Manchester City midfielder Laura Coombs sees the rise of Manchester United as a major force in the Women’s Super League as something to be welcomed.
After being relaunched in 2018, winning the Championship and then coming fourth in the WSL for three successive years, United this term have had their best top-flight campaign to date.
Marc Skinner’s side had been top of the table and are close to securing Women’s Champions League qualification for the first time.
City, who United face in Sunday evening’s derby at Leigh Sports Village, are in danger of missing out on Europe.
But on the topic of United’s rise, Coombs told the PA news agency: “I think every player prefers the league more competitive.
“I think it now puts our league as probably the best in the world, because it’s the most competitive. So the more teams that can rise up, the better in my opinion.”
With two rounds of games to go, United are second in the table, two points behind Chelsea.
Arsenal, Chelsea’s opponents at Kingsmeadow on Sunday, are three points further back in third, with fourth-placed City another two points behind in the battle for the three Champions League berths.
Asked about the fact that if Chelsea win, City could then end their derby rivals’ title push, Coombs said: “We want to beat United. If that result then stops them, I wouldn’t say that’s why exactly.
“We just want to go in and get the result to give us every chance to get top-three, that’s really our main motivation.”
City are looking to avoid what would be a first finish outside the European places since 2014, their inaugural WSL campaign.
Yet to be beaten by United in six WSL meetings, winning three of those, City take them on a week after Skinner’s side lost 1-0 to Chelsea in their debut Women’s FA Cup final appearance.
Coombs – scorer of an equaliser in December’s 1-1 Manchester derby draw at the Etihad Stadium, a moment she describes as a “highlight of my career” – has no doubt United will “come all guns blazing”.
And the 32-year-old added: “Like us, they lost their last game so they want to put that right straight away. They always give us a good game, and I think every year the games between us are getting more and more competitive. It’s really exciting to be a part of.”
After a notable turnover of players last summer, City started their WSL campaign with back-to-back losses before going unbeaten across the next 14 games, winning 12.
That momentum has slowed with two defeats in the last four for Gareth Taylor’s side, 2-1 at Arsenal and then Liverpool last time out.
Coombs, whose season has included signing a new deal with the club running to 2025 as well as returning to the England squad, said: “I think it has been a bit of a rebuilding year.
“We bounced back pretty quickly after the first two games of the season and we’ve got ourselves in a place now where we’re a solid group, and there won’t be a big turnover at the end of the year.
“So I think going into next year that puts us in a really strong position. We have had large periods of the year where we’ve played some really great stuff and we’ve got back to a competitive place in the league. So I think if we look at it as a building year, it makes next year really exciting for us.”
Chelsea coasted past West Ham 4-0 to move top of the Women’s Super League table.
Niamh Charles, making her 100th WSL appearance, put the Blues ahead in the 13th minute after Sam Kerr’s shot was blocked.
The FA Cup winners doubled their lead three minutes into the second half through Pernille Harder, who drilled her angled shot into the bottom corner.
Chelsea wrapped up another impressive victory in the 65th minute when Magdalena Eriksson’s header from a corner was pushed onto the crossbar by Irons keeper Mackenzie Arnold and Sophie Ingle nodded in the rebound.
In stoppage time, substitute Erin Cuthbert fired in a fourth to cap another impressive display.
Emma Hayes’ side edge two points clear of Manchester United – runners-up at Wembley on Saturday – as they close in on what would be a fourth straight title, which could be confirmed this weekend should all results go their way.
Arsenal had earlier consolidated third place with a 4-1 win at Everton, where midfielder Lia Walti suffered an injury in the second half after being fouled by Aggie Beever-Jones who was sent off.
Caitlin Foord, making her first start since recovering from a hamstring injury, fired the Gunners in front after 29 minutes when she converted a cross from full-back Noelle Maritz.
Arsenal captain Katie McCabe doubled the lead with a long-range effort before Australian Foord grabbed a second, nodding in a rebound after Stina Blackstenius’ header was saved.
Lotte Wubben-Moy headed in a fourth just before the break from Frida Maanum’s free-kick.
Arsenal were dealt another injury concern in the second half.
