Either Chelsea or Manchester City will be crowned the Women's Super League champions for the 2023/24 season as the final weekend of the season is at last upon us.
Emma Hayes' team come into this game top of the league by virtue of a superior goal difference of +47 compared to City's +45.
Should both teams have the same result in their respective fixtures the title could go down to goal difference or – in the case that both teams have the same points total and goal difference – on total goals scored. In that case, Chelsea (65 goals to City's 59) are likely to be crowned champions.
But instead of getting into the various scenarios of what might happen this weekend let's get into all the games across the country, including two difficult fixtures for our potential champions.
Aston Villa v Manchester City
Through 2021 City have defeated Villa 8-0, 7-0, and 5-0 and a result like that may well be enough. However, their opponents this weekend are vastly improved as City know.
Villa have plenty of motivation to get a result in what will be Carla Ward's final game in charge before she departs.
Last season City found it difficult in the West Midlands with the Villans winning 4-3 in this fixture last season as well as defeating the Blues in extra-time in the FA Cup.
The Citizens will prefer to look at what happened the last time these two met though when City came from 1-0 to win 2-1 thanks to a quick-fire Lauren Hemp brace. A similar result might not be good enough this weekend though.
Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion
It will be an emotional game for the Gunners though in what will serve as Vivienne Miedema's farewell to the club after an illustrious spell.
Miedema scored 125 goals and assisted 50 in 172 games for the club and she will be hoping to add to that tally as she says goodbye.
The Seagulls have the chance of ruining that farewell should they get a result at Meadow Park. It won't be easy though, Brighton have never won a game against Arsenal having suffered 12 defeats in 13 games in which they only ever managed to score two goals.
Bristol City v Everton
After having only won one game all season, the Robins can leave on a good note if they get a positive result against Everton.
Even if the Toffees win this game they will still be in eight place but they will be looking to get the better of their opposition having failed to do so earlier in the season.
That previous game between the two in Merseyside ended 2-2 with Amalie Thestrup earning a late point for Bristol City that day.
Leicester City v Liverpool
It's been a fine campaign for Matt Beard's team who have gotten the better of local rivals Manchester United this term.
Meanwhile, it's been a memorable season for Leicester City for the wrong reasons with Willie Kirk's dismissal overshadowing much of the improvements the Foxes have made on the pitch. A win in front of their fans on the final day should help lift the mood going into next season.
The Foxes did get the better of Liverpool earlier in the season when Jutta Rantala's brace gave her side all three points.
Manchester United v Chelsea
Of the two games that the title challengers face this weekend this should be the more difficult one. United will be on high after lifting the FA Cup at Wembley at the weekend following an impressive 4-0 win over Spurs.
Marc Skinner's side defeated Chelsea 2-1 in the FA Cup semi-final at Leigh Sports Village in the last game between these two sides – that was United's first-ever victory over the Blues.
But of course, Chelsea are always strong and they will know that a strong win will ensure Emma Hayes' final season before taking over the US national women's team after a legendary spell at the club. Will it end with yet another title victory?
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United
It's been a tough old week for Robert Vilahamn's team but one they will have surely learned a lot from. Spurs had to pick themselves up from that FA Cup final defeat to take on Chelsea in Wednesday evening's game.
Although Tottenham are now winless in five games there is still a feeling that Vilahamn's first season in charge of the club has pointed the club in the right direction with a sixth-placed finish guaranteed.
Save a big goal swing, West Ham will finish 11th in the WSL, a position that would have been more dangerous had Bristol City not been so out of their depth this campaign.
Rehanne Skinner has found it difficult this term having won only three league games all season. A fourth would feel sweet for the manager this weekend though as she faces her former club.
Just one more day of #BarclaysWSL action remains! 👀 pic.twitter.com/dvKAAIy27A
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) May 16, 2024
