The Subway Women’s League Cup 2025/26 quarter-finals delivered real intensity, as leading WSL sides such as Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City showed why they are considered favourites, while several underdogs pushed them hard. There were dominant performances, late drama, and a few surprises that added intrigue to the road toward the March 2026 final at Ashton Gate. If you are looking for clear details on the teams that advanced and the standout moments from the quarter-finals, here is a full and straightforward breakdown.
The quarter-finals featured high-stakes matchups, with Champions League bye teams Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United entering the competition at this stage. There were no draws, with every tie decided within 90 minutes or through extra time or penalties, in line with competition rules. For official updates, visit WSLfootball
| Match | Score | Goalscorers | Advancing Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Palace Women vs Arsenal Women | 0-2 | Laia Codina 19′, Stina Blackstenius 90+3′ | Arsenal Women |
| Manchester United Women vs Tottenham Hotspur Women | 2-1 | Jessica Park 52′, Fridolina Rolfö 86′; Drew Spence 16′ | Manchester United Women |
| West Ham United Women vs Manchester City Women | 1-5 | Riko Ueki 26′; Kerolin 2′, Lauren Hemp 7′, Grace Clinton 42′, Khadija Shaw 55′, Laura Coombs 75′ | Manchester City Women |
| Liverpool Women vs Chelsea Women | 1-9 | Jenna Clark 72′; Samantha Kerr 13′,17′, Wieke Kaptein 21′,32′, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd 53′,73′,81′, Sjoeke Nüsken 76′, Millie Bright 86′ | Chelsea Women |
These results confirmed the semi-finalists as Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea, with the big clubs asserting their dominance while underdogs like Tottenham added extra drama along the way.
Subway Women’s League Cup 2025/26 Match-by-Match Recaps: Highlights, Stats, and Key Moments
Digging into the Subway League Cup advancing teams from December 2025, each game delivered its share of heroes and heartbreak, with detailed lineups, key stats, and match overviews revealing how the semi-finalists earned their places.
1. Crystal Palace Women vs Arsenal Women
- Overview: Arsenal dominated possession at Selhurst Park for a straightforward win over a defensive Crystal Palace.
- Lineups:
- Crystal Palace: GK – Shae Yanez; Def – Shanade Hopcroft, Aimee Everett, Allyson Swaby, Hayley Nolan, Annabel Blanchard, Ashleigh Weerden, My Cato, Molly-Mae Sharpe, Abbie Larkin, Kirsty Howat.
- Arsenal: GK – Anneke Borbe; Def – Emily Fox, Leah Williamson, Laia Codina, Katie McCabe; Mid – Kyra Cooney-Cross, Frida Maanum, Victoria Pelova; Fwd – Stina Blackstenius, Olivia Smith, Caitlin Foord.
| Stat | Crystal Palace | Arsenal |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 46% | 54% |
| Shots | 5 | 9 |
| Shots on target | 3 | 5 |
| Corners | 5 | 13 |
| xG | ~0.5 | ~1.8 |
Highlights & Analysis: Codina’s 19th-minute header opened the scoring; Blackstenius added a late second. Arsenal’s solid defense and depth boosted their WSL momentum, while Palace’s resilience showed, but lacked attack.
2. Manchester United Women vs Tottenham Hotspur Women
- Overview: United staged a second-half comeback at Leigh Sports Village to edge past a spirited Tottenham.
- Lineups:
- Manchester United: GK – Phallon Tullis-Joyce; Def – Fridolina Rolfö, Maya Le Tissier, Dominique Janssen, Anna Sandberg; Mid – Julia Zigiotti Olme, Hinata Miyazawa, Jessica Park, Ella Toone, Hannah Blundell; Fwd – Elisabeth Terland.
