Sunday’s 3-0 away defeat to Birmingham City Ladies means there is not much hope of Champions League football next season, with a cup double now the main target for the team.

Let’s have a look at the remaining games for the Chelsea Ladies, Manchester City Women and Arsenal Women:

1. Chelsea  32 points + 26  (4 games to play)

  • Wed 9 May Chelsea v Birmingham
  • Sat 12 May Chelsea v Sunderland
  • Tue 15 May Bristol v Chelsea
  • Sun 20 May Liverpool v Chelsea

2. Man City 29 points + 23 (5 games to play)

  • Thu 03 May Bristol v Man City
  • Sun 13 May Arsenal v Man City
  • Wed 16 May Man City v Yeovil
  • Sun 20 May Man City v Everton
  • tbc Liverpool v Man City

3. Arsenal  28 points + 12 (3 games to play)

  • Sun 13 May Arsenal v Man City
  • Wed 16 May Sunderland v Arsenal
  • Sun 20 May Bristol v Arsenal

The first thing that comes to mind is Arsenal really need to win their three remaining games to have a chance of qualifying for the Champions League.

That would leave the team with 37 points and about a +20 goal difference.

Could City or Chelsea fail to reach that 37 points target?

It is important to note that those two teams have a much better goal difference than us and would be likely to finish above us if tied on points.

City need eight points from five games and, even if they are tired due to the accumulation of games, it is hard to see them failing to get at least two wins and two draws. You would expect them to beat Bristol, Everton  and Yeovil. Hopefully they lose to us in a decisive game.

City might also draw or lose to Liverpool, but the three wins against the bottom three sides would see them qualify for the Champions League.

Arsenal’s only real hope is that City get tired playing five games in 17 days and drop points due to a lack of squad rotation installed by Nick Cushing.

Chelsea only need five points from four games.

Again, you would expect them to beat Sunderland and Bristol. They could lose to in-form Birmingham and might drop two points against Liverpool. But those two wins would see them through to the Champions League again.

Arsenal can’t seriously expect to qualify this season and in the summer the club will need to add three to five quality players to boost the squad to be competitive next season.

At least one right-back, one centre-back, one defensive midfielder, one winger and probably one centre-forward will be needed.