Women's Super League outright predictions and free football tips: Citizens could end Blues' time at the top

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Manchester City to win Women's Super League
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Women's Super League outright predictions

Chelsea were crowned Women's Super League champions for the fifth successive season last term, but the departure of Emma Hayes after 12 years at the helm could spell the end of their reign.

Former Lyon boss Sonia Bompastor has been given the unenviable task of following in Hayes's footsteps.

Bompastor, who won three French titles and the Women's Champions League with Lyon, inherits a talented squad which includes summer arrival Lucy Bronze, but it could take Chelsea a little while to adapt to the Frenchwoman's methods after so long under Hayes and, at 15-8, the champions look short enough to retain their title.

Manchester City and Arsenal are best equipped to pounce should Chelsea falter.

Arsenal finished five points adrift of the champions last term whereas City finished level on 55 points with the Blues, missing out on the title only on goal difference.

They could not have run the title winners much closer and Gareth Taylor's side could be poised to go one step further this term.

Dutch star Vivianne Miedema has arrived from title rivals Arsenal in one of the biggest moves of the summer transfer window and the WSL's all-time record goalscorer will enhance an attack which already features Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly, Mary Fowler and Khadija Shaw.

City's superb forward strength could prove decisive in getting them over the line, while Chelsea look a bit weaker following the departures of Fran Kirby, Jess Carter and Melanie Leupolz among others.

Arsenal's decision to let Miedema go raised eyebrows, even if they have replaced her with Spanish World Cup winner Mariona Caldentey from Barcelona, and inconsistency plagued Jonas Eidevall's side last term.

Defeats to West Ham, Tottenham and Liverpool curtailed the Gunners' title bid last season and they perhaps don't possess quite the same quality as Chelsea or City.

Of the sides in the chasing pack, Aston Villa could be worth keeping an eye on after they added Brazil international Gabi Nunes to their ranks for a club record transfer fee reported to be around £250,000.

The Villans will bring up the curtain on the new season on Friday night with a trip to champions Chelsea.

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