Supercomputer predicts WSL title race after Man City's victory over Chelsea
It's not just the Premier League that has a tantalising title race on its hands. Over in the Women's Super League, the current top four are separated by just three points.
Emma Hayes' Chelsea have long been considered the favourites to win their fourth consecutive title, but they were leapfrogged in the table by Manchester City after they beat the Blues 2-0 in Manchester last weekend. City's first victory over Hayes' side since 2017 ignited their title hopes and they currently sit level on points with Man Utd at the top.
Chelsea, however, are just a point adrift having played a game less, while Arsenal aren't out of the running either. The Gunners, who have also played one less game than the two Manchester clubs, are three points off the summit in fourth.
FiveThirtyEight uses its Forecasts and Soccer Power Index (SPI) ratings to predict every fixture throughout the WSL season. Here's who they think will end the 2022/23 season as champions.
Supercomputer's predicted 2022/23 WSL table
Position | Team | Current points | Projected points |
|---|---|---|---|
1. | Chelsea | 37 | 53 |
2. | Man Utd | 38 | 50 |
3. | Arsenal | 35 | 49 |
4. | Man City | 38 | 49 |
5. | Aston Villa | 29 | 36 |
FiveThirtyEight don't expect the table to expand too much before the end of the season, but they do project Chelsea to win the league by a three-point margin.
The Blues are expected to claim 16 points from their last seven outings with their only remaining fixture against a fellow title rival arriving on the penultimate matchday of the season against Arsenal.
The two London clubs also have the Champions League to consider, but the supercomputer doesn't believe their European ventures will derail their domestic campaigns. Arsenal are projected to finish level on points with Man City in third.
Despite their huge win over Chelsea, the computer predicts City to claim just nine points from their remaining six games. They do have the disadvantage of playing both Arsenal and Man Utd away from home before the end of the season.
As for the current leaders, the computer projects a bright enough end to the campaign (12 points from six games) but that won't be enough to stave off Chelsea's threat.
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Next Women's Super League fixtures
The WSL title race will take its next twists and turns at the start of April, with Man Utd the first on the contenders in action when they visit the south coast to face Brighton.
The clash between Arsenal and Manchester City in Sunday's early kick off is undoubtedly the game of the weekend, while Chelsea will be hoping to make up some lost ground when they travel to Aston Villa.
- 01/04/2023 - Brighton vs Manchester United (11:30) - Sky Sports
- 02/04/2023 - Arsenal vs Manchester City (12:30) - BBC
- 02/04/2023 - Everton vs Tottenham (13:00) - FA Player
- 02/04/2023 - West Ham vs Liverpool (15:00) - FA Player
- 02/04/2023 - Leicester vs Reading (15:00) - FA Player
- 02/04/2023 - Aston Villa vs Chelsea (18:45) - Sky Sports