WSL 2025–26 Gameweek 10 Recap – City Go Six Points Clear as Everton End Chelsea’s 34-Game Unbeaten Run
City cruise past Leicester 3–0; Everton stun Chelsea 1–0 to end a 34-match, 585-day league streak; late goals lift Spurs over Villa 2–1; Arsenal and Man Utd clinch 2–1 wins; Brighton overcome LCL 1-0.
Overview
Gameweek 10 produced 14 goals across six fixtures, with every match yielding a winner as the title race took another dramatic turn. Reigning champions Chelsea suffered a stunning 0–1 home defeat to Everton – ending a 34-match, 585-day unbeaten WSL run – allowing Manchester City to strengthen their grip at the top of the table.
City cruised to a 3–0 win at Leicester, extending their lead to six points, while Arsenal ground out a 2–1 win over Liverpool to keep pace in the chase.
Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur delivered late heroics by scoring twice after the 84th minute to beat Aston Villa 2–1. Manchester United bounced back from last week’s setback with a 2–1 home triumph over West Ham United. Meanwhile, newly promoted London City Lionesses fell narrowly 0–1 to Brighton & Hove Albion.
All told, the weekend’s surprises – especially Everton’s upset – have shaken up both ends of the table, widening the gap at the summit and injecting intrigue into the battle at the bottom.
Match-by-Match Breakdown
Arsenal 2–1 Liverpool
Venue: Emirates Stadium (London) | Attendance: 34,345
Arsenal edged Liverpool 2–1 at the Emirates Stadium but had to leave it late in front of a 34,345-strong home crowd. Olivia Smith opened the scoring on 17′ for the Gunners. Liverpool equalised in the 30th minute, with Beata Olsson finishing off a counterattack led by Mia Enderby. Arsenal poured forward thereafter and finally found a winner in the 88th minute through Stina Blackstenius to secure the three points.
Key stats that influenced the outcome
Dominance without scoreboard reward: Arsenal amassed 19 shots to Liverpool’s 3 and led comfortably in expected goals (2.24 vs 0.17). They spent much of the game in the Reds’ half, logging 42 touches in the opposition box (to Liverpool’s 10) and winning 9 corners to Liverpool’s 1.
Finishing woes vs clinical visitors: The Gunners created 4 big chances but converted none of them (0%). They hit the target 9 times but were foiled by 6 saves from Liverpool’s goalkeeper and a goalpost. Liverpool, by contrast, scored with their only shot on target and made their lone big chance count (100% conversion), nearly stealing a draw despite being outplayed.
Liverpool’s defensive rearguard: Under constant pressure, Liverpool’s back line made 33 clearances and 5 blocks to frustrate Arsenal. Despite Arsenal holding 58% possession and relentlessly attacking, Liverpool’s disciplined defensive shape nearly earned them a point until the late breakthrough.
Retrospection
Our pre-match model made Arsenal heavy favourites (84% win chance) with a comfortable 2–0 or 3–0 scoreline most likely. The 2–1 final was tighter than anticipated – Liverpool’s stout defence made Arsenal work much harder than expected – but ultimately the home win aligned with the model’s expectations.
Player spotlight – Olivia Smith (Arsenal, LW)
Leicester City 0–3 Manchester City
Venue: King Power Stadium (Leicester, Leicestershire) | Attendance: TBC
Manchester City eventually overpowered Leicester City 3–0 at King Power after a second-half surge. Despite relentless one-way traffic throughout, the Foxes held out until Khadija Shaw broke the deadlock on 74′ from a Kerolin assist. Shaw doubled the lead in the 83rd minute via Lauren Hemp’s setup, before returning the favour by assisting Kerolin in stoppage time to cap the comfortable win.
Key stats that influenced the outcome
Total domination: City enjoyed 76% possession and a staggering 30–2 shot advantage. They spent almost the entire game in Leicester’s half, registering 67 touches in the Foxes’ box (Leicester managed just 1 in City’s area) and winning the corner count 13–1.
Chances galore, late conversion: City generated 3.43 expected goals to Leicester’s 0.11, carving out 9 big chances while conceding none. Wasteful finishing (only 3 goals from 30 shots, with 7 big chances missed) kept the scoreline at 0–0 until the 74th minute – once City found the breakthrough, the floodgates opened.