- Tottenham: GK – Lize Kop; Def – Ashleigh Neville, Toko Koga, Clare Hunt, Amanda Nildén; Mid – Eveliina Summanen, Drew Spence, Martha Thomas, Olivia Holdt, Matilda Vinberg; Fwd – Bethany England.
| Stat | Man Utd | Tottenham |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 45% | 55% |
| Shots | 9 | 5 |
| Shots on target | 4 | 3 |
| Corners | 11 | 2 |
| Fouls | 7 | 8 |
Highlights & Analysis: Spence’s early goal shocked United, but Park equalized post-break, and Rolfö won it late. Subs like Malard turned the tide; Tottenham’s growth is evident, but late lapses may impact their WSL fight.
3. West Ham United Women vs Manchester City Women
- Overview: City blitzed West Ham early and cruised to a dominant victory despite a brief response.
- Lineups:
- West Ham: GK – Kinga Szemik; Def – Yu Endo, Amber Tysiak, Anouk Denton; Mid – Oona Siren, Anna Csiki, Verena Hanshaw, Esme Morgan; Fwd – Riko Ueki, Shekiera Martinez, Viviane Asseyi.
- Manchester City: GK – Ayaka Yamashita; Def – Kerstin Casparij, Jade Rose, Rebecca Knaak, Leila Ouahabi; Mid – Yui Hasegawa, Laura Blindkilde; Att – Kerolin, Grace Clinton, Lauren Hemp; Fwd – Khadija Shaw.
| Stat | West Ham | Man City |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 37% | 63% |
| Shots | 8 | 25 |
| Shots on target | 7 | 16 |
| Corners | 6 | 6 |
| Big chances | 1 | 5 |
Highlights & Analysis: Kerolin and Hemp scored within seven minutes; Ueki replied, but Clinton, Shaw, and Coombs piled on. City’s ruthless attack exposed West Ham; this reinforces their title push with effective rotations.
4. Liverpool Women vs Chelsea Women
- Overview: Chelsea overwhelmed Liverpool at Prenton Park in a ruthless display of attacking prowess.
- Lineups:
- Liverpool: GK – Faye Kirby; Def – Lucy Parry, Jenna Clark, Gemma Evans, Lily Woodham; Mid – Fuka Nagano, Ceri Holland, Kirsty MacLean, Cornelia Kapocs, Mia Enderby; Fwd – Beata Olsson.
- Chelsea: GK – Livia Peng; Def – Veerle Buurman, Millie Bright, Niamh Charles; Mid – Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Alexia Potter, Wieke Kaptein, Sjoeke Nüsken, Guro Reiten; Fwd – Agnes Beever-Jones, Samantha Kerr.
| Stat | Liverpool | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 40% | 60% |
| Shots | 8 | 18 |
| Shots on target | 3 | 11 |
| Big chances | 1 | 8 |
| Accurate passes | 279 (78%) | 448 (84%) |
Highlights & Analysis: Kerr’s double and Kaptein’s brace built a halftime lead; Kaneryd’s hat-trick. Clark’s goal was mere consolation; Chelsea’s midfield dominance fuels treble dreams, exposing Liverpool’s defensive issues.
Subway Women’s League Cup 2025/26 Semi-Finals Outlook: Predictions and Key Matchups.
With the Women’s League Cup semi-finals taking place on January 21–22, 2026, the draw sets up Arsenal vs Manchester United at the Emirates and Manchester City vs Chelsea at the Etihad. Arsenal are expected to edge a win over United, with Frida Maanum’s creativity likely to make the difference despite United’s threat on the counter and strong fighting spirit. Manchester City vs Chelsea is tipped to go with Chelsea narrowly winning thanks to their depth against City’s attacking strength. Overall, the semi-finals promise intense battles and familiar WSL rivalries. For the latest updates on the competition, check our dedicated page for women’s football news
Subway Women’s League Cup 2025/26 Player of the Round
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd was the standout player with a hat-trick and a constant threat throughout the match, showcasing Chelsea’s flair, while she finished as the top scorer with three goals, Guro Reiten led the assists with three, and Arsenal kept the only clean sheet.
