Title race hots up before Chelsea v Man City showdown

Champions Manchester City will travel to Chelsea next week on top of the pile after a decisive Saturday in the Women's Super League. Khadija Shaw has scored 44% of Manchester City's WSL goals this season Level on points at the top of the Women's Super League, there was little to separate Chelsea and Manchester City in the title race as they kicked off their respective matches at the same time on Saturday. At that stage, Chelsea were edging the reigning champions thanks to a comfortably better goal difference, built up via a ruthlessness in attack and a solid defence. However, by full-time, the tables had turned with Sonia Bompastor's side forced to settle for a point in a 1-1 draw against Everton, despite dominating at Stamford Bridge.

While Chelsea struggled to put their chances away, Khadija Shaw – a summer transfer target for the Blues – was running riot at Joie Stadium, and her hat-trick inspired Manchester City to an emphatic 5-0 victory against West Ham, trimming the goal difference gap in the process. The win moves City two points clear of Chelsea at the top, one week before the sides meet in a potential title decider. Yet Shaw, who has scored 12 goals in nine league appearances this season and is two away from equalling Vivianne Miedema's all-time WSL