What’s going wrong at Chelsea and is the WSL title now Manchester City’s to lose? | OneFootball

Manchester City have built a six-point lead in the WSL title race after Chelsea suffered their first defeat since May 2024

Manchester City have built a six-point lead in the Women’s Super League (WSL) title race after Chelsea suffered their first defeat in the competition in 585 days.

Andree Jeglertz’s side struggled to find the net before a 73rd-minute strike by Bunny Shaw led to a 3-0 victory over Leicester City.

Chelsea endured a similar difficulty in their trip to Everton. However, the Blues could not find a response to Honoka Hayashi’s early goal for the Toffees.

This brought Chelsea’s 34-game unbeaten run to an end, after last tasting defeat in May 2024 to Everton’s Merseyside rivals Liverpool.

Chelsea have dropped seven points from their last three games, while Manchester City have not dropped a single point since losing to Chelsea on the opening day.

Here, SheKicks takes a look at what has gone wrong for Chelsea, and why the WSL title could be now Manchester City’s to lose.

What has gone wrong for Chelsea in the WSL?

Chelsea have suffered their worst start to a season since 2018-19, the last time they failed to win the WSL title.

The Blues have dropped nine points, with Everton’s historic win adding to draws against Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool

This time last year, the Blues had dropped just two points and looked unbeatable. However, even when winning games this season, Chelsea have not matched the same standards as last season.

Their main issue has been in front of the goal, with Chelsea failing to score from 30 shots against Everton on Sunday. This included six shots that were on target and another four that hit the woodwork.

This was the opposite of their 1-1 draw with Liverpool, where they recorded fewer than 10 shots for just the second time this season. Chelsea were also held to draws against Arsenal and Manchester United despite totalling 30 shots across the two games, with 11 on target.

Chelsea’s problems are not in defence or through any lack of possession. The reigning WSL champions have the highest average possession (59.7 per cent) and lowest goals conceded per match (0.6) out of any WSL team.

Compared to this point of last season, the Blues have conceded the same number of goals in the WSL (6), but have scored 15 fewer goals.

Chelsea’s record after 10 games

Chelsea are the biggest underachievers in the WSL

So far this season, Chelsea are the biggest underperformers out of any team in the WSL when it comes to their xG (expected goals). Chelsea have scored just 16 goals from an xG of 21.

Only Manchester City have a higher xG than Chelsea (25.5), yet Arsenal and Manchester United are also outscoring Sonia Bompastor’s side in the WSL. Chelsea, the most dominant side in the WSL over recent years, have just two more goals than Brighton and newly promoted London City Lionesses, and just three more than Tottenham and Everton.

Another eye-catching statistic is Chelsea’s poor shot conversion rate. Chelsea have a shot conversion rate of 9 per cent, which is only better than Aston Villa (8.4), West Ham (6.3) and Leicester City (8.6).

The highest shot conversion rates in the league belong to Manchester United (14.5), Everton (14.4) and Manchester City (14.1).

WSL xG underachievers and overachievers

Aggie Beever-Jones is struggling compared to Bunny Shaw

Aggie Beever-Jones scored in Chelsea’s opening four WSL games of the season and was named September’s Player of the Month.

However, she has now gone without a goal in her last eight Chelsea appearances across all competitions.

Meanwhile, Manchester City counterpart Bunny Shaw is firing on all cylinders and leads the Golden Boot race with eight goals, after adding two in a 3-0 victory over Leicester at the weekend.

With six points between Manchester City and Chelsea, Sonia Bompastor will need her attackers to get back into scoring form in the second half of the season.

That includes Sam Kerr, who has four goals in all competitions since returning from her ACL injury. Lauren James has also just returned from an injury after missing the start of the season.

Alyssa Thompson could be another player who makes a difference, as she continues to adjust to life in the WSL.

Is the WSL title now Manchester City’s to lose?

On current form and looking at the rest of the season, Manchester City are now the favourites in the WSL title race.

Andree Jeglertz’s side are boosted by the fact that they don’t have to worry about the Women’s Champions League, something which Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United all have to juggle with.

Thanks to the exploits of Shaw, City have the deadliest attack in the league with 26 goals from nine games. They also have a solid defence, with only Chelsea (6) conceding less than City (9).

City are comfortably leading some of the key attacking statistics in the league. City have created 45 big chances this season, 16 more than next-best Chelsea on 29.

Like Chelsea, City have a strong bench, with a returning Kerolin making a huge impact on her return against Leicester City.

If City can get Shaw fit and firing for the rest of the season, then Jeglertz could lead his side to their first WSL title since 2016.