Women's Super League

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal boss Renee Slegers says her side understand their responsibilities and know what they need to do after a mixed start to the season.

Last season's Champions League winners were expected to fight for the Women's Super League title this term, but find themselves five points behind leaders Chelsea after winning just one of their last four league games.

"We know what we are capable of. Looking back at block one, results were very mixed and not what we wanted, the same with performances," Slegers said before her side's trip to Leicester on Sunday (12:00 GMT).

"We want to look forwards and get the best out of ourselves. Football will never be perfect, but we want to show our strengths as a team and on the ball, because we have a really good technical and intelligent team."

Sunday's trip to Leicester will be the first of five games in three weeks for Arsenal, with a home clash against Chelsea next weekend followed by Champions League tests against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid either side of a North London derby against Tottenham.

"We look forward to challenges, I'm excited. Part of being at Arsenal is that you have pressure on you, but you shouldn't forget to enjoy those moments," Slegers said.

"We will take this block game by game, treating every game like it's the biggest we've played.

"We're all very proud to represent Arsenal, we want to show Arsenal at its very best. We represent a lot of people, 2,000 fans travelling to Leicester with us. We see the bigger picture and understand our responsibility."

Katie Reid, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Olivia Smith all had to withdraw from international duty because of injury or illness, but Slegers confirmed that all three are back in training and in contention to play on Sunday.

Leah Williamson (knee) and Manuela Zinsberger (ACL) are the only guaranteed absentees.

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea forward Lauren James' return from injury has been delayed a few more weeks after she suffered a minor setback in her recovery.

The England player has been sidelined since the Euro 2025 final with an ankle injury and Blues manager Sonia Bompastor had hoped to have her back after the international break.

Speaking before Chelsea's match with London City Lionesses on Saturday (12:00 GMT), Bompastor said: "LJ is doing really well. She just had a few steps back but not for long.

"The original plan was for her to be involved in the squad this weekend and maybe we'll have to wait a few more weeks, but not long."

One player who is fit to return is United States defender Naomi Girma, who returns to the squad for the first time this season following a calf problem.

Her Chelsea career has been disrupted by injury since she joined in January.

"She is an important player for us," said Bompastor. "I'm hoping for her now to be able to stay on the pitch as long as possible."

Meanwhile, the Blues boss said striker Sam Kerr was ready to make her first start of the season for her club after getting more minutes during the international break.

"Sam is in a really good place," she said. "It was good for her to go back with Australia and play many minutes with them. She started both games.

"For what she needs it was really good. So right now for me I know she is in a good place to be able to start a game."

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester City manager Rick Passmoor believes his side "needs to evolve" if they are to establish themselves as a mainstay of the Women's Super League.

The Foxes have not finished higher than 10th in any of their previous four top-flight campaigns, and have started this season with one win in six outings.

Passmoor took interim charge of the team on the eve of the new season, and was appointed permanent manager earlier this month.

"We're building - the first season is all about relationships and creating a foundation to work from, remaining in the WSL," Passmoor said before Sunday's WSL game against Arsenal (12:00 GMT).

"Before I came in, the noise outside was that we were favourites for relegation. We are trying to change the narrative within that, we don't listen to the outside noise, we get on with what we think our principles are.

"We've got Arsenal at the King Power - let's remind ourselves why we came into this building, this fantastic game. We wanted to be in this scenario, so let's enjoy it."

Leicester have scored just three goals in six league games this term, something Passmoor accepts isn't good enough.

"You don't have to be Poirot to know we need to be better in possession and in the final third.

"We need confidence and belief when in front of goal. That final shot is just like a pass really, so be comfortable and confident.

"When you first walk in you look at [how] can we be difficult to play against, can we be difficult in all areas out of possession.

"Then when you've filled out that framework, you build the scaffold above that of how we play in possession in the attacking half to create those opportunities, whether out wide or through the centre of the pitch. It's continuous work, we know we need to evolve."

Celeste Boureille and Missy Goodwin aren't quite ready to return to action following injury.

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Everton manager Brian Sorensen sees no reason to panic despite his side's poor start to the season.

Since an impressive 4-1 win against neighbours Liverpool on the opening day of the campaign, Everton have lost four and drawn one of five Women's Super League games.

"It's a process, we are working on a lot of things with a new team," Sorensen said before his side's trip to Villa Park to face Aston Villa on Sunday (12:00 GMT).

"I've seen progress. So it's about building on that. It's been challenging with all the injuries and not having any consistency in player selection.

"Hopefully we are on an upward spiral now rather than downward and we get more people back.

"For me there is no panic, we are still early in the season, let's see where we are at in May. For now it's about working hard, getting the details right and getting better."

Everton had nine players unavailable through injury before the international break, but Sorensen confirmed that Rion Ishikawa, Ruby Mace and Hikaru Kitagawa are back in training.

Katja Snoeijs remains out with a hamstring injury.

Victory on Sunday will see Everton leapfrog a Villa side that has conceded just four goals in five WSL games this term but have scored only four goals of their own.

"We need to control the game defensively and then take our chances. They are a good team with young players but also experienced players, a good mix," said Sorensen.

"[Their defensive record] is down to the way they press – they are very aggressive and front-footed, they take it onto you in your own half, then there is a long way to their goal. When they get deeper they are compact with a lot of numbers behind the ball.

"We feel really prepared, there are situations where you can hurt them. They are a team you can hurt for sure."