🏅 WSL Awards: Spanner in the works, seven heaven, Daly news | OneFootball

The end of the WSL season is fast approaching and we are not short on drama. Not at all.

The Spanner in the Works Award

The title race took a huge twist on Sunday as Liverpool stunned Manchester City at Prenton Park.

A surprise defeat for the visitors means they’re now six points off of Manchester United in top spot and have fallen behind Chelsea, who still have two games in hand.

The title dream is all but over and it’s advantage Arsenal in the race for the third European place.

The Daly News Award

It was easy as one, two, three for Rachel Daly as she and Aston Villa put Reading to the sword. A second hat-trick of the season, both coming against Reading, took the striker to 20 goals in as many WSL appearances this season.

She will surely get the chance to lead the line for England this summer after playing left-back for Sarina Wiegman during the Euros.

The Double Devon Loch Award

West Ham are now nine without a win in 2023. If they’d started slower, or if the season was a bit longer, they’re have serious relegation worries.

But Reading are now bottom having won just one (against West Ham) and lost nine of their last 11.

With Chelsea to play on the final day, and given Leicester’s improved form since the January transfer window, the Royals will almost certainly be going down unless they can beat Tottenham two weeks from now.

The Award for Stepping Up

Frida Maanum continued her superb season as the player Arsenal can look to when they need a moment of magic, striking her eighth goal of the WSL season to secure a crucial 1-0 win against Leicester.

The Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger Award

Chelsea couldn’t rely on Sam Kerr, who was ill overnight on Saturday and lasted less than half an hour, as well as missing Fran Kirby but they put on a show all the same (with Kerr still managing to score) as six different goalscorers helped them to a 7-0 win over Everton.

Pernille Harder is likely to leave this summer but replaced Kerr brilliantly, scoring right after coming off the bench and netting a second late on. She’s now just a goal shy of her tally from last season despite playing about 800 minutes less.

Chelsea look primed for the title yet again …

The Pole Position Award

… but Manchester United will not let up in the race to finish top.

They remain in pole position, albeit with two extra games played, and the result was never in doubt as they met Tottenham on Sunday.

Next season’s FA Cup final pits them against Chelsea before the two teams go head-to-head for the title down the straight. May the best team win.