The WSL Play-Off Showdown: Who Will Battle for the Final League Spot?

Grace Gunn
3 days ago
6 min read

The battle for the relegation/promotion playoff is intensifying as the season heads into its decisive stretch, with Leicester City, Liverpool and West Ham United locked in a tense struggle at the bottom of the WSL table.

On the other hand, Crystal Palace, Newcastle, Southampton, and Bristol City are deep into a four-way fight for the opportunity to earn promotion to the topflight.

Leicester City

Leicester City look the most vulnerable of the WSL’s three sides. Their last league victory came on 14th December 2025 when they edged past London City Lionesses 1–0, and since then results have spiralled.

The Foxes entered the international break following a heavy 6–0 defeat to Manchester City and are currently on a five-game losing run in all competitions, including a damaging defeat to relegation rivals West Ham.

The numbers underline their struggles. Leicester have scored just eight goals in fifteen league matches while conceding 3, averaging only half a goal per game and create fewer than one big chance per match.

The Foxes’ run-in does little to ease concerns. A huge away trip to Liverpool could lift them off the bottom spot with a win, but defeat would heap even more pressure ahead of clashes with Aston Villa, Brighton, Arsenal, Chelsea and Everton.

Defensively, the 12^th placed side are conceding 2.1 goals per game, the worst rate in the division, and they are losing the majority of their individual duels both on the ground and in the air.

With confidence fragile and margins so fine, Leicester need a dramatic shift in momentum to avoid the playoff.

Liverpool

Liverpool enter the final stretch in stronger shape. Since the turn of the year, Gareth Taylor’s side have produced the best form of the three sides in the relegation fight, collecting four wins and a draw across all competitions whilst losing just twice.

January additions have played a significant role in that upturn thanks to the arrivals of Jennifer Falk, Alice Bergström, Denise O’Sullivan and Martha Thomas.

The signings have added experience, leadership and attacking edge, highlighted by a convincing 4–1 league win over Aston Villa in early February.

The Reds scored 15 goals in all competitions since January and conceded fewer than the other two sides battling near the bottom.

Survival is firmly in their own hands, with head-to-head fixtures against Leicester and West Ham still to come and victories in those matches would likely secure their status.

There are concerns, however, as injuries continue to disrupt momentum, with in-form youngster Mia Enderby suffering a knee problem in the FA Cup win over Everton and withdrawing from England Under-23 duty.

Taylor’s side must also negotiate difficult matches against table-toppers Manchester City and Arsenal but compared to their rivals they appear to have rediscovered belief at exactly the right moment.

West Ham United

West Ham United arguably have the most daunting schedule remaining. They are still to face three of the league’s top four sides in Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City, while also meeting Liverpool in what could prove a decisive encounter.

Statistically, West Ham’s season has been challenging. The Hammers average just under a goal per game and concede 2.2 per 90 minutes.

With 35 goals conceded, they have the second-worst defensive record in the league, and only Leicester have scored fewer than their 15 goals in 16 matches.

Despite that, there are signs of progress with January signings Katie Zelem, Tuva Hansen and Estelle Cascarino bringing valuable experience and composure, which have seen an upturn in performance even if results have not always followed.

Matches against London City Lionesses and an out-of-form Aston Villa offer potential opportunities, but with such a demanding run-in there is little room for error.

Who Is Most Likely to Fall?

As it stands, Leicester City appear the most at risk of ending up in the relegation playoff through a combination of their prolonged winless run, lack of goals and defensive frailties, leaving them with the biggest mountain to climb.

Liverpool’s resurgence and favourable head-to-head opportunities give them a slight edge in the survival race, while West Ham’s difficult fixture list means they could yet be dragged deeper into trouble.

The upcoming meeting between Leicester and Liverpool feels pivotal. In a battle defined by narrow margins, those direct clashes may ultimately decide who secures safety and who is left facing the uncertainty of a playoff.

WSL 2’s Promotion Playoff Battle

The race for promotion and the coveted play-off position is reaching a dramatic stage as the WSL 2 season approaches its conclusion.

