Women's Super League

Ellie Thomason
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal interim boss Renee Slegers said Alessia Russo's hard work is paying off as the forward is set to make her 50th appearance for the club.

England international Russo has played 49 times for the Gunners since joining from Manchester United in July 2023.

The 25-year-old is in fine form, scoring twice in both of Arsenal's games since the international break.

"Alessia like most of the squad is a player that works really hard," Slegers said. "She is determined to get the best out of herself. You see that in training.

"She works closely with Kelly Smith in training and reviewing games. Players that have this mindset always want to become better. They will eventually become better. I don't think there is any other result.

"Where it is going to end you don't know, but for Less I am very happy for her that all the work she is putting in is coming off."

Here are the other key lines from Slegers' news conference before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Liverpool (kick-off 14:30 GMT)

• On six successive wins in all competitions, Slegers said: "Momentum builds momentum. That is good for us. As a team we are in a flow and that is positive but we need to stay sharp and keep looking at what we can do to stay there and develop it further."

• On Katie Reid's full debut in Thursday's Champions League win, Slegers said: ": We started Katie because we thought she was ready. She has been with us for a while now. She performs really well in training and has the respect of the other girls as well. She has been growing in the group. Her starting debut in the Champions League in a position that is not her first position, I was really happy with how she performed. She was very composed, got a lot of passes and decisions right."

• There is no fresh team news and all players came through the win over Valerenga. Slegers said "everyone is doing their job today to bring the energy again" after a short turnaround between games.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Everton boss Brian Sorensen says teenager Issy Hobson is "better" after being taken to hospital with concussion during their defeat by Liverpool on Wednesday.

Hobson was struck in the face with the ball in the 4-0 loss but returned to work on Thursday and is now following concussion protocols.

The 17-year-old will miss Sunday's Women's Super League clash with Manchester City but Everton are boosted by the news Karen Holmgaard has returned to training.

"We will try and see if we can finish [before the Christmas break] with a good result," said Sorensen.

"Despite the injuries [Manchester City] have, they are playing really well at the moment. Their positional play is second to none, so we will have to be super sharp."

Here are the other key lines from his news conference before Sunday's Women's Super League game (kick-off 12:30 GMT)

• Sorensen says Everton need to get "better offensively" and they have been working on that in training.

• He insists it is "hard to score against us" and hope his team can stay disciplined for 90 minutes against City.

• The club remains confident the takeover will happen before the new year but Sorensen says there is "no update" he can provide.

• The takeover may affect their transfer business but they know what their targets are and Sorensen says new additions are needed "throughout the squad" to help long-term injury issues.

• He also stated there will "most likely not" be any players sold in January in order to bring in new recruits, as was the case this summer.

Ellie Thomason
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor said forward Lauren James is on track to return to action after the winter break in January.

England international James has not played since the 4-1 win over Arsenal in October after suffering a calf injury.

"LJ is progressing really well," Bompastor said. "We are talking with the staff about her return.

"It's always a little bit difficult because you want them back but you also want to protect them and not take too many risks. For LJ we will see her after the winter break in January for sure."

Forwards Mia Fishel and Sam Kerr are progressing well in their anterior cruciate ligament recovery.

"Mia and Sam are long-term injuries," Bompastor said. "The recovery is really individual. Each player will go with their own rhythm but we hope to have them as soon as possible.

"They are three really creative players, they really impact the game when they come in so as a manager I really hope to have them as soon as we can."

Here more key lines from Bompastor's news conference before Saturday's Women's Super League game against Leicester (kick-off 12:30 GMT)

• On Leicester, she said she knows boss Amandine Miquel "quite well" from their time in the French league and said: "She always tries to surprise me so I am ready for that".

• She said there will be no complacency against Leicester despite their position in the table. "Every game matters. If we cant to continue our momentum and our run, the mentality we have to have is to be ready from the beginning of every game."

• She praised Catarina Macario after goal involvements in her last two games and said: "Cat is a really talented world-class player so it's really important for us to have her on the pitch. Now she is in a good place, she was able to play 45 minutes against Brighton and start against Twente. We will see this weekend how we manager her."

• Bompastor confirmed the squad will travel to Portugal for a training camp during the winter break to prepare for the second half of the season.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa interim boss Shaun Goater says the club "needs to get results immediately" following the sacking of manager Robert de Pauw.

Villa are ninth in the Women's Super League table with one win from nine matches and they sit just one point above the relegation zone.

"We need to get results. This is our time. Everyone wants time, but in this situation here, we need to get results immediately," said Goater.

