WSL round-up: Manchester City move closer to title after dramatic late win over Liverpool, Chelsea beat bottom side Leicester
Updated 03/05/2026 at 18:29 GMT+1
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An injury-time goal from Rebecca Knaak gave Manchester City a 1-0 win over Liverpool and put them on the cusp of a first Women's Super League title since 2016.
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Video credit: SNTV
City toiled throughout the game and could find no way through for 90 minutes as it seemed they would have to settle for a frustrating draw.
But Knaak was on hand to head home at the near post from a corner in the 91st minute and spark jubilant celebrations at Joie Stadium.
The title is not confirmed yet, because third-placed Arsenal have three games in hand, but the Gunners are 11 points behind Andree Jeglertz's side, who travel to West Ham United on the final day of the season on May 16.
It was expected to be a relatively comfortable afternoon for City against their 10th-placed opponents, but Liverpool were impressive in the first half.
Aurelie Csillag headed just over the bar in the early stages, before Denise O'Sullivan forced a save from Ayaka Yamashita.
Liverpool were aggressive and front-footed and appeared to catch City off guard, hitting the post through Grace Fisk in a frantic first few minutes.
City eventually settled but struggled to threaten at the other end until just before the half-hour mark, when Khadija Shaw was denied by an excellent save from Jennifer Falk.
Lauren Hemp looked increasingly dangerous as the half progressed, though a goalless first 45 minutes meant Liverpool were happier.
The hosts came out with more intent after the break, forcing the visitors into their own half and applying some pressure.
Falk was forced into another good save to prevent Kerolin scoring, before Shaw fired over the bar.
City's finishing appeared unusually weak, and they were almost punished when Beata Olsson found herself unmarked in the box but headed wide.
Liverpool were not out of the contest and still posed a threat. City, meanwhile, seemed out of ideas by the time Shaw saw a header tipped over by the impressive Falk.
But from the resulting corner, Knaak produced the winner, a goal that could well prove very significant in the title race.
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Chelsea cruise past bottom side Leicester
Chelsea's hopes of a seventh successive WSL title may have ended with Arsenal's victory, but the Blues boosted their chances of finishing second and securing automatic qualification for the UEFA Champions League by beating Leicester City 3-1.
The Blues looked too good for bottom-of-the-table Leicester, who suffered a 16th WSL defeat of a difficult season.
Chelsea are in second, five points ahead of Arsenal but having played three games more.
They are now guaranteed to finish in the top three, meaning at worst they will go into the Champions League third qualifying round, and will next turn their attention to the Adobe Women's FA Cup, with a semi-final against Manchester City to come on Sunday.
Sonia Bompastor's side were in front after 13 minutes when Sam Kerr met Niamh Charles' cross to convert at the back post.
Chelsea were 3-0 up after 33 minutes, with Lauren James netting a quickfire double. Her first was expertly finished, a curling effort into the far corner that left goalkeeper Katie Keane with no chance.
James' second goal was an eye-catching one, too, as she lifted a free-kick over the wall and in off the underside of the crossbar.
Leicester were better in the second half as Chelsea appeared to take their foot off the gas. Shannon O'Brien capitalised on a poor backpass from Lucy Bronze to give the hosts some hope, but a comeback never looked likely.
Spurs survive late scare to beat London City
A strong first-half display and goals from Signe Gaupset and Olivia Holdt were enough for Tottenham Hotspur to get the better of London City Lionesses with a 2-1 victory that secured fifth place in the WSL.
The win took Spurs to their record top-flight points total of 33, while London City are seventh heading into the final day.
It was all Spurs from the off as they threatened with an early flurry of corners.
The first goal came in the 13th minute when Gaupset robbed Malou Marcetto and slotted coolly into the bottom corner.
London City found their way into the contest but there was a lack of quality from the visitors.
And they found themselves two goals down just before the half-hour mark as Holdt hit a superb shot home from the edge of the box.
In response, London City's Alanna Kennedy had a close-range volley saved by Lize Kop.
Both goalkeepers had to make saves in the second half, though Spurs might have been out of sight had Maika Hamano's long shot not cannoned off the crossbar.
Kop had to be alert to deny the visitors on several occasions, but Kennedy found the net from close range in the 90th minute to set up a tense finish.
Freya Godfrey was presented with a chance to level in injury time, but Kop was on hand to save.
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