Laura Hunter, a columnist for Sky Sports, breaks down the headline moments from the most recent Women’s Super League fixtures, drawing readers into the pivotal narratives shaping the women’s game. Manchester City appeared to have the championship secured as early as Wednesday, even before their next match. If Arsenal had somehow dropped points against Leicester – a scenario that seemed unlikely but not impossible – City’s lead could have become mathematically insurmountable with only a handful of games left.
That hypothetical has now vanished, leaving the title celebrations on hold. The shock loss to Brighton over the weekend altered the landscape dramatically.
Both Chelsea and Arsenal now possess the theoretical ability to equal City’s current tally of 49 points. In reality, Chelsea, under Sonia Bompastor, are almost certainly out of contention because of an inferior goal difference, while Arsenal remain very much in the mix.
What was once described as a one‑per‑cent chance for a title upset before the weekend has surged to roughly five per cent, even though Arsenal have not yet taken the field. Regular followers of this column will recall the symbolic trophy hand‑over I suggested as early as February. Perhaps that early prediction was premature. Even so, it would still be a tall order for a dominant City side to see the crown slip away at this stage.
As Fran Kirby remarked after Saturday’s match, "We’re happy to keep the title race going for a little bit longer." Kirby’s brilliance in a free role proved decisive in a stunning 3-2 defeat. Andree Jeglertz’s squad now needs a minimum of five points to clinch the title, and as long as Arsenal win their games in hand, City cannot seal the championship before the final matchday. Jeglertz seems unfazed; he merely reminds everyone that Renee Slegers’ side have suffered only a single defeat this term – that loss came at the hands of City.
Any further slip‑ups are likely to be costly. City’s upcoming schedule features a home clash with Liverpool followed by an away trip to West Ham, with an FA Cup semi‑final against Chelsea sandwiched in between.
None of these fixtures are easy, especially after a defeat that came after they had the game under control. It marks the first occasion this season that City have surrendered points after leading. Captain Alex Greenwood offered a measured post‑match interview, stressing how her team has consistently responded positively to setbacks throughout the campaign, even though she admitted, "this one hurts because we were in control." In a remarkable 90 minutes at Brighton, City generated seven clear‑cut chances yet failed to convert any.
The lack of cohesion was evident, likely a consequence of the 19‑day break following the international window. The fixture calendar has been both a blessing and a curse for City. The absence of European commitments has reduced fatigue, allowing them to dominate domestically, yet the irregular spacing of matches has sometimes disrupted their rhythm. Their squad was built to endure three‑game weeks, but at times the gaps between fixtures have been extensive, testing the team’s ability to maintain intensity.
Despite the recent stumble, panic is premature. City have been outstanding for the bulk of the 2025/26 season and merit the title on the basis of a consistency that no other side has matched. However, they can no longer treat the trophy as a foregone conclusion. Players such as Greenwood, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp will be acutely aware that a single misstep could see their dream evaporate.
The memory of missing out on the 2023/24 title to Chelsea on goal difference still lingers for many of them. The question now is whether history will repeat itself.
Manchester United endured an equally bleak weekend in matchweek 20, not because they lost their game – a goalless draw with Tottenham – but because the performance exposed a loss of initiative. Once viewed as strong contenders for second place behind their city rivals, United now face an uphill battle to finish inside the top three. Marc Skinner’s side have managed only one victory in their last eight outings across all competitions.
Scoring has dried up and overall performance levels have plummeted. The slump raises questions: is it a symptom of the limited depth in Skinner’s squad compared with rivals, or are other factors at play?
United have yet to defeat any of the current top‑five teams, which include Spurs, City, Arsenal and Chelsea, all of whom are averaging around 1.5 points per game. This suggests a quality gap may exist.
Even the return of Ella Toone from injury on Sunday failed to spark the needed revival. Spurs displayed worrying trends of their own. Their offensive metrics were dominated by Martin Ho’s side, with an expected‑goals (xG) disparity of 2.58 to 0.47. United required 56 minutes just to register a shot on target, while Spurs logged more than double the touches in the box (42 versus 20).
Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis‑Joyce emerged as United’s saviour in the encounter. What does this mean for Skinner? As the longest‑serving manager in the WSL, he is perpetually under scrutiny, especially given the expectations attached to the United badge.
One poor result can ignite talk of pressure and tension. Nevertheless, some of the criticism is self‑inflicted. Skinner himself has admitted that results since the FA Cup loss to Chelsea, followed by the League Cup final defeat, have been insufficient. The squad appears to have run out of steam after attempting to juggle a debut Champions League campaign with domestic duties.
"We have to make some changes in the summer," Skinner, who has another year left on his contract, said on Sunday. Whether those adjustments involve personnel, tactics or a fresh approach remains to be seen, but the window for a dramatic turnaround is narrowing.
In summary, both Manchester clubs face pivotal crossroads. City must rediscover the clinical edge that carried them through most of the season if they hope to seal the title on the final day. United, meanwhile, need to reignite their attacking spark and tighten up defensively if they are to climb back into contention for a top‑three finish. The next few weeks will prove decisive for both sides as the league races toward its climax.