London City have their first sniff of action as Eva Nystrom is closed down on the edge of the West Ham box, but the hosts just about manage to get the ball away in time.

Entertaining so far, even if it has been lacking in quality.

Gilly Flaherty
Former Chelsea defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

From an Aston Villa point of view, they will be fully aware that they are going to have to sit in for large parts of this game and just be defensively solid.

If they can take how they defended against Manchester City into today's game and do the same, I think it will put them in a great position.

Image source, Reuters

Chelsea look for an immediate equaliser. Alyssa Thompson gets free down the right flank and fires the ball across goal. It drops to Lauren James on the left and she shoots back across goal the other way but wide of goal.

Fern Whelan
Former England and Brighton defender on Sky Sports

Four changes for London City and that is an opportunity for some players to bring some fresh energy to the side

A few decent moves from West Ham so far. London City are a little bit all over the place at the back.

The hosts manage to find Shekiera Martinez with a good ball over the top, but the flag goes up.

Fern Whelan
Former England and Brighton defender on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

West Ham have a front three to be reckoned with on paper but we haven't really seen it many times this season.

Image source, Getty Images

Gilly Flaherty
Former Chelsea defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

It all comes from a Chelsea turnover. It's very lacklustre from them.

It's a great finish from a tight angle.

Some early pressure from West Ham here, who have taken the game to London City.

The return of Riko Ueki to their attacking line is a big help.

This is her first game back after winning the golden boot as Japan won the Asian Cup.

We are under way with our first two of three WSL fixtures today.

Following four league matches without a win, London City Lionesses are looking to get their form back on track this afternoon.

London City Lionesses have only won one of their four meetings with West Ham United in all competitions (drawn one, lost two), but this will be their first ever away game against the Hammers.

Only Yeovil Town (played six, won none) have a worse win rate in WSL games against newly promoted opposition than West Ham United (38% - played 16, won six, drawn three, lost seven), who were beaten 1-0 by London City Lionesses earlier this season.

Only Leicester City (six) are currently on a longer winless run in the WSL than London City Lionesses (four – drawn one, lost three) and the Foxes (none) and Brighton and Hove Albion (four) are the only teams to win fewer points than the Lionesses in 2026 (five - won one, drawn two, lost four).

BBC Radio 5 Live

You can listen to two of today's games live across the BBC airwaves.

Tune into BBC Radio 5 Live from 11:50 BST for build up and full commentary of Chelsea v Aston Villa.

Then at 14:55 BST head over to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2 for full commentary of Brighton's visit to Leicester City.

Image source, Getty Images

There will be 14 teams in the Women's Super League next season, up from the existing 12.

The top two in WSL 2 will be promoted, while the team that comes third will play against the WSL bottom-placed side in a play-off to decide the final spot.

Charlton Athletic are currently top of WSL 2 and they will clinch promotion today if they win a south London derby at third-placed Crystal Palace.

Birmingham City are second, with Palace, Newcastle, Bristol City and Southampton still in contention.

There are currently five London teams in the WSL already - Arsenal, Chelsea, London City Lionesses, Tottenham, West Ham - and there could be seven of 14 from the capital next season if the Hammers stay up and both Charlton and Palace go up.

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea have been the reigning WSL champions in England non stop since 5 June, 2020.

That was when they were announced as the 2019-20 winners in a campaign that was ended prematurely because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

When the season was suspended in March, Chelsea were one point behind leaders Manchester City with a game in hand, with Emma Hayes' side named champions on a points-per-game ratio basis.

Hayes would then guide the Blues to the title in each of the next four seasons before the Chelsea baton was handed to Sonia Bompastor, with another championship following last season.

If Chelsea fail to win today, then their hopes of winning this year's title would mathematically be over, therefore ending a near six-year reign at the top of the women's game in England.

Women's Football Weekly pundit Ellen White went down to Belvoir Drive, the home of Leicester City Women, for a special edition of the podcast ahead of a crucial end of season run-in for the club.

She spoke to her Notts County old gaffer, Rick Passmoor, to chat 'unfinished business' in the WSL, and later chatted to Swiss international Alisha Lehmann to discuss her return to English football and the misconceptions around her.

Against a London City Lionesses side who are winless in their past four games, today is a big opportunity for West Ham to move towards safety.

They are currently three points clear of bottom club Leicester, but have played a game more.

The Irons come into this one having lost 5-0 at Arsenal last time out, but they drew 0-0 with Manchester United before that.

Alessia Russo scored a first half hat-trick as Arsenal proved too good for Tottenham in the north London derby at Emirates Stadium.

Sam Drury
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Alessia Russo scored a first-half hat-trick as Arsenal beat north London rivals Tottenham to move up to second in the Women's Super League.

The England striker was on target twice in the first seven minutes at Emirates Stadium to put the Gunners in control, heading in from a corner before confidently rounding the goalkeeper and stroking in her second.

Tottenham pulled one back when Arsenal's Frida Maanum headed into her own net under pressure from Cathinka Tandberg but the hosts soon restored their two-goal advantage.

A poor pass out from Spurs goalkeeper Lize Kop presented Russo with the ball 15 yards out and she thumped it home to complete her first hat-trick for Arsenal.

Caitlin Foord put the result beyond doubt with a smart turn and finish in the 61st minute with Beth England's thunderous late strike providing little consolation for Spurs.

Arsenal had the last word, though, with Stina Blackstenius running clear to slot in the fifth in stoppage time.

Manchester City are five points away from clinching the WSL title, meaning the earliest they could win it is on Sunday, 26 April - but only if they have beaten Brighton and Arsenal then lose to Aston Villa.

If the Gunners keep winning and so do City, then City will win the title with a victory at home over Liverpool on Sunday, 3 May.