Women's Super League

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham have identified Swedish goalkeeper Jennifer Falk as a target for the January transfer window.

The 31-year-old is currently at BK Hacken and she worked with Tottenham manager Robert Vilahamn between 2020 and 2023 before his move to Spurs.

Last week, Spurs announced goalkeeper Becky Spencer had signed a new contract that will run until June 2026.

However, the club were looking for a goalkeeper during the summer transfer window after Barbora Votikova left to join Slavia Prague.

They brought in West Ham's Katelin Talbert on a short-term loan until the end of the year but Falk would be seen as an experienced addition should the club make a move for her in January.

Chelsea have won the last five Women’s Super League titles and, under new manager Sonia Bompastor, they have started the season in commanding form with a perfect record in both league and European competitions.

Their latest victory was a 3-0 win over Liverpool on Sunday in the WSL, which leaves them a point behind leaders Manchester City with a game in hand.

Former Tottenham captain Jenna Schillaci told the BBC’s Women’s Football Show: “Eight wins out of eight games in all competitions – it’s a perfect start in their new era.

“When you look at the team and the depth of the squad that they have got, the players they have still got to come back in – Sam Kerr, Mia Fishel and Lauren James - they are only going to get better.

“I can only see them getting better and better so I think it’s going to be difficult to stop them.”

For more analysis watch the Women’s Football Show, where you can catch all the highlights from the weekend’s six matches.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport journalist at Villa Park

Image source, Getty Images

Three points from seven games is well below what most expected from Aston Villa, even as they adjust to life under new manager Robert de Pauw.

Their season so far has been littered with missed opportunities for that maiden win, and a few below-par performances.

That win is still elusive, but their performance at Leigh Sports Village shows that there is some hope and direction for Villa under de Pauw.

They pressed United high, forcing defensive errors and misplaced passes all through the first half.

And after the break they sat deeper, effectively keeping Marc Skinner's team to half-chances and snap shots.

Villa have a lot of catching up to do this season already, but the groundwork under de Pauw seems to be there.

Manchester United remain unbeaten in the Women's Super League while Aston Villa are still searching for their first win of the season after the sides played out a goalless draw on Sunday. Here's what both managers told Sky Sports after the game.

Man Utd boss Marc Skinner: "We weren't good enough in the first half. We weren't tight enough so then in transition Villa were able to pick up the spaces. We couldn't get enough pressure on. We needed to be way more compact, vertically and horizontally, so we could apply more pressure.

"We are still a new team believe it or not. We have a brand new midfield, brand new forward, lots of different changes to adapt to. But, we are still unbeaten."

On high expectations: "I've never once been in a game where there wasn't pressure at Man Utd, never once. Everybody expects this, this, this and this, but sometimes you fall short."

On remaining unbeaten: "And another clean sheet. Villa's results and position in the table are false, they have improved over the summer. We did not find the level tonight but in future games we will."

Aston Villa manager Robert de Pauw: "I am a little bit sick of good performances without the three points. That frustrates me still. But I am proud of the way the girls played, they showed fire and determination from the beginning."

On growing pressure on his job: "We are doing everything. We leave no stone unturned each week but still it doesn't happen. We have to keep believing, keep the faith as Jurgen Klopp once said. We showed against Chelsea, City and here at United that we can do something, we can fight and play good football. It is time to reward ourselves."

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

At long last, West Ham's winless run in the WSL is over.

On Sunday Rehanne Skinner's side beat Leicester City 1-0 at Chigwell Construction Stadium, their first league win since February.

The Hammers were better than the narrow scoreline suggests, with Riko Ueki, Viviane Asseyi and Katrina Gorry particularly impressive.

Now that West Ham have got the proverbial monkey off their backs, Skinner and her players know the focus is now on making this campaign a successful one.

"It’s important to keep chipping away. It changes the landscape when you get more points," Skinner said before Sunday's game.

"We want to be more attack-minded and positive on the ball. I’m pleased with the progress we have made and the performances we have had but we all know it’s about winning."

Despite winning just once in their opening seven games this term, the top four is only seven points away.

Given the quality in their squad, West Ham really should be targeting wins against Brighton & Hove Albion, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa before Christmas.

Jonty Colman
BBC Sport journalist

It is very rare in football that a team takes almost seven full matches to score a first league goal of the season courtesy of one of their own players.

Everton did exactly that against Crystal Palace at Gander Green Lane when Honoka Hayashi headed in Veatriki Sarri’s cross to earn a 1-1 draw 18 minutes from time.

The Toffees have three points from their seven matches so far, all via draws. Hayashi's header was Brian Sorensen's side second goal of the season, the first of which coming via West Ham's Camila Saez who inadvertently earned Everton a point last month.

While no wins and one goal from your own players is far from ideal, Everton have only lost four of seven games despite their struggles in front of goal.

Via Hayashi's header, not only did they bolster their own position, but the Blues also stopped hosts Palace moving five points clear of them, keeping the WSL debutants in close proximity.

