This Sunday, Chelsea will attempt to win their first trophy under Sonia Bompastor when they take on Manchester City – now under the interim charge of Nick Cushing – in the Women's League Cup final.

That clash at Pride Park means there is a reduced fixture list in the Women's Super League, and gives Manchester United and Arsenal a chance to make up ground at the summit.

The Gunners visit Everton in one of two Friday games, sitting 11 points adrift of Bompastor's unbeaten Blues with a game in hand.

United, meanwhile, face rivals Liverpool in a headline clash at Anfield, knowing a win will take them within five points of Chelsea.

There is also a basement battle between Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, while Tottenham could leapfrog Brighton into the top five when they face off on Sunday.

But who does the Opta supercomputer expect to emerge from this round of fixtures with another three points to their name?

EVERTON V ARSENAL

Since Renee Slegers' first league game in charge of Arsenal in October, only Chelsea (2.7) have averaged more points per game in the WSL than the Gunners' 2.5.

They have won eight of their last nine WSL games (one defeat), scoring four or more goals in each of their last three.

The Gunners have not netted four or more goals in four consecutive league matches since October 2018 (seven in a row) – they won their most recent league title that season.

This term, Champions League qualification is likely the limit of their ambitions, and their strong record at Everton should give them hope. 

They have won eight of their last nine WSL away matches against the Toffees, though they did draw this fixture 1-1 last season.

However, Everton are unbeaten in each of their last four WSL home matches, only once going longer without defeat on home turf – a nine-game run between April 2012 and May 2013.

The Toffees have won three of their last four home league games, as many as across their previous 19 (six draws, 10 defeats).

Arsenal are still the supercomputer's biggest favourites for victory this week, though, with a 71.2% chance of victory compared to Everton's 12.7%. 

LIVERPOOL V MAN UTD

Manchester United are currently enjoying the longest winning run in the WSL (seven games), and the Opta supercomputer gives them a 76% chance of finishing in the Champions League qualification spots. 

Another win will see them equal their best-ever run in the competition, having won eight in a row between March and October 2023.

If they can find a way past Liverpool in Friday's headline fixture, they will be within five of Chelsea with a home game against the Blues to come, so perhaps the title race is still alive.

Following their 4-0 win in the reverse fixture in December, United are looking to complete the double over Liverpool in the WSL for just the second time, also doing so in 2022-23.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have lost all four of their WSL matches at Anfield by an aggregate score of 7-1, losing 2-1 to Manchester City at the venue earlier this season.  

But they have picked up somewhat of late, with interim coach Amber Whiteley leading them to victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals last time out.

The Reds have also won three of their five WSL games in 2025 (two defeats), picking up as many points this calendar year (nine) as they managed across their final 10 league matches of 2024 (two wins, three draws, five losses).

They will face a tough task when it comes to testing Phallon Tullis-Joyce in the United goal. Marc Skinner's team have kept the most clean sheets in the WSL this season (10), with only Lyon (13) and Atletico Madrid (12) keeping more in Europe's big five leagues. 

Only City in 2016 (three) have ever conceded fewer goals after 15 WSL games than the Red Devils have this campaign (six).

United are favourites for victory, coming out on top in 53.9% of the supercomputer's pre-match simulations, with Liverpool winning in 23.5% and earning a draw in 22.6%.

CRYSTAL PALACE V ASTON VILLA

The first of two games to take place on Sunday is a huge one in the fight to avoid relegation, with 12th-placed Palace needing a victory to cut the four-point gap to Villa in 11th.

The Eagles have played more home games in the WSL without ever winning one than any other team (seven – one draw, six losses), and they lost the reverse fixture 3-2 in November thanks to a 94th-minute winner from Ebony Salmon.

They might just sense a chance to pick up three points here, though. 

Villa remain winless in five league games in 2025 (one draw, four defeats), already their longest wait for a WSL victory at the start of a single calendar year.

Villa have struggled at both ends this season. Their opponents are converting their shots at the highest rate in the WSL (17.9% - 29/162), while 45% of the shots on target the Villans have faced have found the net, another competition-high figure (29/64).

Rachel Daly, meanwhile, has failed to score in each of her last four WSL appearances, her joint-longest goal drought in the league for Villa.

The supercomputer struggles to split these teams, with Villa given a 40.1% win probability to Palace's 34.1%. 

TOTTENHAM V BRIGHTON

The final game of the weekend sees Tottenham host Brighton, with both teams hoping to finish as the "best of the rest" behind the top four.

Spurs are unbeaten in their last six WSL meetings with Brighton (three wins, three draws) since losing 2-1 away from home in October 2021.

The Seagulls have never won away to Tottenham in the WSL in five previous attempts, but they have earned a draw on their last two visits after losing on their first three trips.

Neither team enters this one in good form. While Tottenham have lost three in a row, Brighton have seen their momentum evaporate after a good start to 2024-25.

Only bottom club Palace (12) are on a longer current winless streak in the WSL than Brighton (seven – three draws, four losses), and only the Eagles (one) have won fewer points in the WSL than Dario Vidosic's team (three) since the start of December.

If they are to halt that run, they will have to stop Beth England, whose eight WSL goals against Brighton are more than any other player in the competition's history.

Home advantage makes Spurs favourites here, as they won 54% of our pre-match simulations, losing 22.4% and drawing 23.6%.