wants to keep the title
/ Action pics via ReutersWhat Chelsea needs
Chelsea would retain the title if they won at bottom Reading on the final day, regardless of United’s result. The Blues would also win the title if they drew at Reading unless United beat Liverpool by six goals in the final game.
If Chelsea can match United’s result, they will also be crowned champions, and the same applies if Chelsea lose and United only manage a draw.
These two teams recently faced each other in the women’s FA Cup final
/ Getty ImagesWhat Manchester United needs
Not only are United two points behind Chelsea, but they also have a worse goal difference and fewer ‘goals’ too. That means there are only two ways to win the title.
If Chelsea draw against Reading, United will need to win by at least six goals at Liverpool to win the title – to put the goal difference in their favor. Should Chelsea lose, a narrow United win would see Marc Skinner’s side lift the WSL Trophy for the first time in their history.
Full game details
Reading vs Chelsea – Saturday 27 May 2:30pm BST
Liverpool vs Manchester United – Saturday 27 May 2:30pm BST
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-man-united-wsl-title-race-permutations-b1083334.html Permutations in the WSL title race: what Chelsea and Man United need on the final day
