WSL Round Up: Man City keep pace with Chelsea as Liverpool turn up heat on Man Utd

Once three, now two. The Women’s Super League title race kicked into its next gear as Chelsea thrashed Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, all but ending the Gunners’ title hopes with six points separating them from the top.

But the race is still on, Manchester City ’s 4-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion keeping them in lockstep with the reigning league champions. Meanwhile, Liverpool continued their mission to gate crash the top four with their 3-1 win over West Ham. Victory for Manchester United against Bristol City means Matt Beard’s Reds remain level on points with Marc Skinner’s side.

For Lauren Smith and co, the loss marks their fifth in their last six games, and six points still separating them from their nearest relegation rival in West Ham and eight points off Brighton and Everton, the latter falling to a 2-1 loss against a resurgent Aston Villa.

Below are the talking points from the weekend.

When Emma Hayes revealed the litany of injuries plaguing her side ahead of Friday’s crucial clash, the whims of the game felt poised only for the Gunners. But the notion that Lauren James is a cheat code hasn’t lost legitimacy. When that cheat code walks out under the Stamford Bridge lights, margins move.

This was arguably one of Chelsea’s best performances: blistering from the start, organised and dogged. Second balls were one and sprints were constant. There was also James, deployed as the No 9 in the absence of record signing Mayra Ramirez, proving impossible to nullify. A half-hour delay due to a farcical kit clash only meant Chelsea put in a half-hour footballing masterclass, scoring three goals in 31 minutes to put the game beyond reach.

Chelsea must navigate the barrage of fixtures coming in the next few weeks with their