Women's Super League

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Barclays revealed they have invested a total of £55m in the women’s game as part of their new three-year agreement with the Women’s Super League.

Speaking at an event to celebrate girls football at St George’s Park last night, Barclays said their investment across women’s football matches the money they have agreed to put into the men’s game this year.

Last month, Barclays announced a new deal with the WSL which would see them give £45m in investment and marketing across three seasons.

The additional £10m which they revealed last night will be invested in grassroots football and resources across the rest of the pyramid.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal defender Katie Reid has signed her first professional contract with the club.

The 18-year-old centre-back joined Arsenal's academy at the age of 13.

Reid has already made a number of first team appearances for the Gunners and made her debut in the 5-0 Women's Super League victory over Bristol City in April.

"I’m so proud to be putting pen to paper on a professional contract at a club that means so much to me," said Reid.

"Ever since I was a kid and first started playing football, this is what I always aspired to so it means the world. I want to keep working hard and progressing and I can’t wait to continue my development here with Arsenal."

Image source, Getty Images

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.