WSL talking points: hot-shots hit marks as Manchester United go second

A 12-minute Khadija Shaw hat-trick helped Manchester City with an emphatic 5-2 win against Tottenham as they inch closer to the WSL title. Shaw, a strong contender for player of the season, scored her 18th goal in 18 league games. It was also her fourth consecutive hat-trick at home against Spurs and the fastest ever in the league’s history. All three goals were headers as the visitors crumbled under City’s aerial prowess in set-piece situations. Shaw’s personal 15-goal total against Spurs is now also the most goals one player has scored against a single opponent in the league. The club and supporters will both be desperate to see the Jamaica striker stay ondespite her contract expiring in the summer. Andrée Jeglertz’s side now need only eight points to secure the title and Shaw urged her teammates to stay focused, saying: “Keep going, keep our heads down, keep focused,” she said. “Don’t watch the noise in the market, watch the sale.” Renuka Odedra

It has been a frustrating season for Chloe Kelly. Hampered by a knee problem early on, she then suffered a ligament injury in the same area back in December that kept her out of action until late January. Those fitness issues are clearly behind her now judging by her performance at the Emirates in Arsenal’s 5-0 win against West Ham. She marked her second back-to-back 90-minute outings with two goals and an assist, a performance that injected energy into a notable attacking display. “We missed Chloe when she was away with injury,” the head coach, Renée Slegers, said. “She’s back now and she’s the best version of Chloe Kelly.” It is a welcome return to form for the club as they enter a crucial part of the season. Confidence is high among the Gunners – this was their ninth straight win in all competitions and they recorded another clean sheet that marked 98 days since they last conceded in the league. Sophie Downey

Chloe Kelly slots home her first of two goals, and the third of Arsenal’s five against West Ham. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images/Reuters

After a positive five-game winning run, Chelsea dropped the ball as they were held to a 1-1 draw at London City Lionesses. Sonia Bompastor rang the changes, with an eye on their upcoming Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal, and it appeared to energise them as they dominated the first half. Chloe Sarwie, who is 17, was the latest academy product to be handed a start and the young left-back caught the eye along with 19-year-old Lexi Potter. The script flipped after the break, however, as Bompastor shifted her entire defensive unit due to increasing injury problems. An ankle injury to Aggie Beever-Jones saw Sjoeke Nüsken take up a more attacking role, a move that saw Erin Cuthbert end the game at right-back. London City sensed the disruption and took advantage as they peppered the Chelsea goal in the latter stages, firing 14 shots with six on target. Isobel Goodwin’s 82nd-minute equaliser was, therefore, hardly undeserved. For Chelsea, however, gaining just a point proved a body blow for their hopes of securing European football next season. SD

It was drama in the dying minutes of the game at the Unity Stadium as Manchester United pinched all three points away from Everton in a 2-1 victory. The result would have been a huge relief as it keeps United in contention for Champions League football next season. Melvine Malard headed in at the near post in the 94th minute to give Marc Skinner’s side a crucial win. It was even more important as it lifted United above Chelsea into second. “It’s an epic win because if I took you through the week, we’ve lost the cup final which is devastating, everyone feels that,” Skinner said. “We then go away to West Ham midweek, don’t quite get over the line, get back at four o’clock on the Thursday morning, get up, come in to do an hour’s training session, because that’s all we can do with the squad size we have.” RO

The Aston Villa striker Kirsty Hanson became only the second WSL player to reach a double-figures goal tally for this season as she scored for the 10th time in this campaign and strengthened her position in second place in the Golden Boot race, behind only the runaway leader Khadija Shaw. Hanson’s 84th-minute winner gave Villa a 2-1 turnaround victory away at struggling Leicester, a low finish that went through Janina Leitzig’s legs, exemplified how well Hanson is thriving in a more central role. When discussing how she has found such belief in her own finishing, she told the BBC: “It’s the belief that the club, the team, the staff and the players have in me.” Tom Garry

Kirsty Hanson deflates Leicester with her late winner for Aston Villa. Photograph: Molly Darlington/WSL Football/Getty Images

Liverpool’s winless away form continued despite a decent performance in their goalless draw away against an out-of-form Brighton side. The Merseyside club are now without a victory in 10 consecutive away league matches, drawing just two of those, since a 2-1 victory at Brighton in April 2025. They came very close to winning this one in second-half stoppage time but were denied by Maelys Mpomé’s last-ditch clearance off the line for the home side. Nevertheless, despite their struggles on the road, it proved to be a good point for Gareth Taylor’s team, as they moved five points clear of the relegation playoff spot, though Leicester have a game in hand. TG