Leicester’s defensive siege: The home side was under siege throughout, making 58 clearances and 8 blocks. Their goalkeeper made 6 saves to keep City at bay as long as possible. Leicester’s rearguard resistance was valiant, but the pressure finally told in the closing stages.
Retrospection
Our preview model had City as heavy favourites (79% win probability) with a routine 2–0 or 3–0 victory projected. The 3–0 result delivered on those expectations in both outcome and margin. While City left it late to break through, the comfortable win ultimately aligned with the forecast.
Player spotlight – Khadija Shaw (Manchester City, ST)
London City Lionesses 0–1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Venue: Copperjax Community Stadium (London) | Attendance: TBC
Brighton earned a hard-fought 1–0 victory away to London City Lionesses. Kiko Seike struck in the 6th minute, via Madison Haley’s assist to give the Seagulls an early lead. Despite the Lionesses’ pressure in search of an equaliser, Brighton’s defence and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie held firm to secure the clean sheet.
Key stats that influenced the outcome
Possession vs penetration: London City dominated possession at 65% and out-shot Brighton 14–9, yet the visitors created the sharper chances. Brighton edged the xG battle 1.65–0.62 and produced 3 big chances to LCL’s 2, making more of their limited forays forward.
Missed chances for LCL: The hosts failed to convert either of their two big chances (0% conversion). Brighton, on the other hand, converted 1 of their 3 big chances (33%) – Seike’s early goal – which proved enough as both sides wasted opportunities.
Steadfast Seagulls defence: Brighton defended stoutly under waves of LCL attacks, racking up 23 clearances and 5 blocks. Keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was outstanding with 5 saves. LCL won 12 corners but the Seagulls’ well-organised back line ensured the home side could not find a way through.
Retrospection
Our preview model gave Brighton a slight edge (38% win probability) and pointed to a 1–1 or 1–0 scoreline as most likely. The 1–0 away win for Brighton thus comes as no surprise – it aligns with expectations. While the Lionesses saw more of the ball, the result underscored Brighton’s efficiency and the fine margins that decided the match.
Player spotlight – Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton, GK)
Tottenham Hotspur 2–1 Aston Villa
Venue: BetWright Stadium (London) | Attendance: TBC
Tottenham struck twice in the final minutes to snatch a dramatic 2–1 victory over Aston Villa. After a cagey contest, Villa grabbed the lead on 84′ through Kirsty Hanson’s strike. Spurs responded immediately as Beth England equalised in the 85th minute, and in stoppage time (90+′) Olivia Holdt fired home the winner from a Drew Spence assist.
Key stats that influenced the outcome
Spurs on top overall: Tottenham had 58% possession and out-shot Villa 14–8. They also had the better opportunities – Spurs’ expected goals was 1.97 to Villa’s 0.79, and they created 4 big chances to Villa’s 1 – reflecting the home side’s attacking edge.
Profligate then clinical: Despite their dominance, Spurs registered only 3 shots on target (to Villa’s 4). However, they were clinical when it mattered – scoring with 2 of those 3 on-target shots (and converting 50% of their big chances) in the dying minutes to secure the win. Villa’s lone big chance yielded their goal but they struggled to create sustained threat.
Villa under pressure: The visitors had to defend for long stretches, making 26 clearances and 4 blocks. Tottenham logged 27 touches in Villa’s box (to Villa’s 20 in Spurs’ area) and won 10 corners to Villa’s 5, indicating Spurs’ territorial control that eventually paid off.
Retrospection
Our preview model forecast a tight affair (Spurs 42% win probability) with a 1–1 draw or 1–0 result among the likeliest outcomes. The 2–1 home win for Spurs was well within expectations – a narrow victory for the slight favourites – though the late comeback fashion provided far more drama than any model could have predicted.
Player spotlight – Olivia Holdt (Tottenham Hotspur, AM)
Manchester United 2–1 West Ham United
Venue: Progress with Unity Stadium (Leigh, Greater Manchester) | Attendance: 2,705
Manchester United laboured to a 2–1 win over West Ham United at Leigh. Elisabeth Terland put United in front on 37′, via Anna Sandberg’s assist. The Hammers hit back on 53′ through Shekiera Martinez via Riko Ueki’s assist to equalise. United kept pushing and finally regained the lead in the 71st minute – Dominique Janssen’s strike sealed a much-needed victory for the hosts.
