WSL 2025–26 Gameweek 6 Recap: Big Four March On, Villa Rue Misses and Lionesses Heap Misery on West Ham

Chelsea, City, Arsenal, and United all claimed victories to keep the title race tight, Villa were held by a defiant Leicester, and London City Lionesses extended West Ham’s winless run to six.

Oct 13, 2025

Overview

Gameweek 6 saw all four title contenders take care of business, as Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Manchester United each secured wins to maintain a familiar look at the top of the table. It was a low-scoring round overall with just 11 goals across 6 matches (1.83 per game). Four fixtures were decided by a single goal (including three 1-0 scorelines) and one ended goalless.

The flip side was a bumper weekend for attendances, highlighted by Arsenal drawing 27,336 to the Emirates and Everton hosting 18,154 at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium. Liverpool’s outing at Anfield also attracted 17,484 fans, underlining the WSL’s growing pull.

Chelsea remain unbeaten and lead on 16 points, with Man City (15) and Man United (14) in hot pursuit and Arsenal (11) back to winning ways after a mini-slump. Tottenham (12) fell to Chelsea but still sit 4th ahead of Arsenal, while promoted London City Lionesses (9) continue to impress.

The bottom of the table features mounting concern: Liverpool (0 points) and West Ham (0 points) are still winless, the Hammers’ slide deepening with a sixth straight defeat.

Match-by-Match Breakdown

Arsenal 1-0 Brighton & Hove Albion

Venue: Emirates Stadium (London) | Attendance: 27,336 (45% capacity)

Arsenal returned to winning ways, albeit via a slice of fortune, edging Brighton 1-0 courtesy of a 16’ own goal by defender Marisa Olislagers. It wasn’t the statement win Arsenal had hoped for at the Emirates, but the three points were all that mattered for a side looking to get their title challenge back on track.

Key Stats that Influenced the Outcome

Rare Own Goal Decider: The only goal came via an Olislagers own goal (16’), a stroke of luck Arsenal needed to crack Brighton’s back line.
Brighton’s Defensive Grit: Brighton’s resilience showed in limiting Arsenal to 4 shots on target from 15 attempts, and even outdoing the Gunners in shots on target (5 vs 4). Chiamaka Nnadozie made 2 saves to keep Brighton in the game.
Arsenal Dominance Without Punch: Arsenal controlled 58% possession and piled up 11 corners to 3, pinning Brighton back for long stretches. But they were unable to convert this dominance to result.

Player Spotlight — Daphne van Domselaar (Arsenal, GK)

Commanded her box superbly and remained composed under late pressure — Arsenal’s steadying influence between the posts.

Retrospection

Our preview had Arsenal as clear favourites (67% win probability) with most likely scorelines 2–0 or 2–1. The model correctly predicted a home victory but undershot Brighton’s resilience; the own goal was the deciding factor in a game where Arsenal’s control outweighed their cutting edge.

Aston Villa 0-0 Leicester City

Venue: Villa Park (Birmingham) | Attendance: 2,486 (6% capacity)

Aston Villa were left ruing a barrage of missed chances as they drew 0-0 with Leicester City in a clash of wills at Villa Park. The hosts dominated proceedings from start to finish, however, goalkeeper Janina Leitzig delivered a heroic performance, pulling off a string of saves (8 in total) to single-handedly keep Villa out.

Key Stats that Influenced the Outcome

Villa’s Wastefulness: Aston Villa generated 2.99 expected goals (xG) from 17 shots— the highest xG of any team this week—yet scored 0 goals. They created 5 big chances but missed all five, a wastefulness that cost them the win.
Leitzig’s Last Line of Defence: Leicester’s goalkeeper Janina Leitzig was the game’s standout performer, registering 8 saves to blank Villa. Her outstanding performance ensured Leicester survived despite being out-shot 8-1 in shots on target.

Player Spotlight — Janina Leitzig (Leicester City, GK)

A commanding display that single-handedly preserved Leicester’s point — reflexes, handling, and distribution all top-tier

Retrospection

Our preview model leaned Aston Villa (54% win probability) with expected scorelines 1–0 or 2–1, anticipating Villa’s attacking control. The draw defied those odds purely through Leitzig’s brilliance; Villa met the model’s dominance metrics (xG +2.6 differential) but couldn’t translate them into goals.

Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur

Venue: Cherry Red Records Stadium (Kingston upon Thames) | Attendance: 3,925

Champions Chelsea ground out a 1-0 victory over London rivals Tottenham, with a moment of quality from Keira Walsh breaking the deadlock in a tense affair. The Blues dominated possession from the get-go—finishing around 66% possession—but found Spurs’ organised defence difficult to breach.

Key Stats that Influenced the Outcome

Walsh’s Decisive Strike: Keira Walsh provided the one bit of end product Chelsea needed. Her goal (61’) came from a 0.04 xG chance, a long-range effort that exemplified Chelsea’s need to shoot from distance as Spurs’ defence crowded the box. It was Walsh’s first goal of the season and proved decisive in a match where clear chances were rare.
Chelsea’s Relentless Pressure: The Blues out-shot Spurs 27-10 overall and earned 16 corners to Tottenham’s 3, reflecting sustained attacking pressure. They spent much of the game pinned around Spurs’ area—68 touches in opposition box, the most of any side since the start of the season.
Tottenham’s Resilience at the Back: Tottenham registered 113 defensive actions including duels won, the most by any side since the start of the season. Aside from the Walsh goal, Chelsea created just 1 big chance all match, a testament to how well Spurs executed their defensive game plan to limit high-quality opportunities.

