Hectic schedules, goal difference and injury woes - where the WSL title race will be won and lost

Much like the last four seasons, Chelsea find themselves once again battling it out at the top of the Women’s Super League table.

Although, this time their direct rivals are Manchester City, who have won just one league title in the WSL era. The Manchester club have been runners-up six times, but this year they’ll be hoping to spoil Emma Hayes’ leaving party and prevent them making it five in a row.

City are currently top of the table and stand three points clear, but Chelsea do have a game in hand, which is against Aston Villa on Wednesday night. The last four title races have gone right to the wire, with the London club often clinching the prize on the last day of the season, and this year is expected to be no different.

Here’s where the title could be won and lost.

The cost of being a successful team is, more often than not, you’ll be playing the most amount of games. Hayes’ side lost the Conti Cup final in extra time against Arsenal last month and were edged by Manchester United in their FA Cup semi-final over the weekend, but they remain in contention for at least two other trophies — including the league title.

But at a time when fixture congestion is becoming a problem for teams across the game, Chelsea will need to make sure their packed schedule in the final months of the campaign doesn’t ultimately cost them when it matters most.

The current WSL champions will play a minimum of seven games between now and the end of the season, including a two-legged tie in the Champions League against Barcelona. That could rise to eight games if they’re to progress in Europe.

City, on the other hand, have a far kinder schedule with just four remaining league games. Their full focus is beating Chelsea to the WSL title.

Chelsea do have