Midfielder Walti was brought down just inside the penalty area by Everton forward Beever-Jones, shown a straight red card for the late challenge, and had to be taken off on a stretcher with what looked an ankle problem.
Katja Snoeijs headed in a late consolation for Everton, who suffered another heavy defeat following a 7-0 thrashing by Chelsea.
Jonas Eidevall’s side, meanwhile, sit three points clear of Manchester City in third place with Champions League qualification in their own hands heading into the final two matches.
Chelsea will back up their FA Cup success with more glory in the Women's Super League.
That is the view of their former goalkeeper and three-time WSL winner Carly Telford, as the top-flight season reaches a thrilling conclusion.
Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0 in front of a world-record crowd for a domestic women's match of 77,390 at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, winning the FA Cup for a third straight season.
A record-extending sixth WSL crown is also in their sights, with United also serving as their main rivals in that competition.
United lead the WSL table by one point, but Chelsea have three games left to play this term, as opposed to the Red Devils' two.
The Blues are away to West Ham on Wednesday, with potentially decisive matches against Arsenal and Reading to follow.
"Yeah, I think it will be Chelsea," Telford told Stats Perform when asked who would edge the dramatic title race.
"I just think it comes down to a huge weekend because you have got the United v City derby, and then you have got the Arsenal v Chelsea derby as well.
"It could go either way at the minute, but I think the good thing is Chelsea have kind of kicked on and have shown that in the past couple of weeks.
"They have really shone and a lot of teams have started struggling a little bit.
"Again, it comes to this time of year and you can't write off Chelsea as they have done it so consistently.
"I think United might drop points next week in the derby, if I'm honest, though they have just been one of those teams that seem to be grinding out results. You can't break them off.
"But yeah, I'm going Chelsea."
Following their FA Cup win, Chelsea boss Emma Hayes dedicated her side's triumph to supporters after a year in which she felt the wider club has "suffered".
Former England keeper Telford retired in March, having left Chelsea for the second time in January 2022.
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes insists she has no time to monitor the Women’s Super League table, despite a scenario that could see her side seal a fourth straight title on Sunday.
The second-placed Blues, fresh from lifting their third consecutive FA Cup, are one point behind Manchester United, but have a game in hand on the league leaders, who have just two remaining in their campaign.
That means victory against West Ham on Tuesday and Arsenal on Sunday would be enough for Chelsea should United fail to beat Manchester City on the penultimate day of the season.
Hayes was adamant she is unaware of how invested her players might be in potential permutations, saying: “I promise you I’ve got so much to do I’m not privy to some of their ridiculous conversations, thank goodness.
“They don’t want me being part of them anyway. We’re all football fans too, but I know the dressing room and, as far as we’re concerned, we’re in control of what we want to do and that’s I think all we focus on.
“I didn’t even realise we could go top if we won tomorrow until someone told me yesterday, so you’re asking the wrong person here about all of those things. I don’t pay attention to them because your head gets away with you, so I’ve learned now I never look at them.”
West Ham are still in search of a first league win in 2023.
Manager Paul Konchesky said: “It’s a tough time, for me, it’s a tough time for them and as a whole group at the club. We know we’re going through a tough time, but there are games where we have been really close to winning and we haven’t won. It even looks worse when we haven’t picked up points.
“We haven’t been out of any game, we’ve been in most games we’ve played and it just hasn’t turned the corner for us.”
Arsenal are fighting to retain their place in the Champions League for another season after selling out the Emirates Stadium for their semi-final against Wolfsburg earlier this month.
With three European spots available, Jonas Eidevall will hope to put some distance between his third-placed side and Manchester City below them when the Gunners travel to Everton.
Arsenal are level on 44 points with City but have played one game fewer and also have a better goal difference.
Eidevall anticipates Tuesday’s opponents will be ready to bounce back from their thumping 7-0 defeat to defending champions Chelsea last time out.
He said: “I always expect our opponents to be fully motivated. I expect us to be fully motivated as well, so my expectations are never different from that. I don’t want to draw too much conclusion on that result last week.
“There were performances in that game that were good from Everton, and there were performances that were not so good, like in any football game you play, so we just need to prepare our way playing the game.”
