Women's Super League

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Vivianne Miedema hopes that her new club Manchester City can be "unstoppable" this season in the Women's Super League.

Speaking to BBC Sport's Jo Curie before City's first home game of the WSL campaign against Brighton on Sunday, the forward shared her excitement about the challenge ahead and getting to know her new teammates.

"Right now I am just getting to know Gareth [Taylor] and the team and the philosophy around it a lot better," she said. "I know I have different qualities to bring and if I am fit, we have seen so far already what I can bring to the team.

"I'm excited to see how that is going to evolve in the next couple of weeks, especially if I can click with the people around me. Hopefully at one point this season we can be unstoppable," she added.

The Dutch international scored against former club Arsenal on the opening day of the season as City claimed a point at the home of their title rivals.

In the build-up to the new campaign there had been plenty of discussion about Miedema's potential role in Gareth Taylor's side and how she might form a strike partnership with last season's Golden Boot winner Khadija Shaw.

"I think we can work really well [together]," she said. "We are completely different players and can add different dimensions to each other’s games. We’ve both got goalscoring abilities which hopefully will be good for the team as well," she said.

"It is just exciting to be able to link up with so many different players on the pitch right now," Miedema added.

Watch Manchester City v Brighton live on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website from 12:15 BST this Sunday.

The latest round of broadcast picks for the Women's Super League have been made and we can confirm Manchester United v Arsenal will be shown live on BBC Two.

The match kicks off at 12:30 GMT on Sunday 3 November and will also be available on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

The sides last met at Leigh Sports Village in the WSL in the opening game of last season, when they played out an entertaining 2-2 draw.

Read more on how to follow the 2024-25 WSL campaign with BBC Sport

Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Leicester City (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• He praised goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger for developing her leadership qualities. Eidevall said: "It really shines through how strong of a leader she is, how good of a communicator she is and how confident she is of communicating the way she thinks."

• He added that fellow goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar is now "getting full training under her belt" after her struggles with injury since she joined in the summer.

• He noted that it will be important to have a "strong goalkeeping group" as the season progresses.

• He expects a tough match against Leicester City under their new manager Amandine Miquel, who he says has given the side a "clear identity."

• He reflected on last season's away fixture against the Foxes calling it a "reminder in the the importance of being switched on" after the side fell two goals behind before going on to claim victory.

• Eidevall called the results against Manchester City and BK Hacken "steps in the right direction" but emphasised that his side "can't relax" and must keep going.

Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Brighton (kick-off 12:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Leila Ouahabi will be assessed in the next 24 hours after coming off injured in City's 2-2 draw at Arsenal last weekend.

• Captain Alex Greenwood is "fine" after taking a knock against Paris FC in Champions League qualifying on Thursday.

• Taylor said he is "really happy" with the Champions League group stage draw that sees Manchester City join Barcelona, St Polten and Hammarby in Group D.

• He said it will be "great to play Barcelona" who have been the "shining light" in Europe in recent years, winning three of the last four Champions League titles.

• Taylor is "under no illusions" City are in for a "tough one" against Brighton.

• "It's a tough challenge for us, but I'm confident with the start to season we have had, the positive start, the performances we've had from individuals and as a collective that we’re going to make it really difficult for them in front of our own supporters," Taylor added.

Brighton boss Dario Vidosic has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Manchester City (kick-off 12:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Vidosic said last weekend's 4-0 win over Everton was "a good spot to start from" but there's "still a lot to improve".

• He added it is "not one we are going to carried away with, it's only one game".

• On Kiko Seike, who scored a hat-trick on her WSL debut, he said: "After a hat-trick there's a magnifying glass on her now when they’ve seen her qualities and what she can do."

• There are no new injury concerns but there has been sickness going around the camp this week.

• Brighton are "relishing the challenge" of facing Manchester City who have a "good team, good players and a fantastic coach".

• Vidosic said his team's preparations for City are "the exact same" as their preparations for Everton, adding: "I respect every team, every opponent, every coach the exact same."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Liverpool boss Matt Beard has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Women's Super League game against West Ham (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Defender Grace Fisk is "probably another week away" from returning from injury, while goalkeepers Teagan Micah and Faye Kirby also remain out.

• Beard says he is pleased with the development of the new signings, despite Olivia Smith, Cornelia Kapocs and Gemma Evans arriving late in pre-season.

• On the late preparation, he added: "We’re still playing catch-up but that’s not an excuse. We still have to win football matches. We still have a talented squad. We just need to make sure they are learning as they go."