"It's a must-win because of where we are in the table. As a club, the aspirations are to be higher up and we've not had the start of the season we would have liked.

"We use the term 'must-win' and it is because we are better than we are. Therefore we need to show that, play with confidence and start to get results."

Goater said De Pauw's departure came as a surprise on the day but he insists there is a "belief" in the players.

"We are in a business of football where sometimes these things happen. On the day and when things unfolded, yes, I was surprised," he added.

"At the same time, the staff all got together and we made sure the players were right. That has been our intentions ever since.

"I don't know if a change [of manager] was needed, I just think in both boxes it needs to change. The responsibility is now on the players.

"They know that and understand that. All eyes are on them. The belief is in the players and we look forward to this game so we can start to perhaps get some momentum and start winning."

Here are more key lines from Goater's news conference before Sunday's Women's Super League game against West Ham (kick-off 14:00 GMT)

• Goater says it is "really important" for his senior players to show leadership as they go through this period.

• He will pick Sunday's team against West Ham and will be on the touchline, where Goater hopes to bring "calmness" to the players.

• Experiences as a player and a former assistant coach at Manchester City will help Goater, he says, as he urges his team to "play the Villa way".

• "I have within me, from those experiences, a fight to work until the end. In all fairness, we have that in abundance," he added.

Image source, Getty Images

There were worrying scenes for Manchester City on Thursday when captain Alex Greenwood was stretched off with what looked like a serious knee injury in the first half of their Champions League game against St Polten.

Greenwood immediately went to the ground and signalled for treatment after an awkward challenge with Melanie Brunnthaler.

The England international covered her face as she was stretchered off at Joie Stadium.

After the game boss Gareth Taylor said he did not yet know the extent of Greenwood's injury.

"Not at this stage," he said. "I turned away because I was frustrated we lost the ball in those areas. It was our own doing. We will just have to assess like with all the many other injuries we have got.

"We have two games to get through [before the winter break], we will check in on Alex and see how she is but it takes a lot for Alex to come off."

On how much Greenwood would be missed if it is a serious injury, he added: "Huge loss. We seem to be losing big players. Miedema, Lauren Hemp, Layzell, Bunny Shaw.

"If it's Alex it is going to make it really difficult for us. But the girls are good in that sense. The recovery levels are good and hopefully now once we get this break we have a little bit of time and don't miss these players for too long."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City forward Vivianne Miedema has returned to training and boss Gareth Taylor expects to see her back on the pitch in the new year.

The forward has not played since the Champions League victory against Barcelona on 9 October and has since had surgery on her left knee.

"Viv is back out on pitch, which is great", Taylor said.

"The reality of it is we won't see her in these next three games before we break, but we're looking forward to getting her back in early January for when we restart.

"That's a big boost for everyone. She's a top player and any team would miss having a player like that."

Taylor said Chloe Kelly - who sustained a concussion on England duty - is likely to return before the winter break, but is "touch and go" for Thursday's Women's Champions League game against St Polten.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Having only joined the club six months ago, it has been a disappointing spell under Robert de Pauw.

Villa showed promise in their opening weekend defeat by defending champions Chelsea but ultimately, one win in nine WSL games, is not good enough for a club who had top five ambitions.

They increased their transfer budget this summer and spent a club-record £250,000 on Brazil forward Gabi Nunes, as well as a fee which could rise to £100,000 for Liverpool midfielder Missy Bo Kearns.

That backing, and raised expectations from previous seasons' success, meant scrutiny on De Pauw's position increased quickly from supporters when results failed to arrive.

Sources told BBC Sport that players had grown unhappy with his coaching methods and he was sent home earlier this week after one training session which may have been the catalyst for his early exit.

BBC Sport has approached Aston Villa for a response.

The latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly podcast is now available on BBC Sounds.

Ellen White and Nedum Onuoha join Ben Haines after the international break to discuss the brilliant form of Bunny Shaw.

Emma Sanders joins the team to talk Dan Ashworth's departure from Manchester United and what it means for the women's squad.

Listen on BBC Sounds

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Tottenham's Eveliina Summanen and Luana Buhler are back in contention to be selected for Wednesday's game against Crystal Palace.

Defender Amy James-Turner is likely to miss out having been absent in training this week but goalkeeper Becky Spencer could return following illness.

Midfielder Summanen was substituted with cramp during Spurs' 2-1 victory over Everton on Sunday.