Everton manager Brian Sorensen assuaged fears that City loanee and England international Jess Park could be ruled out of World Cup consideration with the same shoulder injury that has forced her to miss the remainder of the domestic campaign.
He said: “No, it’s a six-week injury and it was three weeks ago now. She should be ready to go on the pitch when we play the last game against City, I think that’s the time schedule. That’s the latest I’ve heard. She’s back at City, she’s in their hands. But last I spoke to her, it shouldn’t affect (it), so let’s cross our fingers for that.”
The sixth-placed Toffees are assured of another top-flight season but, with 27 points, are well out of European contention.
Chelsea striker Sam Kerr has expressed her pride over her role in the King’s coronation last weekend, describing it as an “amazing experience”.
The Australia international on Saturday led her country’s delegation in the formal procession, carrying the flag as they made their way into Westminster Abbey.
Kerr, who helped Chelsea thrash Everton 7-0 in the Women’s Super League the following day, said: “I got offered the opportunity to be part of it about a month ago while I was in international camp, and I originally thought the Everton game was on the same day, so I thought it was not doable.
“But Emma (Hayes, the Chelsea manager) and the club were kind enough to let me attend, obviously because it’s an amazing, amazing honour, and something I’ll probably tell my kids about in 10, 15 years.
“It’s been a crazy week. I was quite worried about missing a training session, because that’s just who I am.
“But it all worked out – we had two wins (also 2-1 against Liverpool on May 3) and I got to attend the King’s coronation, which was something that was an amazing experience for me and a proud moment for my family.”
Kerr was speaking ahead of Chelsea taking on Manchester United on Sunday in what is the first Women’s FA Cup final to sell out Wembley.
The last two finals have been won by the Blues with Kerr scoring a brace in each, and the prolific 29-year-old forward said: “I love playing at Wembley, I think it’s probably my favourite stadium to play at in the world, just based on whenever you go there it’s a big game.
“I think this team always steps up when there’s a big occasion so it’s going be amazing – a packed-out crowd – my family is coming over for it. It’s going to be very exciting.”
As well as the FA Cup triumphs, Chelsea – currently a point behind WSL leaders United with a game in hand after Wednesday’s 6-0 victory over Leicester – have also secured three league titles and two League Cups since Kerr joined during the 2019-20 season.
Kerr added: “I think when you win one trophy, you can’t help but want more.
“I love winning, whether it’s FA Cup finals, a game at the weekend, in training, whatever, and I hate losing, so it’s easy to stay motivated as a footballer, that’s our job, that’s why we do it. If I wasn’t motivated, I wouldn’t be playing football. The FA Cup is a very important trophy to us and hopefully we can keep it at Chelsea.”
Pernille Harder scored twice as Chelsea warmed up for the FA Cup final by moving a point behind Women’s Super League leaders Manchester United thanks to a 6-0 thrashing of lowly Leicester.
Emma Hayes’ reigning champions, who face United at Wembley on Sunday, took control of the contest courtesy of Guro Reiten’s eighth-minute finish and Erin Cuthbert’s 50th goal for the club.
Harder’s second double in as many games – following a brace in Sunday’s 7-0 thrashing over Everton – put the result doubt before the break.
Lauren James stretched the Blues’ advantage with a stunning solo goal in the 56th minute before Jelena Cankovic completed the scoring in added time with another spectacular strike.
Second-placed Chelsea, who have won four league matches in a row, have a game in hand on title rivals United and an identical goal difference.
Relegation-threatened Leicester – thumped 8-0 at home by the Blues in December – remain two points above bottom club Reading with two games to go following their 15th defeat of a difficult campaign.
Arsenal boosted their hopes of Champions League qualification by climbing to third after Stina Blackstenius’ early brace helped them record a 4-0 success over Brighton.
Sweden forward Blackstenius struck in the sixth and eighth minutes to set the visitors on course for a comfortable victory.
Frida Maanum and Victoria Pelova also claimed first-half goals for the Gunners, who climbed above Manchester City on goal difference with a game in hand.
Arsenal will play five Women’s Super League games at the Emirates Stadium next season and are committed to hosting all Champions League fixtures there should they qualify for the group stage.
