Laura Hunter examines the main talking points from the latest Women’s Super League weekend and what they mean for the season’s finish.
City’s wobble at the worst possible moment
Manchester City’s previously comfortable title run has been jolted by a surprise defeat to Brighton, turning what looked like a near-certainty into a tense finish. Had Arsenal dropped points at Leicester, City might already have wrapped up the trophy, but Brighton’s victory keeps Arsenal — and, mathematically, Chelsea — within reach of City’s current 49 points. Chelsea’s goal difference makes their challenge unlikely; Arsenal remain the realistic threat.
A faint possibility that felt negligible before the weekend has suddenly grown. City had looked the model of consistency this season, but Brighton exposed vulnerabilities. Fran Kirby’s roaming influence unlocked the game, while City wasted seven big chances and failed to score — a stark sign of bluntness after a 19-day break for internationals.
Andree Jeglertz is right to point out that City’s fate is largely in their hands: they need at least five points to clinch the title. With Arsenal holding games in hand, City cannot be certain until the final day if Arsenal keep winning. City still face Liverpool at the Etihad and a trip to West Ham, with an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea sandwiched between those fixtures — none are automatic wins given the renewed pressure and dented momentum since Brighton.
Captain Alex Greenwood spoke of the disappointment but underlined the squad’s history of responding to setbacks; City had been in control at Brighton and, notably, this was the first time they have surrendered points from a winning position this campaign. The season’s schedule has been a mixed blessing: the absence of European midweeks has preserved freshness, but long gaps between fixtures have disrupted rhythm for a side built to thrive in congested periods. That structure, designed for heavy weeks, can leave players susceptible to rust over extended breaks.
Despite the shock, City remain the best-performing side across the season and should be credited for their consistency. But they can no longer treat the run-in as a formality. The memory of losing out to Chelsea on goal difference in 2023/24 only sharpens the pain of a possible late slip.
Have United hit a ceiling?
Manchester United’s weekend felt like deflating wind: a goalless draw at Tottenham left them staring at wobbling momentum. Once touted as safe contenders for second, United now risk finishing outside the top three. Their form is fragile — one win in eight across all competitions — and goals have become hard to come by.
Marc Skinner’s team have struggled against the league’s elite, failing to beat any current top-five side. That contrast in results highlights a gap in quality when pressure rises. Ella Toone’s return from injury did not lift United enough to change the outcome on Sunday.
The underlying numbers underlined Tottenham’s dominance: 2.58 expected goals to United’s 0.47, more than double the touches in the box (42-20), and United did not register a shot on target until the 56th minute. Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce kept them in the game.
Skinner, the WSL’s longest-serving manager, will inevitably face scrutiny when a club of United’s stature slips. He has candidly admitted that summer changes are needed — words that prompt questions about what those alterations will be and whether his own position might be examined, despite another year on his contract. Balancing first-time Champions League duties with domestic demands has exposed the limitations of a relatively small squad.
A reminder
In my last column I looked at Alessia Russo’s best role for Arsenal as she has alternated between No.9 and No.10. The implications of this Brighton result and United’s struggles will shape how teams approach the closing weeks of the season.