da wazamba： Five Lionesses feature in GOAL's best XI, which is largely made up of players from the title-chasing sides of Chelsea and Manchester City

da casino： Once again, the Women's Super League title race has gone down to the final day and whoever lifts the title on Saturday will be a worthy winner, as both Chelsea and Manchester City have been brilliant this season, by far and away the two best teams in the division.

It's no surprise that players representing those two sides dominate GOAL's Team of the Season for the 2023-24 WSL, then, with Arsenal and Manchester United both falling away quite early at the top of the standings. However, there is room in the XI for representatives from elsewhere in the league, including a Liverpool star who has helped the Reds usurp United into the top four this term.

Here is GOAL's WSL Team of the Season…

GettyGK: Khiara Keating (Man City)

The battle for the this position was tight, with Hannah Hampton making a late surge after taking charge of goalkeeping duties at Chelsea just before Christmas. Many would argue that she has been the best in her position in the WSL in the second half of this season, but Khiara Keating’s impressive performances over the course of the whole campaign allow her to pip her England team-mate to GOAL’s No.1 shirt.

Keating has kept the most clean sheets in the WSL this season, and that is not just because she is protected by a strong defence, as she also has the highest save percentage of any goalkeeper in the division to have played six or more games. Those reflexes mean she has only conceded 14 times, despite her expected goals against against being 18.85. That's the best positive differential in the league of goalkeepers that have made seven or more appearances.

There are so many statistics that can be reeled off like this, many also related to Keating's incredibly accurate distribution, and the eye test backs it all up. In Keating, both Man City and England have an incredibly exciting talent, one that has had a truly superb breakthrough season at 19 years old.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesRB: Laia Aleixandri (Man City)

Though not someone who often gets the praise she deserves, Laia Aleixandri has been one of the most important players in Man City’s sturdy defence this season. She ranks among the top three in City's squad for most defensive metrics – aerial duels won, tackles won, interceptions, clearances and possession won – and she's racked up those numbers while playing across three different positions, popping up at right-back, centre-back and left-back throughout the campaign.

That versatility has been extremely useful for Gareth Taylor and his side, and Aleixandri has been able to bring her quality in possession to every role without fail as she plays an important role in City’s build-up play and style.

Getty ImagesCB: Jess Carter (Chelsea)

There were a number of contenders for the centre-back positions in this team especially, with Arsenal’s Lotte Wubben-Moy, the Liverpool duo of Grace Fisk and Gemma Bonner, and Manchester United’s Millie Turner all worthy of honourable mentions.

However, it is eventually a back four (five, if you include the goalkeeper) entirely made up of players from Man City and Chelsea, who have had the best defences in the WSL this term, and Jess Carter’s role for the latter has been crucial in achieving a record as strong as that.

Injuries galore mean Carter has had no fewer than five different centre-back partners in the WSL this season, so it’s been important for her to be steady and consistent to stop Chelsea leaking goals – and she has been. The 26-year-old has grown into a reliable, commanding leader at the heart of defence, and this past year has been a continuation of that impressive development.

GettyCB: Alex Greenwood (Man City)

If Carter has been Chelsea’s model of consistency, then Alex Greenwood has been Man City’s. The England star is one of the most influential players in possession across the entire WSL, and that has been on show again this season, Greenwood taking the most touches and completing the most passes of anyone in the division.

But that doesn’t mean she’s not good in all of her bread and butter defensive work, either. Greenwood’s reading of play, positioning and that knack of knowing when to intervene is all so good to ensure she can mop up any danger at the back when opponents look to counter, before getting City right back on the attack.