Jonas Eidevall’s side have played three WSL fixtures at the stadium this season, setting a new league attendance record when they beat neighbours Tottenham 4-0 before selling over 86,000 tickets across matches against Manchester United and Chelsea.
Five of their Women’s Champions League games were also staged at the Emirates, including the semi-final second-leg sell-out against Wolfsburg, which saw the German side win in extra-time.
Arsenal are in a tussle to qualify for next season’s Champions League but, if they do progress, every fixture from the group stage onwards will be hosted in N5 rather than at Meadow Park.
The successes of this season have built on a groundswell of support for women’s football following on from England’s Women’s Euro victory last summer.
Now, Arsenal are keen to continue the trend of hosting more games at the Emirates, with Eidevall saying recently he believes it would be possible to host all women’s fixtures there at some point in the future.
“We’re delighted to confirm that our women’s first team will play five WSL games at Emirates Stadium next season,” Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham said when the announcement was made on Wednesday morning.
“We’ve received fantastic support at Emirates Stadium this year, setting a new record attendance in the WSL and achieving a memorable sell-out for our recent UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final against Wolfsburg earlier this month.
“This latest announcement ensures that as many supporters as possible can enjoy the matchday experience with us, as we continue to support the sustainable growth of women’s football.”
Emma Hayes feels her Chelsea side must be perfect in the title run-in to be crowned Women’s Super League champions again.
Chelsea trail leaders Manchester United by four points but have two games in hand, the first of which is at home to lowly Leicester on Wednesday.
The Blues – who play United in the FA Cup final on Sunday – complete their league programme with trips to West Ham and Reading and a visit from Arsenal in between.
“We have to win all four games,” Chelsea boss Hayes said unequivocally at her pre-match press conference. “We’re in a good rhythm, we like the games.
“It’s tiring in one element because it’s a quick turnaround, but the dressing room would always prefer back-to-back games over lots of training.”
Chelsea are seeking a fourth successive WSL title and have scored 26 goals in four games against Leicester, including an 8-0 away win this season.
But Hayes, who has top scorer Sam Kerr available after the Australia striker came off as a precaution in Sunday’s 7-0 thrashing of Everton, is taking nothing for granted.
“Leicester in their form are indicative of top five, top six,” said Hayes, who refused to be drawn on speculation linking Magdalena Eriksson and Pernille Harder with end of season moves to Bayern Munich.
“They are the most aggressive team in the league and the most improved side in the whole of the WSL.
“They are going to be wounded from that (losing 8-0 at home) and they’ve learned a lot since then.
“They have a point to prove and I made that clear to the players. I do not underestimate Leicester in any shape or form, and I think this will be a game that will go the distance.”
Chelsea face an 11th-placed Leicester outfit who are two points clear of bottom side Reading with three more matches remaining, one more than the Royals.
Since Willie Kirk took charge in November with the Foxes bottom on zero points, they have collected 13 from as many matches, winning four times.
The Scot’s side were edged 1-0 at Arsenal last Friday and he said: “I’ve no doubt we’ll be more competitive than that (8-0) game.
“It was a bad day at the office, but those early games were a little bit of finding out for me in terms of who’s going to continue the journey, what we need to improve on. I feel we’ve ticked a lot of those boxes now and you’re seeing a much different Leicester.
“We might be able to capitalise on them having a cup final four days later. But what it comes down to is how we go about it.”
Wednesday’s other game sees fourth-placed Arsenal play at Brighton.
With two games in hand, the Gunners are three points behind third-placed Manchester City, who suffered a shock 2-1 loss at Liverpool on Sunday.
Asked about that result and for his thoughts on the table, Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall said: “I don’t care.
“We have four more games, we need to take one at a time, do our very best and if we do, we can finish as high as possible in the table. That’s the only thing we can influence.”
The fixture was originally scheduled for January but postponed due to a frozen pitch. Brighton have since changed manager, Jens Scheuer being replaced by Melissa Phillips, and secured seven points from four games under the American, moving up to ninth.
Eidevall said: “We would have liked to play them in January, of course, but now it is what it is, you never know where someone is going to put these games, with late broadcast pick and everything.
“I put that aside for now – I definitely think that’s a conversation for the future, to make this league more professional and fair.”
