Women’s Super League: talking points from the weekend’s action

Ruthless is a word that has been bandied around many a time to describe this Chelsea side. Their first-half display against Everton encapsulated why. Five shots on target, five goals scored were the stats at the break as the Blues eventually cruised to a 7-0 victory. Emma Hayes’s options in attack are enviable. Guro Reiten and Sam Kerr got one apiece, a partnership up front that has defined their season. When Kerr was forced off early, on came Pernille Harder to score with her first touch. The Denmark captain has been missing for much of this campaign with a long-term hamstring issue but announced her return in style with a double and a player-of-the-match performance. Goals from midfield – Sophie Ingle, Jessie Fleming and later Erin Cuthbert – completed the scoring. Chelsea are up to second, Manchester United and that top spot firmly in their sights. It is getting harder to see how anyone will prevent them from lifting their fourth successive WSL title. SD

Should Manchester United win the title, perhaps a token of appreciation can be sent to Merseyside. Perhaps something royal-themed. In September’s opening weekend (delayed by Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral), Liverpool beat Chelsea 2-1. And on Coronation weekend, almost bookending the season, Manchester City were beaten by the same scoreline at Prenton Park. The latter result was desperately damaging to City, leaving them to scrabble for a Champions League qualification place rather than dream of the title. “We created some things but probably not as much as we’d have liked,” said the City manager, Gareth Taylor. “They battled and defended really well.” After a Manchester derby on 21 May, United’s final-day visit to Liverpool could be where the title’s destiny is decided.