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Women's Super League title run-in: Will Chelsea or Manchester City come out on top?

Chelsea's Maika Hamano and Melanie Leupolz celebrateImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

The Women's Super League's winner will be crowned on Saturday, with all games taking place at 15:00 BST

The Women's Super League's title race is going down to the wire - and it's Chelsea who have the upper hand going into the final day.

Emma Hayes' side, whose goal difference is two better than Manchester City's, moved top of the division by beating Tottenham on Wednesday in their game in hand.

Chelsea have completed a turnaround in the finale, thrashing Bristol City 8-0 in their previous league game to make the most of Manchester City suffering a dramatic 2-1 defeat by Arsenal.

City travel to Aston Villa on Saturday, while Chelsea play Manchester United at Old Trafford, and the title outcome is still a tough one to call.

Former England midfielder Fara Williams said Chelsea will "need goals" against United to win the league.

"When Man City have Aston Villa, where I would expect them to get goals, and Chelsea having a tougher game against Manchester United, I'm not sure it's enough," Williams said on BBC Four.

However, ex-England defender Anita Asante said she "can't bet against Chelsea".

"We thought they were down and out before the Bristol City game and they found a way back," she added.

"I'm going to say Chelsea [will win it] just because they have been here and done it before, even when the margins are this tight."

How are things shaping up for the remaining games? Who has the tougher run-in? And who does Opta predict will win the title?

Current table

Women's Super League after 15 May

Team

Played

Points

GD

Form (past 5 games)

1. Chelsea

21

52

+47

WWLWW

2. Man City

21

52

+45

WWWWL

3. Arsenal

21

47

+28

WWWDW

City had been on a WSL record 14-match winning run before their home defeat by Arsenal, who are too far back to contest the title.

If goal difference is level at the end of the season, the title outcome will be decided on goals scored - and Chelsea lead City 65-59 on that metric.

If teams are level on both goal difference and goals scored, the next deciding factor is the number of league wins, followed by head-to-head record against their title rivals. City would edge a head-to-head against Chelsea, having won away and drawn at home.

What are the remaining fixtures?

Chelsea

Manchester City

18 May

Man Utd (A)

Aston Villa (A)

Taylor's side still have to play Aston Villa on the final day, while Chelsea face fifth-placed Manchester United.

What does the Opta 'supercomputer' suggest?

Predicted Women's Super League final table - Opta as of 15 May

Team

% chance of winning title

Current position & points

1. Chelsea

57.1%

1st - 52 points

2. Manchester City

42.9%

2nd - 52 points

Opta's 'supercomputer' prediction model estimates the probability of each match outcome (win, draw or loss) by using betting market odds and the Opta team rankings - based on historical and recent team performances.

These are simulated thousands of times to create the probabilities.

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