Chelsea kept the pressure on Manchester United at the top of the Women’s Super League table after a thumping 7-0 win over Everton.
United had earlier moved six points clear at the summit with a 3-0 success over Tottenham, but Emma Hayes’ side reeled that lead back to four points, with two games in hand, following their demolition of the Toffees.
They took control of the game early on with goals from Guro Reiten, Sam Kerr, Pernille Harder, Sophie Ingle and Jessie Fleming putting them 5-0 up at half-time.
Everton showed some resistance after the break but Harder grabbed her second in the final 10 minutes and Erin Cuthbert finished things off in added time.
United and Chelsea will take a break from the title race as they face each other in the FA Cup final next weekend.
Marc Skinner’s side racked up a fifth successive win as first-half goals from Leah Galton and Alessia Russo and a second-half Nikita Parris strike downed Spurs.
Defeat did little to help Spurs’ relegation worries and they remain just three points above rock-bottom Reading.
Manchester City lost ground in the title race after they were beaten 2-1 at Liverpool on Sunday, which was their second defeat in four games.
Mid-table Liverpool went ahead through Natasha Dowie’s 16th-minute strike, but Lauren Hemp levelled matters 12 minutes later.
Missy Bo Kearns restored the hosts’ lead shortly after the restart and despite a strong City response, where they racked up 17 shots during the game, Liverpool held on for a surprise win.
Rachel Daly scored a hat-trick as Aston Villa sent Reading closer to relegation with 5-0 thrashing.
The England international opened the scoring in the 14th minute and then added further strikes in the 55th and 63rd to claim the match ball, with Alisha Lehmann and Kirsty Hanson also netting before the break.
Brighton beat West Ham 1-0 thanks to Kayleigh Green’s second-half goal.
Manchester United moved a step closer to winning a maiden Women’s Super League title with a 3-0 victory over Tottenham.
United are now six points clear of Manchester City at the summit thanks to first-half goals from Leah Galton and Alessia Russo and a second-half Nikita Parris strike.
Chelsea, who have three games in hand, could cut the gap to four points later on Sunday as they play Everton in the evening kick-off.
It was a fifth successive win for Marc Skinner’s United, who now take a break from WSL action to play Chelsea in next weekend’s Women’s FA Cup final.
Defeat did little to help Spurs’ relegation worries and they remain just three points above rock-bottom Reading.
United were able to extend their lead at the top after City were beaten 2-1 at Liverpool on Sunday, which was their second defeat in four games.
Mid-table Liverpool went ahead through Natasha Dowie’s 16th-minute strike, but Lauren Hemp levelled matters 12 minutes later.
Missy Bo Kearns restored the hosts’ lead shortly after the restart and despite a strong City response, where they racked up 17 shots during the game, Liverpool held on for a surprise win.
Rachel Daly scored a hat-trick as Aston Villa sent Reading closer to relegation with 5-0 thrashing.
The England international opened the scoring in the 14th minute and then added further strikes in the 55th and 63rd to claim the match ball, with Alisha Lehmann and Kirsty Hanson also netting before the break.
Brighton beat West Ham 1-0 thanks to Kayleigh Green’s second-half goal.
Marc Skinner wants his Manchester United side to enjoy the finale to the season rather than feel the pressure of two trophies being on the line.
United lead the Women’s Super League with three games to go, but defending champions Chelsea, who will also take on Skinner’s side in the Women’s FA Cup final, are only four points behind with two games in hand.
Whether they pip Chelsea or not, this has been a hugely impressive season for United, who were only founded in 2018.
“We’ve equalled our best ever points tally with three games to go, we’re in an FA Cup final making history, we’ve had the best clean sheet record, joint best defensive record, best goalscoring record,” Skinner told reporters.
“For me, this team should go into these last games and enjoy every minute and I’m going to remind them of that.”
The first of their final trio of league matches comes against struggling Tottenham, who need points to try to avoid relegation, on Sunday.
United will be without suspended captain Katie Zelem, while Norwegian duo Maria Thorisdottir and Lisa Naalsund are injured.
Chelsea needed a late winner from Sam Kerr against Liverpool on Wednesday to keep matters in their hands, and they will again be playing catch-up when they take on sixth-placed Everton on Sunday evening.
