07 May 2021

What’s to play for on the last day of the Women’s Super League season?

07 May 2021

Defending champions Chelsea remain on course to win another Women’s Super League title as they head into the final match of the season against Reading.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the key questions ahead of Sunday’s last round of games.

Who will lift the trophy?

Victory over Reading would clinch the title for Emma Hayes' side (PA Wire)

Emma Hayes’ Chelsea will wrap up the title with a victory over Reading. They would also clinch top spot with a draw as long as Manchester City do not beat West Ham by three goals or more. Gareth Taylor’s City need the Champions League finalists to drop points to have any chance of lifting the trophy.

So Chelsea are battling on multiple fronts?

Pernille Harder celebrates scoring in Chelsea's Champions League semi-final win over Bayern Munich (PA Wire)

Yes. They’re chasing a quadruple, while City could still win a double. Lifting the title would be the Blues’ second piece of silverware this season, having already won the League Cup. Both teams are into the last 16 of the FA Cup, while Chelsea face Barcelona in the Champions League final a week on Sunday.

Who will be in next season’s Champions League?Chelsea and City have mathematically secured their places, while Arsenal are all-but certain to be the third and final qualifier. Joe Montemurro’s side beat Everton 2-1 on Monday thanks to Kim Little’s stoppage-time winner. That gives the Gunners a three-point and 26-goal advantage over fourth-placed Manchester United, so it would take something extraordinary to deny them.

How about the battle at the bottom?

Just three points separate the bottom four teams but Bristol City’s goal difference means it is a straight fight between them and Aston Villa to avoid being the one team relegated to the Championship. City will have to beat Brighton and hope Villa lose to Arsenal to avoid the drop.

Nice and simple then?Not necessarily. Birmingham, one of the teams three points clear with a far superior goal difference, are awaiting the outcome of a Football Association charge for fielding Ruesha Littlejohn when she was due to serve a suspension. They could receive a points deduction.

Are there any individual honours up for grabs?

Chelsea’s Sam Kerr has 20 goals to her name in the Women's Super League this season (PA Wire)

Chelsea’s Sam Kerr leads the way in the race for the golden boot with 20 goals, while Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema remains two behind. At the other end, Chelsea goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger and Manchester City’s Ellie Roebuck have both kept 11 clean sheets.

Anything else to watch out for this weekend?England’s most-capped player Fara Williams will be calling time on her career, which has spanned more than two decades. Williams has been with Reading since 2017 and will play her final match against Chelsea on Sunday. Arsenal manager Montemurro is also stepping down at the end of the season, having led the club since 2017 and delivered their first league title in seven years.

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