The Women’s Super League (WSL) returns on Sunday after a fortnight of international football, with two rounds of fixtures before it takes its five-week winter break.
While the focus tends to be on the title race, there are more points between leaders Chelsea and second-placed Manchester City than between Liverpool in sixth and bottom side Crystal Palace in 12th.
Palace, West Ham United and Leicester City are all on five points, with Aston Villa and Everton on six. The league only has one relegation spot, which might make some teams feel safe, but why is it so tight at the bottom? And who is most likely to go down?
What does the narrow points gap tell us about the WSL this year?
Looking at the past four WSL seasons, teams to finish bottom have registered six, 11, 11, and 12 points. Bristol City’s tally of six points last season was the lowest total for a relegated side in the post-Covid-19 era but barring something extraordinary, that will be surpassed this year. If those in the bottom half continue to pick up points at their current rates, they would be expected to finish on around 14 points.
There are a couple of ways of interpreting this. You could argue the standard of less-established WSL teams is improving, leading to closer matches when the top teams drop points….
