The women's football world focused its eyes on Pride Park last weekend to see Chelsea banned their demons and to end a point of three consecutive competitions of the League Cup, with the first available piece of silverware of the season collected.
Away from Derby, however, there was one result that took place under the radar, but had enormous consequences about the title race, and that was the 3-1 home defeat of Manchester United against Liverpool.
Marc Skinner's side was closest to Chelsea in the top flight, and by losing that game, United Chelsea gave an eight -pointed lead with six more games that can be played, while they also give their second position to Arsenal on target difference.
As the WSL has not been decided since 2018-19, the following six games are starting to look more and more like a procession than at a title race, in which Sonia Bompastor remains unbeaten in the top of the top since taking the reins of Emma Hayes last summer, who won 14 of its 16 games in the Dugout (the other two).
The blues visit the Etihad this Sunday and will want to jump back from their midweek defeat there in the Champions League, where the sparkle of Vivianne Miedema has reduced them to a shortage with two goals in the first stage of their quarter -final collision.
Here Mail Sport looks at where and when Millie Bright finally can honor the high -flying blues and that illustrious piece of silverware can lift …
When Chelsea City defeated and the others win
If Chelsea Man City defeats and then also wins their next games against West Ham and Crystal Palace, then they only need one point against Manchester United on 27 April to win the WSL in Leigh Sports Village with two more games.
That works on the basis of the fact that they keep their eight -pointed lead with both Arsenal and Manchester United who win their next games.
In view of the fact that Manchester United will probably win their next three-offspring-thrusters Aston Villa, 8th placed Everton and the 9th placed West Ham-sign this weekend that this is the most likely option if Bompastor's side succeeds in trihad this weekend.
Arsenal then has a starrent test in Liverpool, but they are then confronted with Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, and it is still realistic that the side of Renee Slesers will also be able to win all three.
When Chelsea City defeated and the others drop points
The most likely scenario is that if Arsenal and United Drop -points in one of their next two games and Chelsea win their next three games, then the Bompastor team could win the competition in Kingsmeadow against Crystal Palace on 20 April with just a draw. This is based on the fact that they would have at least a 10 -point lead with three more games to go.
The earliest possible time that Chelsea could win their sixth consecutive title would be in Kingsmeadow against West Ham on March 30, their match immediately after the city, with four games of the season to play.
This would only work if they would beat both City and West Ham, and Arsenal and United also lost both of their next two games. Although it is mathematically possible that they can take a 14-point lead with 12 more available points, it is incredibly unrealistic!
When Chelsea is falling on the city
This is where things become a bit more complicated. Without getting too far into the Nitty Gritty, when Chelsea drops in the city, but still wins their next matches, the earliest that they can win the competition in Leigh Sports Village against Manchester United – and only if Arsenal and United drop enough points between now and then.
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