The final gameweek of the 2022/23 WSL season is here, with everything still to play for – Chelsea and Manchester United are still battling it out to see who will lift the league title.
Additionally, the fight to avoid relegation is about to reach its endgame – can Reading pull off a miracle or will Willie Kirk’s Leicester City hold firm? Let’s get into this weekend’s fixtures.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa
Arsenal are set to take on fifth-placed Aston Villa at the weekend. Neither have anything to play for, as Arsenal have already all-but secure a Champions League spot, while Villa are marooned in mid-table.
Nevertheless, players on each team will be keen to impress, especially with the 2023 Women’s World Cup just around the corner.
Brighton vs Leicester City
After a torrid start to the campaign, Leicester have a golden opportunity to secure their WSL status for next season – all they need to do is avoid defeat.
Brighton’s safety is already secured, so they have nothing to play for – however, on occasion, teams under no pressure can be the most dangerous.
Liverpool vs Manchester United
One of the biggest fixtures in football will be made even more monumental on Saturday afternoon – if Manchester United can pick up a win here, they could win the WSL title if Chelsea are beaten by Reading.
Nevertheless, Liverpool will do everything in their power to spoil the party. There are fewer fates more ignominious in football than your greatest rivals winning the league title at your own home ground.
Manchester City vs Everton
Again, there is little riding on this fixture – Manchester City have missed out on European football this season, as they sit fourth in the table. They could theoretically still make it in, but they would need Arsenal to lose – and then they would also need to beat Everton by a ten goal margin.
Everton, themselves, have led a middling campaign. They currently sit sixth in the league table with a total of 30 points.
Reading vs Chelsea
This is a game that will decide the fate of four clubs in the WSL. Should Chelsea win or draw, they will lift the league title after the match ends – but should they lose, the trophy could end up in Manchester United’s hands.
Reading, on the other hand, need a win to stay up – they will also need to hope that Leicester are defeated by Brighton in their game.
West Ham United vs Tottenham Hotspur
While nothing is on the line in this game, pride certainly is – Tottenham and West Ham each have nothing to play for, but their bitter rivals makes every meeting between the two a feisty one.
Both teams sit comfortably in midtable – West Ham are in eighth place, while Tottenham are ninth in the league table.