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.

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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."

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa manager Natalia Arroyo hopes Lucia Kendall will take a "big boost" and "continue pushing" after making her full England debut earlier this week.

Kendall was a surprise inclusion in Sarina Wiegman's squad for the October internationals, and was named in the England starting XI that beat Australia 3-0 on Tuesday.

"It was a nice surprise when we saw her name in the call," Arroyo said during her news conference ahead of Villa's Women's Super League match against Everton on Sunday (12:00 GMT).

"Once the game started and the camera focused on her she looked nervous but she found a way of competing to show how good she is.

"She performed really well, we are very proud of how she is adapting. We knew we were signing a good talent, but it's crazy that in the space of a few months she is able to perform in this way."

After joining Villa from WSL2 side Southampton in the summer, Kendall has started Villa's last three league games.

"She is a smart player technically, she can do a lot of things but she also reads when to do them," Arroyo said.

"This timing, positioning and understanding of the game is the hardest thing for a coach to give to the players. The ability she has to play easy and find magical solutions when needed.

"She can dribble and carry the ball, or stay still and dominate 360 degrees of midfield. She dictates the tempo, the hardest thing for a 21-year-old midfielder.

"She is surfing in this way and we need to surf with her and use this this excitement and help her."

Arroyo also spoke about her side's defensive improvement - Villa have conceded just four goals in five WSL games this season and have kept five clean sheets in seven matches in all competitions.

"We realised there is no way you can be competitive conceding one or two goals every game," Arroyo said of Villa's leaky defence last season.

"[Now we are] aggressive, defend with more energy and fire. The players are committed and are celebrating clean sheets.

"The whole team understands it has to be a team thing. From the high press to the ability to add bodies around the ball, being smart in reading the triggers and being more positive in the duels."

Arroyo confirmed Villa have no fresh injury concerns following the international break.

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Manchester United midfielder Jess Park is expected to be fit to face Brighton in Sunday's Women's Super League meeting (12:00 GMT kick-off) after recovering from concussion.

The 24-year-old pulled out of the recent England squad after suffering delayed concussion following the win at Everton on 12 October.

United manager Marc Skinner said: "She had a lot of rest. She trained fully the other day, will do so today and tomorrow and should be ready for the weekend.

"If she wasn't OK at any point, she would not be put into the team. But she is ready to go."

Park, who scored two goals in United's last league match as a substitute, has made an impressive start since joining the club from rivals Man City in the summer.

She has flourished alongside fellow Lioness Ella Toone in midfield, with Skinner describing her as making an "incredible difference" to the team.

"[She has] awoken players around her," he said. "She adds another skill set that brings out the best in others.

"Look at the way Tooney started the season, her and Jess have a special relationship, they come to life together. They are incredibly creative players.

"[She] comes in and plays football. My job was to release her to do that. Not to get too heavy to think and analyse but to play the game. I hope that continues and we will adapt and adjust her position."

Emily Salley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City boss Andree Jeglertz says he has been impressed by the "calmness and confidence" of Iman Beney since she arrived at the club in the summer.

The 19-year-old joined City from Swiss side Young Boys in June and she has made five Women's Super League appearances for Jeglertz's side this season.

She scored a late winner in City's 3-2 victory over Arsenal and netted the equaliser in their comeback win against Liverpool earlier this month, while she scored again on international duty for Switzerland in Tuesday's 4-3 win against Scotland.

"What an exciting player with so many qualities in her repertoire," Jeglertz said.

"I'm not saying [I'm] surprised, but partly surprised, because it's difficult to come to a new country, to a new city, to a new club, new team. Everything is new.

"She's very, very young. But she's shown calmness and confidence that I'm impressed by. She's just playing her game, and that is one of the most important things for a young player."

The City manager said the club are still trying to find out the best way to "optimise" and "maximise" Beney's talents.

"I am not saying we are struggling, but we're still figuring out how do we get even more out of her," he said

"And I think that's a little bit of a journey that we are still on, both her and I to find out to get even more out of her."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

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London City Lionesses forward Freya Godfrey says she is "proud" of ex-Arsenal team-mate Katie Reid despite her having to withdraw from the England squad with injury.

Godfrey, 20, came through Arsenal's academy like defender Reid and played with her in England's Under-23s squad.

Reid, 19, has been a key player for Arsenal this season and was rewarded for her performances with a call-up to the England senior squad before injury struck.

"I text her when she got the call-up and also when she announced her withdrawal. It's tough but she's more than deserved that call-up," Godfrey told BBC Sport.

"She has been exceptional. I think anyone who has seen her in the games she's played in will say that. I'm just really proud of her.

"I know it's upsetting for her but she is an incredible player and such a good person so I couldn't be happier for her [getting the call-up]."

Godfrey is among the under-23s squad preparing at St George's Park for Monday's game against Portugal, having suffered a 5-0 loss by Germany on Thursday.

She says being around the senior squad - double European champions - has increased excitement among England's young talent.

"There's a real feeling you want to be a part of women's football right now and especially because we're so close to the seniors," she added.

"They are here with us now and it's cool to see them right there. Michelle Agyemang was such a big figure in the summer so it's within touching distance.

"Lucia Kendall has been called up this time and Katie Reid was too. It shows a clear pathway between the under-23s and the senior squad. It's exciting."

Godfrey has been inspired by Agyemang's burst onto the international scene after the 19-year-old dominated headlines in the summer for crucial late goals off the bench.

"I look up to Alessia Russo a lot - the way she carries herself on and off the pitch. Chloe Kelly is also an incredible clutch player," added Godfrey.

"Lauren James' technical ability is incredible and she just has that calmness and strength. Those are things I want to add to my game.

"Doing what Michelle does at her age… she is younger than me but is a role model for me as well. She would hate me saying that!

"All of them are inspiring and wouldn't be where they are if they weren't."