Player Spotlight — Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea, DM)

Tireless, inventive, and constantly dictating tempo — Cuthbert’s creativity from deep kept Spurs pinned for long spells.

Retrospection

The preview model saw this as a clear-cut fixture, giving Chelsea 75% win probability with a 2-0 forecast. Chelsea did get the win, extending their dominance, but Tottenham made it harder than predicted. As anticipated, Spurs’ defensive organisation did “hold out early” and kept the game tight—in fact, it held out for over an hour.

Everton 1-4 Manchester United

Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool | Attendance: 18,154.

United overturned an early deficit with a dominant second-half surge. Everton struck first on 16′ through Honoka Hayashi, finishing from close range after a set-piece scramble. United controlled territory after the break and levelled on 62′ when Melvine Malard pounced inside the box. Pressure told on 70′ as an Everton defensive mix-up produced a Hikaru Kitagawa own goal to flip the game. Jess Park then sealed it late with a ruthless brace on 84′ and 89′ — both supplied by Ella Toone to cap a comprehensive away win.

Key Stats that Influenced the Outcome

United’s Second-Half Precision: Although United had more shots in the 1st half (8), there was nothing to show for it. In the 2nd half they had less shot, more on target and created 2 big chances, extending control after the interval to run out 4–1 winners.
Midfield Control & Passing Superiority: United had 66% possession and completed 551 passes to Everton’s 227 (87% vs 70%).
Everton’s Bright Start Fades: Everton led 1–0 at HT but mustered only 2 shots on target all match as United’s pressure told.

Player Spotlight – Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United, CB)

A commanding display from the back — composed in possession, faultless defensively, and instrumental in United’s buildup.

Retrospection

Our preview model favoured United (63% win; most likely scorelines 0–2, 0–1, 1–3) and projected a professional away victory. The match followed that script — defensive security, bench impact, and superior depth — albeit with a wider margin thanks to Park’s late brace.

Liverpool 1-2 Manchester City

Venue: Anfield (Liverpool) | Attendance: 9,387

Liverpool’s effort at Anfield wasn’t enough to halt City’s streak. After a cagey first half, the hosts struck on 52′ when Cornelia Kapocs glanced in a close-range header from Ceri Holland’s delivery. City grew into control and levelled on 64′ through Iman Beney. Pressure mounted and, with Liverpool retreating late, Aoba Fujino produced the winner on 86′ — a composed right-footed finish to complete the turnaround.

Key Stats that Influenced the Outcome

City’s Attack vs Liverpool’s Defence: City dominated the attacking metrics, registering 13 shots to Liverpool’s 2 and 8 on target to Liverpool’s 2. They also created 3 big chances (to Liverpool’s 1), reflecting constant pressure around the box.
Control: City controlled possession 65%-35%. They completed 539 passes to Liverpool’s 239. This territorial dominance meant Liverpool spent much of the game in their own half. Liverpool had only 8 touches in City’s box all game, City had 41, 5 times what Liverpool managed. In fact, only Khadija Shaw registered more touches (11) in Liverpool than the entire Liverpool team did in City’s box.

Player Spotlight – Alex Greenwood (Manchester City, CB)

Imperious at the back and calm on the ball. Dictated City’s build-up

Retrospection

Our preview model had City as firm favourites (62% win) with most likely scorelines 0–3, 0–2, 1–3. The result matched the lean — City’s quality and depth told — though Liverpool’s set-piece opener forced a comeback narrative rather than a procession.

London City Lionesses 1-0 West Ham United

Venue: Copperjax Community Stadium (Bromley) | Attendance: 1,872

London City Lionesses extended their strong home form with a disciplined victory over West Ham. After a balanced first half, the breakthrough arrived on 68′ when Kosovare Asllani latched onto a loose ball inside the area and drilled home from close range — her finish carrying an xG of 0.84. The result gave London City back-to-back league wins and a third clean sheet in four matches.

Key Stats that Influenced the Outcome

Fine Margins: A tight 1–0 felt fair, but not quite. London City Lionesses out-shot West Ham 16–12, although both sides landed 3 on target. LCL created 4 big chances to West Ham’s 1. LCL also generated the higher xG (2.59 vs 0.81).
Lionesses’ Control and Defensive Poise
LCL edged the ball and territory, holding 58% possession, which helped keep West Ham’s pressure manageable despite a second-half push (the momentum graph swings towards West Ham around 63′–66′ before LCL’s goal). Final score 1–0reflects that balance.
West Ham’s Ongoing Struggles: The Hammers once again failed to score—that’s now six games without a clean sheet or a point, and only 2 goals scored all season.

Player Spotlight — Kosovare Asllani (London City, FW)

Operated between lines and led by example — decisive and creative throughout.

Retrospection

Our preview rated this a finely balanced contest, slightly favouring London City (40% win probability) with predicted scorelines around 1–1 or 2–1. The Lionesses edged it through superior control and Asllani’s clinical moment, validating the model’s lean toward a narrow home win.

Final Word

Gameweek 6 largely went to script. The league’s heavyweights all prevailed, keeping a multi-team title race on track at the top, while the struggles of the winless sides grew more acute.

This weekend also showcased the influence of fine margins—four matches were decided by one goal, and two of those by defensive errors (an own goal for Arsenal’s win and a goalkeeper blunder for LCL’s).

Even dominant teams like Chelsea and City had to grind out results, highlighting the improved competitiveness and defensive organisation in the league’s middle and lower ranks.

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Missed our Matchweek 6 Preview with win probabilities and forecast scorelines?
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