• West Ham's defeat by Manchester United on the opening weekend was a "tough start" but it is too early to judge them, says Beard.

• Sophie Roman Haug has scored seven goals and assisted three in her past 16 games for Liverpool and Beard says she is a "talented player who can do everything".

• On Haug, Beard added: "She can score all types of goals. In the air she is very good, we know that. She is a difficult player for teams to defend against and for us, that’s a massive plus."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Aston Villa boss Robert de Pauw has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Tottenham (kick-off 16:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Defender Rachel Corsie will miss Sunday's match with a knee problem, while goalkeeper Anna Leat (head injury), Jill Baijings (back) and Georgia Mullett (hamstring) remain unavailable.

• Club record signing Gabi Nunes is "still building" her fitness but is likely to feature at some point over the next week.

• De Pauw described Tottenham as a "beautiful club" with "similar ambitions" to Aston Villa.

• He hopes his side can "turn up the fire" against any opponent this season and is not fazed by additional pressure.

• After Paula Tomas' impressive debut, De Pauw hopes she can "reach the highest levels" with Villa and break into Spain's national team.

• Midfielder Jordan Nobbs could make her 192nd appearance in the WSL - the joint-most appearances in the competition's history. De Pauw said: "She has so much experience in the league so can tell me stuff about other teams so it’s very interesting to learn from her, but also to work with her, because she is a really good person."

• De Pauw also discussed his focus on creating "rituals" for the players to improve their mindset. He encourages reading and listening to music.

With all three Women's Super League teams safely through to the group stages of the Women's Champions League, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City have just learnt their opponents.

Chelsea meet Celtic in Group B, along with Real Madrid and Twente.

Manchester City will play holders Barcelona, along with St Polten and Hammarby in Group D.

Jonas Eidevall's Arsenal side have been drawn alongside Bayern Munich, Juventus and Valerenga in Group C.

Fixtures are expected to be finalised on Saturday morning and the first games will take place on 8 and 9 October.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace's Brooke Aspin, on loan from Chelsea, was sent off after picking up a second yellow card in their defeat by Tottenham last weekend.

It means she must serve a one-match ban but with Palace playing her parent club Chelsea this evening, there was some confusion as to when Aspin would serve it.

In the Women's Super League, it is decided between clubs as part of a loan agreement on whether players are eligible to face their parent team.

It means it is not included in the Women's Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL) rules and as far as they are concerned, Aspin's ban is served the following match.

So Aspin will now be suspended for tonight's game against Chelsea - which she could not play in anyway - and will return next week against Leicester City.

A quirky loophole and a bonus for Palace not to lose her for two weeks.

Manchester United boss Marc Skinner has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Everton (kick-off 14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• He praised Geyse after her goal against West Ham and said "it was a matter of time" to see her capabilities.

• He expects "more goals and more assists" to come from Grace Clinton, but said her Old Trafford debut was "very good".

• He added that Clinton has the ability to "change momentum and change tempo" which not many players have.

• Another player that impressed at Old Trafford was Leah Galton, not just with her brilliant goal but also her defending. Skinner said: "She is one of the best one-v-one defenders I have ever seen".

• Anna Sandberg is the only fresh absentee with "slight irritation" but Skinner doesn't expect her to be sidelined for long.

• Skinner expects "a big reaction" from Everton after their opening day 4-0 defeat at Brighton.

Adam Millington
BBC Sport journalist

West Ham boss Rehanne Skinner has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Liverpool (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from her news conference:

• West Ham are still without injured winger Kirsty Smith.

• Skinner thought there were "lots of positives to take" despite losing 3-0 to Manchester United in their first game of the season.

• Her side need to ensure they are "more assertive in and around the box" to "be a bit more positive on the front foot".

• It will "take time" for players to integrate with the team and for West Ham's style of play to gel within the side.

• She is "delighted" to be back playing at home and to have the "home mentality and advantage" which is "so important".

• Striker Riko Ueki is a "top player" who they want to "put in positions where she can be the most effective".

• Liverpool are "the most physical team in the league" and that will influence Sunday's match.

Leicester boss Amandine Miquel has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Arsenal (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from her news conference:

• There are no new injury or fitness concerns following Sunday's 1-1 draw at Liverpool.

• Miquel said there is "no precise" timescale for Lena Petermann's return after she injured her knee in pre-season, but Hannah Cain will be back "probably in the next few games" after an ACL injury.

• She was "quite pleased with the overall performance" against Liverpool.