Key stats that influenced the outcome
United control, but narrow score: United enjoyed 66% possession and out-shot West Ham 22–8, translating to a hefty 2.65–0.57 edge in expected goals. The Red Devils spent most of the match on the front foot – they tallied 30 touches in the opposing box (to West Ham’s 13) and earned all 7 corners in the game (West Ham had 0).
Stubborn West Ham defence: The Hammers dug in with 37 clearances and 6 blocks, repeatedly foiling United’s attacks. Their goalkeeper made 6 saves to keep the visitors in contention. Despite being under siege for long stretches, West Ham’s resilience meant United had to settle for a one-goal margin.
Closer than it should’ve been: United’s wastefulness kept it tight – they converted only 1 of 2 big chances (50%) and even hit the woodwork once. Scoring just twice from 22 shots meant West Ham, despite creating few chances of their own, were level until the 71st minute. In the end United got the job done, but not without some nervous moments.
Retrospection
The pre-match model heavily favoured United (75% win chance, with 2–0 or 3–0 most likely). The 2–1 scoreline was a touch closer than anticipated as United let West Ham hang around. Still, the eventual home win was in line with expectations – United secured the points, albeit by a slimmer margin than projected.
Player spotlight – Anna Sandberg (Manchester United, LB)
Chelsea 0–1 Everton
Venue: Kingsmeadow (Kingston upon Thames, Surrey) | Attendance: TBC
Everton stunned Chelsea 1–0 at Kingsmeadow, ending the champions’ 34-match, 585-day unbeaten WSL run and handing them their first league defeat of the season. Honoka Hayashi struck for the Toffees in the 12th minute via Toni Payne’s asisst, and Everton then produced a heroic defensive effort to preserve the lead. Chelsea laid siege with wave after wave of attacks – even rattling the woodwork three times – but could not find a way past Everton’s resilient defence.
Key stats that influenced the outcome
One-way traffic: Chelsea dominated 79% possession and out-shot Everton 30–4. The Blues camped in Everton’s third with 64 touches in the opposition box (Everton had just 3) and piled up 18 corners (to Everton’s 0), reflecting the constant pressure on the visitors.
Herculean defending: Under siege, Everton’s defence tallied 85 clearances and 8 blocks. Goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan stood tall with 6 saves. Time and again, Chelsea’s attacks were met by a wall of yellow shirts throwing themselves in front of shots to protect the lead.
Fine margins: The hosts struck the woodwork three times and missed their sole big chance. By contrast, Everton finished the one clear-cut chance they created (100% conversion) and even hit the post once themselves. Those razor-thin margins went the Toffees’ way, underpinning the upset.
Record WSL run snapped: Chelsea had not lost a league match for 585 days, putting together a 34-game unbeaten streak. Everton’s win did not just claim three points – it brought one of the longest runs in the division to an abrupt halt.
Retrospection
Our preview model gave Chelsea a commanding 84% win probability, with a 3–0 home victory the most expected outcome. Everton’s 1–0 triumph ranks as one of the shocks of the season – a highly improbable result that defied the odds as the heavy favourites were toppled on their own turf.
Player spotlight – Courtney Brosnan (Everton, GK)
Final Word
If Gameweek 10 had a headline, it would be: “Champions fall, City tighten grip – and late drama underscores WSL unpredictability.”
Chelsea’s shock defeat at home is a major jolt to the title race – the once-unbeaten champions now find themselves chasing a Manchester City side that continues to capitalise on any slip-up. They had gone 34 WSL matches and 585 days without defeat before Everton’s win shattered that run. Arsenal’s win keeps their hope alive, but neither they nor Chelsea can afford further stumbles with City looking ruthlessly consistent.
At the same time, the league’s depth was on full display. Tottenham’s resurgence and Everton’s stunning upset show that on any given week, underdogs can rip up the script. Liverpool remain winless at the bottom, but Everton’s triumph will give hope to every club fighting to climb the table.
As we approach the midpoint of the season, unpredictability reigns – no result is a foregone conclusion, and the WSL title and survival races are heating up in tandem.
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