With three of their next four WSL matches at home, Everton have a good chance to get that all-important first win for the division's lowest scorers.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at St Helens Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea's nemesis had become Liverpool in recent years as their 4-3 defeat at Prenton Park in May threatened to rob them of a fifth successive Women's Super League title.

Instead, Chelsea ended the season with their hands on the trophy and they arrived in St Helens on Sunday - a new home for Liverpool this year - to put behind their recent disappointments against Matt Beard's side.

Liverpool were no different. They were still well-organised, physically strong and robust, and they presented a threat on the counter-attack.

But Chelsea were prepared to battle it out and their quality shone through as they were ruthless in front of goal.

Beard said Chelsea are "100% even better" than they have been after strengthening again in the summer and this latest result will make bleak viewing for their rivals.

Just a point separates Chelsea and WSL leaders Manchester City - but the Blues have a game in hand which goes in their favour.

The two go head-to-head next Saturday in what could be the biggest match of the season - and Chelsea could not be in a better place going into it.

Chelsea beat Liverpool on Sunday to make it six wins from six in the Women's Super League this season. Here's what both managers told BBC Sport after the game.

Liverpool boss Matt Beard: "There are positives to take but obviously we have to cut out the little errors that led to their goals. Second half we posed a lot of threat, pressed them well and caused them problems. We started the game brightly as well.

"Chelsea are a top, top side, and if you give them opportunities like we did today then you are going to get punished."

On Olivia Smith: "She is fantastic. She is going to be one of the best, that's for sure. She's got everything. She needs to relax a bit, she can lose her temper quite quickly at times, but she is a top talent. She has caused a lot of teams a lot of problems."

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor: "I'm really happy with the performance. We're keeping our good dynamic at the moment. We started a little bit slower than usual, but if you look at all the picture we controlled the game and were efficient in the right moments.

"Every game is important, every game is three points. For the players we are back to a rhythm where we are at three games a week.

On Lucy Bronze after she was taken off at half-time: "She's not injured at all. It's part of the management for her. It was part of the management for her to play 45 minutes today so she would be ready for the next game. She's fine. No pain, nothing."

Emily Salley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

When Jonas Eidevall resigned as Arsenal manager, things were looking bleak for the Gunners.

They had failed to win any of their last three games under the Swede and appeared to be lacking an identity on the pitch.

Step forward, Renee Slegers. Slowly but surely, the interim boss has instilled a new confidence in the squad and there's a clear attacking intent - summed up by their five-star performance against Brighton.

While Arsenal may have been disappointed to come away from Manchester United on Sunday with just one point and only one goal to show for their 19 shots, Sleger's team avoided falling into the same trap against another in-form side.

Before tonight's fixture, Brighton had only conceded four goals in their opening six matches.

But, right from the start, Arsenal peppered the Seagulls' box and Beth Mead's opener was the perfect example of a clinical finish.

Foord and Hurtig's goals were scrappy, but they were in the right place at the right time, while a second goal of the season - even if it is from the penalty spot - will do no harm to Alessia Russo's confidence.

Nick Cushing has seemingly ruled himself out of the Arsenal job and while Slegers has not been vocal about taking on the role on a permanent basis, the former Netherlands midfielder appears to be letting her managerial performances do the talking.

Ciara Fleming
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Three was the magic number as Women's Super League leaders Manchester City cruised 4-0 past Tottenham.

Three goals for Khadija Shaw, three assists for Lauren Hemp and a third goal in three games for Jill Roord on her WSL return.

Gareth Taylor's side were at their scintillating best at Etihad Stadium, opening the scoring through Shaw after just 23 seconds and not once looking back.

Each of the three goals from the Jamaican international highlighted a different aspect of her extraordinary goalscoring skillset.

The first her ability to drive forward with the ball and pick a corner, the second her heading prowess in the box and the third her poacher's instincts at the back post.

Perhaps the only downside for City on a night of sparkling attacking football is that they didn't manage to put even more of their chances away.

Indeed hat-trick hero Shaw said as much in her post match comments to the media: "We have to see where we can raise the level even better, so when we get there we are unstoppable."

Arsenal comfortably beat Brighton 5-0 at Emirates Stadium on Friday. Here is reaction from both camps.

Arsenal interim boss Renee Slegers: "It looks very easy now. The last two training sessions we were investing a lot of time in this part of our game so I am really happy for the girls. The investment they put in they got the effect today."

On having five different goalscorers: "It is very nice and says something about where we are going as a team. We are really doing it together and everyone is contributing so it is very positive."

On the scoreline allowing her to make early substitutions: "We always want to bring on players because we have such a great squad. This is where the tight schedule comes in as well. Hopefully everyone is fresh for Juventus on Tuesday."

Brighton captain Vicky Losada: "It was a very difficult night, especially when we found ourselves 3-0 down inside 30 minutes, but we shouldn’t get too emotional after this result.

“Arsenal are a Champions League team and showed that today. They attack so well and we need to respond to bad moments better, but if we learn from this we will be fine.

“We can’t forget everything we have done until today. We have been performing well this season. The Brighton you saw today wasn’t us and we will learn."