Will Chelsea go six points clear? Five things to watch in WSL

Chelsea reached the Champions League quarter-finals with a win over Real Madrid on Wednesday

It is another crucial week in the Women's Super League with Chelsea hoping to go six points clear at the top, the bottom two facing off, and Khadija Shaw nearing a hat-trick record.

And what about out-of-form Manchester United, could Marc Skinner be in danger if his Red Devils side lose to Aston Villa?

Here is everything you need to know before this weekend's WSL fixtures:

• Williamson happy to be back
• Explosion of interest in women's football

Chelsea heavy favourites to go six points clear

Brighton came from behind to end Chelsea's 33-game unbeaten run with a 2-1 victory in February 2021, their only win over the Blues

Emma Hayes' side are chasing a fifth successive Women's Super League title and they're well on track to realise their ambitions.

The Blues comfortably beat Manchester United last Sunday to stay three points clear at the top of the WSL.

On Wednesday Chelsea clinched top spot in their Champions League group with a win over Real Madrid, a victory which manager Hayes called "boring".

In terms of expectation, Chelsea are the overwhelming favourites when they take on Brighton in their return to WSL action on Saturday (17:30 GMT).

Speaking in Friday's pre-match news conference, Hayes said her side won't be using their limited preparation time as an excuse.

"We just need to focus on ourselves," she said. "When you have such tight turnarounds we got all the details that we needed but we're ready.

"We're used to doing it. It doesn't make it easier but we are used to having one day prep at this stage of the season. The squad is ready. Everybody is going to matter because I'm sure we're going to need them."

The pair have played each other 12 times across all competitions, with Chelsea winning 10 and Brighton winning just one.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City and Spurs all in great form

Sunday is set to be a cracker with five of the top six in action.

Second-placed Manchester City visit Tottenham in sixth (14:00 GMT); Arsenal, in third, are away to fifth-placed Liverpool (16:30 GMT) and in-form Aston Villa travel to fifth-placed Manchester United. More on those last two later.

Manchester City are the WSL's form side. After losing back-to-back matches in November, they have recorded five straight wins in the league, a run which includes a 7-0 thrashing of Tottenham two months ago.

They are three points behind leaders Chelsea, but will be wary of Spurs who have beaten London rivals West Ham and Arsenal in recent weeks.

Arsenal, who are level on points with Manchester City, take on a Liverpool side who have tasted victory in four of their past six matches across all competitions.

But the Gunners are also in good form, having won 12 out of 14 in all competitions, having scored 13 goals in their past three games.

Four teams, all in red hot form.

Big match between bottom two

West Ham lost 2-1 to championship side Birmingham City in the League Cup on Wednesday

There is also a huge match taking place at the other end of the WSL table on Sunday as bottom club Bristol City host the team just above them, West Ham, at 14:00 GMT.

The Robins have limped to five point from their 11 WSL matches this season, conceding 29 goals.

Their only victory this term came at West Ham as they held on to a 3-2 win in the reverse fixture.

The Hammers are hardly doing much better themselves, only ahead of City on goal difference, while their one league win came all the way back on matchday two at Brighton in October.

Boss Rehanne Skinner expects a tight battle for the three points.

"It might not be one of the prettiest of games at the weekend," she said.

"But by hook or by crook, for us and for them, everybody is going to be fighting to get the three points. Ultimately, we'll do what we can. Whatever it takes really, that's what we've got to be thinking about."

Both sides narrowly lost high-scoring matches in their last WSL outings. Bristol City were beaten 3-2 at Brighton while West Ham lost 4-3 to Tottenham.

So, expect goals from this must-win match.

Skinner under pressure as Man Utd face Villa

Marc Skinner has come under pressure from Manchester United fans

Next, to Manchester United who travel to Aston Villa (Sunday 12:00 GMT).

While Villa, are on the rise, with four wins across their past five matches in all competitions, Manchester United are sliding down the WSL table.

Last year's runners-up haven't won in the league since 10 December and their only competitive victory in three matches in January has come against third-tier Newcastle United in the FA Cup.

The Red Devils are in fourth, six points ahead of Villa and 10 points behind leaders Chelsea, with some fans calling for manager Marc Skinner to leave the club.

Skinner joined in 2021 from Orlando Pride and his contract expires at the end of the season.

"The question I would ask Manchester United fans is, who would you want him replaced with? He's done a fantastic job at the club," former England midfielder Fara Williams told BBC Two.

Maybe Skinner's fortunes will turn against Villa, a side United have beaten thanks to a late injury-time winner in each of their past two meetings.

Will Shaw break hat-trick record?

And finally to hat-tricks. Over the past 12 months we have seen an incredible 12 trebles scored in the WSL, including eight since the start of this season.

Last Sunday two fell on the same day with Lauren James hitting three in Chelsea's 3-1 win over Manchester United and Manchester City's Khadija Shaw matching that in her side's 5-1 victory over Liverpool.

While it was James' second hat-trick in two months, it was Shaw's fifth in the league, putting her level with Vivianne Miedema as the WSL's top hat-trick scorer.

And she may fancy her chances of owning that record outright this weekend, given the Jamaican striker scored three in November's victory over Tottenham.

And before that, in March 2023, she netted all three in a 3-1 win in City's previous meeting with Spurs. Is the three-peat on?