At the summit, Charlton appear to have one hand on automatic promotion, whilst Birmingham City remain firmly in control of their own destiny.

Behind them, four sides are separated by just four points in a fiercely competitive battle for the playoff place, with goal difference, head-to-head encounters and nerve all likely to prove decisive.

Charlton have been the standout side this season as they sit 10 points clear of third place and still unbeaten in the league with eleven wins and five draws, setting the benchmark for consistency.

Their ability to turn tight contests into victories has underlined their credentials as champions in waiting, and automatic promotion now looks firmly within reach.

Birmingham City currently occupy second place and sit one point clear of Crystal Palace, though crucially they hold a game in hand.

Victory in that extra fixture would move them four points clear and place them in a commanding position heading into May.

They are the league’s top scorers and have maintained strong form in recent weeks, combining attacking firepower with the experience required for a promotion push and therefore look more than likely to secure the automatic spot.

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace currently sit in third place with 28 points from 16 matches and remain firmly in the playoff conversation.

They have scored 31 goals and conceded 22, leaving them with a +9 goal difference, the second lowest among the four sides contesting the playoff spot and in such a tight race, that margin could yet prove pivotal.

Palace enter the run-in in the strongest form of the chasing pack, having won four and lost just one of their last five league matches.

Across that spell, no side has collected more points, not even leaders Charlton. Their attacking output has been driven by Abbie Larkin, who sits joint top of the scoring charts with seven goals, whilst Ashleigh Weerden leads the assist standings with seven to her name.

A varied fixture list lies ahead, including a meeting Newcastle, as well as a significant clash with Charlton.

Matches against relegation-threatened Ipswich and Portsmouth could offer opportunities, but any slip may quickly be punished given the congested table.

Bristol City

Bristol City sit fourth on 26 points, having scored 35 goals and conceded 24 for a healthy +11 goal difference.

That attacking return highlights their threat, yet recent weeks have seen momentum stall, having lost their last three matches in all competitions, including league defeats to Southampton and Palace.

Charlotte Healy’s side must quickly rediscover rhythm to stay in contention with the international break arguably coming at a good time for the side.

City’s remaining schedule is demanding, with fixtures against Charlton and Birmingham still to come, alongside key encounters with Newcastle.

However, matches against Portsmouth, Durham and Sheffield United could provide a platform to rebuild confidence.

January additions Jessie Gale, arriving on loan from Arsenal, and Katie Robinson have bolstered the forward line, and Bristol will hope that renewed attacking sharpness can reignite their push.

Newcastle

Newcastle remain level on points with Bristol City but crucially have a game in hand, giving them significant influence over the final standings.

The Magpies have scored 26 goals and conceded 19, leaving them with a +7 goal difference, the lowest among the four contenders which may increase the importance of their head-to-head clashes.

Their recent form has been solid, with three wins and a draw in their last five league matches, the only defeat coming against the dominant Charlton.

Experience runs through the squad, with players such as Demi Stokes, Jordan Nobbs and Aoife Mannion providing leadership and January recruitment has added further quality, including the permanent signing of Ashanti Akpan and the arrival of Australian international Kaitlyn Torpey.

Newcastle’s fixture list arguably gives them the greatest say in the race. Meetings with Birmingham, Crystal Palace and Bristol City represent direct opportunities to shift the balance.

Those encounters could define the final outcome, with those against fellow rivals becoming ‘6-pointers’.

Southampton

Southampton sit sixth with 24 points but cannot be overlooked. They have scored 32 goals and conceded 20, boasting the best goal difference among the playoff challengers at +12.

That defensive solidity combined with attacking output keeps them within touching distance of that crucial third place.

Recent form has been inconsistent, with three wins and two defeats in their last five league matches, yet their remaining fixtures present opportunity.

While they do face both Birmingham and Charlton, much of their run-in includes sides battling near the bottom of the table.

On paper, their schedule appears less daunting than the likes of Newcastle and Bristol City but provides more pressure in seeing those games over the line.

Unlike some rivals, Southampton do not face many direct competitors in the play-off race, meaning their fate may depend on maintaining consistency and hoping results elsewhere fall in their favour.