Switzerland international Buhler has missed the last two games with injury but has returned to full training and is expected to be named in the squad against Palace.

Jonty Colman
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton have found plenty of success under manager Dario Vidosic this season and one of his major philosophies has been the Seagulls' ability to play out from defence.

Their intent at Kingsmeadow against Women's Super League leaders Chelsea was no different, but a major element of their 4-2 loss in the capital was their bravery showing its potential flaws.

When Sjoeke Nüsken dispossessed Jelena Cankovic deep in Brighton's half before converting the hosts' opener, there was a warning to Brighton that league leaders Chelsea would not allow them to play how they wanted to easily.

The Blues punished Brighton again five minutes later, with Brighton goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley being tackled by Aggie Beever-Jones, who comfortably scored her side's second from a couple of yards into an empty net.

Not only from the two goals did Brighton lose possession deep in their own territory, but those two avoidable moments proved to be costly in a two-goal defeat.

Chelsea were hardly innocent themselves of similar errors, with Brighton scoring twice and going close to others from misplaced passes from the league leaders.

Had Kiko Seike been more clinical in the final 10 minutes at 3-2, Brighton could easily have taken a point off Chelsea, who are to drop any this season. They would have been deserving of it too.

Brighton deserve credit for how they've gotten themselves to the position they are in nine games into the league season. European football is really not out of the question for them.

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Meetings between sides at the bottom of the table are often cagey, but this game was anything but.

West Ham came into this game 11th in the table, ahead of Palace only on goal difference. Before kick-off no ever-present team in the WSL since the start of last season had conceded more goals (59) or scored fewer (26) than Rehanne Skinner's side.

It looked like West Ham's dismal form would continue when Palace raced into an early two-goal lead, but the Hammers showed great fight and determination to turn things around before half-time.

Their position in the standings makes it easy to forget that this is a team with real quality, particularly in the attacking department.

If Viviane Asseyi and her fellow attackers continue to score goals and Skinner can get her defence to tighten up, then West Ham really should be looking to establish themselves in mid-table and maybe even push into the top six.

With the mid-way point of the season fast approaching and with a goal difference six goals worse than any other side, Palace really need to stop shipping goals if they want to avoid a immediate return to the Championship.

Jonty Colman
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham recorded their third win of the Women's Super League season against Everton and can thank captain Beth England for her influence in the 2-1 victory.

When opening the scoring in the 25th minute from close range, England's thumping strike on the rebound was already her fourth shot of the the game, having already missed three headers.

Her second from the penalty spot was struck with just as much venom and a timely reminder of the player Tottenham have leading their line, as well as the whole team.

Robert Vilahamn has spoken repeatedly of his desire for attacking football and why it will be his primary focus over keeping clean sheets.

With England up front, Vilahamn certainly has the finisher he needs to spearhead his philosophy. Now, he needs the supporting cast to step up and add to England's goals.

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal extended their unbeaten run under interim boss Renee Slegers to eight games in all competitions with a 4-0 thrashing of Aston Villa at The Emirates Stadium.

Ahead of the game Slegers said that the Gunners are "doing a really good job to try and find the right manager for the future."

Could she be the answer? She hasn't ruled herself out, and why would she given the way she has rescued Arsenal's season from sliding into full-blown crisis.

Arsenal won just one of their opening four WSL games before Jonas Eidevall resigned in October, but under Slegers they have played like their old selves.

Alessia Russo has benefited in particular; she has scored in four consecutive league games for the first time in her career after starting the season with five blanks.

Not all Arsenal fans would welcome the permanent appointment of Eidevall's former assisstant, given the way that his regime fell apart. But it's hard to argue that Slegers shouldn't remain in her position for the rest of the season at least.

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport journalist at Joie Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City thrashed Leicester 4-0 and, once again, Bunny Shaw shone.

The 27-year-old is the WSL's top scorer and has netted seven goals in her past four matches in all competitions.

Most inside Joie Stadium slid to the edge of their seats every time she received the ball in the final third and, in reference to Shaw's nickname 'Bunny', cries of "feed the Bun and she will score" were commonplace.

It is an apt chant. Since her WSL debut in September 2021, she has netted 59 times, at least 23 more than any other player in that period.

If they are to challenge for trophies this season, Shaw will be integral.

Leicester, meanwhile, will be licking their wounds after a trip to their traditional WSL bogey team.

Leicester have never gotten a point against City in the WSL, losing all seven games, and have only ever scored against the Citizens once in the top-flight - in a 4-1 loss in 2021.

Read the report.