• On losing Stephen Kirby and Jennifer Foster from her coaching staff, Miquel said there has not been a "big impact" and the club are looking for replacements, but are "not in a rush".

• Asked about Leicester's poor record against Arsenal, she said: "For me, we haven't lost against Arsenal yet, ever. This is the first game and everything can happen."

• "I think it is possible, but it is very hard. If you want to beat that type of team right now with our level it has to be the perfect game," Miquel added on Arsenal.

Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor has been speaking to the media before Friday's Women's Super League game against Crystal Palace (kick-off 19:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from her news conference:

• Lauren James has trained all week and Bompastor said "you will see tomorrow if she is starting or not".

• Bompastor said it is still early days and players are working on their "chemistry" as a team.

• Reflecting on last week's win over Aston Villa, she said: "It was important to win and get three points. We identified some points we can improve and I hope we are going to see them this week in our performance".

• On her first London derby experience, Bompastor said: "This is something I really like. It brings a special atmosphere and special motivation".

• She said Crystal Palace "will be ready to compete and make the job really hard for us".

• On Friday's Champions League draw, she said: "We are really looking forward to it and seeing who our opponents will be."

Adam Millington
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham manager Robert Vilahamn says he is expecting a "tough" game this weekend against an improved Aston Villa side who he thinks will finish in the top half of the Women's Super League.

Spurs finished in sixth, one place above Villa, in the WSL last year and travel to face them in their second game of the season on Sunday (16:30 BST kick-off).

Villa, who have appointed Robert de Pauw as their new manager for the 2024-25 campaign, narrowly lost 1-0 to Chelsea in their opening match, while Spurs beat promoted club Crystal Palace 4-0.

"I think last season when you looked at the season before, Aston Villa were in fifth place and we one of the teams we thought 'can we beat them' and we did that.

"They have invested a lot and [have a] new coach and everything. I think they had a good performance against Chelsea - even if they lost."

Vilahamn added that they have "some really interesting players and a certain style" which will make it "tricky" at Villa Park.

Adam Millington
BBC Sport journalist

Tottenham boss Robert Vilahamn has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Aston Villa (kick-off 16:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Defender Ella Morris is back in the squad, but there is a "question mark" over Luana Buhler, who has a "small issue".

• Beating Crystal Palace 4-0 in their opening WSL game has created a "good environment" with Spurs "really wanting" to win their first game after a "good pre-season".

• He enjoyed winning at home after they did better in their away games last season.

• The Spurs squad are "quite critical" about how they can improve despite winning at the weekend. "We're not just sitting there and laughing all the time, we're trying to make sure we can be even better," said Vilahamn.

• He added that he was "very happy" with the way his side created so many chances against Palace and if they continue to do so they will "score even more goals".

• Playing Aston Villa will be "tough" but Vilahamn said Spurs are a "good team" so it will be an "interesting" match.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Everton boss Brian Sorensen has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Manchester United (kick-off 14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Aurora Galli's anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is a "big loss" for Everton says Sorensen and the squad are "all gutted for her".

• On Galli: "Of course she is super devastated and down. She feels herself that she could have avoided it but there is no research on how to avoid that. It is the way it is. She has been in the building the last couple of days but Yaya is always super positive and happy. Her family is coming up for 10 days so she is in good hands."

• Melissa Lawley has fractured her elbow and will be out for up to three weeks, while Karen Holmgaard and Emily Ramsey continue rehabilitation.

• Sorensen says facing Man Utd is a "tough ask" but Everton need to make sure they carry out their gameplan to 100%.

• The Everton boss says they looked into injury prevention this summer but 70% of the issues were influenced by international football.

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester City have confirmed the departure of assistant manager Jennifer Foster.

Foster arrived at the club in August 2023 and took interim charge of the first team from March last season.

She won her first game in charge and helped the Foxes reach the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in the club's history.

That was her only victory in charge, and of the nine games in total, Leicester drew two and lost six.

A statement from Leicester said: "She leaves Belvoir Drive with the thanks and appreciation of everyone at LCFC Women for her contribution to the team’s development."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City defender Laia Aleixandri was the subject of speculation in the transfer window this summer, with Barcelona reportedly showing heavy interest.

Aleixandri has just one year remaining on her contract, but the Spain international says she is "happy" at the club and not distracted by speculation.

"This is one of the things that is coming to you when you know you are doing good things with the team and personally," said Aleixandri.

"I’m looking forward to the season here. I’m happy here. I know I’m ending my contract at the end of the season but right now I’m focused on giving my best to this club and this team. It’s the most important thing right now."