Chelsea’s dominance and the battle for survival: 5 WSL mid-season talking points | OneFootball

Just like that, the Women’s Super League (WSL) season is almost at the midway point as players head off for a much-needed winter break.

It’s been an exhilarating start to the campaign at both ends of the table as Chelsea lead the way in the title race and numerous clubs are on the brink of an unwanted relegation battle. Elsewhere, two clubs have already parted ways with their manager and are yet to make permanent appointments.

With no WSL action until the end of January, 90min have assessed the first half of the campaign and picked out the five biggest talking points from across the league…

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages

New season, same story. Chelsea lead the way in the WSL title race and have already established themselves as firm favourites to win the coveted trophy at the end of the campaign.

Sonia Bompastor’s side are well on course to make it six in a row for the club as they boast a comfortable six-point lead at the top of the standings with 10 games played. It’s the biggest lead any club has had at the winter break since the league reformed several years ago.

It would take quite the drop off in the second half of the season for Chelsea to wilt away in the title race, so those on their heels will need to be on top form in January to keep the race alive.

English clubs progress in UWCL

Manchester City have qualified for the round of 16 of the UEFA Women's Champions League / Ben Roberts Photo/GettyImages

Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal all comfortably progressed into the knockout rounds of the UEFA Women’s Champions League as the group stage concluded midway through December. The Gunners, who arguably had one of the toughest groups to contest, edged ahead of Italian giants Juventus to enter the round of 16.

With all three English clubs battling it out in Europe in the second half of the season, it could have a significant impact on the WSL title race. Chelsea certainly have the squad depth to compete on all fronts, but the same cannot be said for their rivals, especially with mounting injuries.

Brighton make remarkable progress

Brighton have enjoyed a promising first half of the season / Mike Hewitt/GettyImages

Aside from the usual top four, Brighton have been the standout performers in the WSL so far this season. They have caused numerous problems against top sides, and currently sit just four points off fourth place.

Dario Vidosic’s appointment has proved to be a masterstroke from the south coast club, while their summer recruitment, which includes the likes of Nikita Parris and Fran Kirby, has been extremely fruitful.

It remains to be seen whether they can maintain such high levels for another four-and-a-half months, but as far as starts go, things couldn’t have gone much better for the Seagulls.

Managerial casualties

Robert de Pauw was sacked by Aston Villa before the winter break / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages

Sacking season arrived much earlier than anticipated this season as former Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall was the first managerial casualty of the campaign. While he wasn’t exactly given the boot by the north London club, a poor run of results did prompt the Swede to step down from his duties in October.

Renee Slegers has turned Arsenal into a team transformed since taking charge as interim, but it is not yet known which direction the club will take long-term. Elsewhere, Aston Villa parted ways with Dutchman Robert de Pauw ahead of the winter break, less than six months after appointing him to replace Carla Ward.

The Midlands club won their first game 3-1 under interim Shaun Goater, as they toppled West Ham at Villa Park. It is crucial Villa get this next appointment right as they risk digging up the foundations laid under Ward and her staff.

Crystal Palace and Everton are among the teams hoping to avoid relegation this season / Bryn Lennon/GettyImages

While the title race appears somewhat predictable, the same cannot be said for the relegation battle at the other end of the table. Typically, newly-promoted sides emerge as firm favourites to go straight back down, but Crystal Palace have been able to keep the pace with the teams in and around them in the table.

Just four points separate 12th and seventh after 10 games, which realistically places at least six teams in the conversation for relegation. Table positions change almost every game and things could get even tighter depending on each club’s January recruitment.

Unless one team completely falls away and endures a terrible run of form, the battle for survival could extend to the final game of the season and create a nail-biting end to the campaign.