Boss Emma Hayes believes her side are ready for a final push, saying on chelseafc.com: “The first challenge on Sunday is to make sure we’re wide awake from the first minute.
“We weren’t against Liverpool, and they punished us for that, which meant we were then chasing the game from that moment. So we need to be better prepared mentally.
“This part of a season is always really tough – even more so with a World Cup on the horizon – but we’ve got a gutsy group that loves winning trophies.
“Wins like Wednesday night’s will give us the confidence that we can keep going and picking up the results we need to achieve our goals.”
Key defender Millie Bright may not play again this season, but her centre-back partner Kadeisha Buchanan is close to a return.
Kerr, meanwhile, missed training on Saturday to lead Australia’s delegation at the King’s coronation.
Second-placed Manchester City, who are still just about in the title hunt, take on Liverpool, while bottom side Reading host Aston Villa and fellow strugglers Brighton meet West Ham.
Tottenham will host a double-header featuring their men’s and women’s teams later this month.
Spurs announced on Friday morning that their Women’s Super League clash at home to Reading had been moved forward a day and would now take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 20.
The WSL fixture will kick off at 4.15pm and be part of a first-ever double-header for the club, with the men’s team in Premier League action against Brentford in a 12.30pm kick-off earlier in the day.
All supporters with tickets for Tottenham versus Brentford will be able to stay in the stadium to watch the women’s team later on the Saturday.
It will be a pivotal fixture in the bid to beat the drop for Vicky Jepson’s side with bottom-of-the-table Reading only three points off ninth-placed Spurs.
Sam Kerr’s late winner kept Chelsea in control of their Women’s Super League title destiny as they saw off Liverpool 2-1.
The Australia international struck four minutes from time at Kingsmeadow to complete a laboured comeback win after Niamh Charles had cancelled out Emma Koivisto’s early opener.
Victory left Emma Hayes’ side, playing for the first time since their Champions League semi-final exit at the hands of Barcelona, four points behind leaders Manchester United and a point adrift of Manchester City with two games in hand on both teams.
The visitors, who won the reverse fixture 2-1 in September, stunned their hosts when they took a second-minute lead, full-back Koivisto smashing home a volley after Natasha Dowie had crossed to the back post.
Debutant goalkeeper Faye Kirby denied Guro Reiten at her near post after 14 minutes and then palmed away Kerr’s 22nd-minute header as the Blues responded.
They finally got their reward four minutes before the break when Charles glanced Eve Perisset’s corner past 19-year-old Kirby, although it took a fine stoppage-time save by Ann-Katrin Berger to keep out Shanice van de Sanden before Perisset blocked Dowie’s follow-up to ensure their side went in level.
Hayes made her move within nine minutes of the restart, sending on Pernille Harder and Jelena Cankovic for Lauren James and Erin Cuthbert, and the two newcomers almost made a swift impact with Harder only just failing to connect with Cankovic’s whipped 63rd-minute cross.
Frustration mounted among the Chelsea ranks as the breakthrough remained stubbornly beyond them with Reiten seeing an 82nd-minute strike ruled out for offside.
A point would have left the reigning champions six points behind United with a worse goal difference.
But they regained control of the title race with four minutes left when Kerr stabbed home the winner after Jessie Fleming’s attempt had crashed back off the crossbar and dropped to her.
Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw scored her 19th league goal of the season as Manchester City Women drubbed Reading 4-1 to go second in the Women’s Super League on Sunday.
Manchester City are now just three points behind Manchester City with three games to go before the season ends. However, Chelsea, with 40 points are third, four points behind Manchester City but with three games in hand.
In what was yet another dominating performance from City, it was Reading who took the early lead when Sanne Troelsgaard’s strike on the turn put the visitors ahead in the very first minute of play.
Chloe Kelly would level the score, bundling the ball over in the 15th minute.
Shaw’s header from a corner put City ahead in the 24th minute, a lead they took into the half-time break.
Manchester City would extend their lead shortly after the resumption when Lauren Hemp tapped in from a sizzling cross from Kelly to the far post in the 47th.
City’s fourth and final goal came from a Steph Houghton free kick into the bottom corner of the Reading goal to secure all three points.
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