Women's Super League

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Is anyone going to be able to stop Chelsea?

When Emma Hayes stepped down as manager at the end of last season, many predicted a changing of the guard in the Women's Super League.

The Blues have won five WSL titles in a row, but the changes brought by a new coach could have easily destabilised things. Hayes built a dynasty in west London, but all good things come to an end.

Well, maybe not yet.

Sonia Bompastor has overseen eight wins in her first eight league games in charge, all without Sam Kerr and Mia Fishel and four without Lauren James due to injury.

Not even the WSL's best defence or the violent winds of Storm Bert could stop Chelsea, though they were far from their best.

"I am just a bit disappointed at the fact we couldn’t play more but sometimes the most important is to get the three points because especially because we have been in a run playing five games in two weeks, I think the players are a little bit fatigued as well," Bompastor said after full-time.

The scary thing is that she, and everyone else, knows that this Chelsea team can be much better.

Read the full match report here.

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United have conceded just two goals in seven WSL games this season, but Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor is confident her side will be able to breach their opponent's defence.

"United have a strong squad with a lot of quality all over the pitch," Bompastor said.

"They are really organised, they don't concede a lot of goals. They really defend well as a team. We will have to find a way to keep possession of the ball and cause them trouble."

Chelsea overcame Celtic's defensive set-up to beat them 3-0 in the Women's Champions League on Wednesday, and she expects United may deploy similar tactics.

"We expect [to face] the same kind of organisation, maybe sometimes a low block, really compact. We worked on that during the game on Wednesday and in training."

Emma Hayes' Chelsea thrashed United 6-0 at Old Trafford on the final day of last season to clinch the WSL title. Bompastor is wary of the visitors' desire for revenge.

"They will be coming with confidence because they are unbeaten and have quality. What happened in the last game of last season... it will be in their mentality and we have to expect that."

United will be without striker Elisabeth Terland due to a groin issue, but Bompastor knows the quality of Melvin Malard - who she coached at Lyon - and Rachel Williams.

"I know Malard, since she joined United she's been on fire," Bompastor said.

"A lot of our players know Williams, we have to be able to defend well on the ground and in the air. I think we are ready for that. The Man City game [Chelsea won 2-0] showed we are able to not concede against one of the best strikers in the world in [Khadija] Bunny Shaw."

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor insists her side can still improve despite making a 100% start to the season.

The defending WSL champions face Manchester United - the only other undefeated team in the league - at Kingsmeadow on Sunday (12:00 GMT kick-off).

"There is always room for improvement. Like when [we are] in possession of the ball, at the moment that is our main focus," Bompastor said.

"In the build-up phase, the creation phase, finishing phase, it's really important to get the chemistry.

"We also need to make sure we defend well, as the teams that go far in competitions are the ones that don't concede a lot of goals."

Here are the other key lines from Sonia Bompastor's news conference:

• Niamh Charles is "in a good place" after returning to training following her shoulder injury, but she won't be available until after the international break.

• Kadeisha Buchanan underwent successful surgery on her anterior cruciate ligament injury on Tuesday. "We will support her and be with her during rehab," Bompastor said.

• Mayra Ramirez has shone in the injury absences of Sam Kerr, Mia Fishel and Lauren James, scoring six goals and providing four assists in her last 13 WSL games. "Mayra has a lot of quality. Mayra is doing a good job individually and for the team. She showed against Man City she can hold the ball, make runs behind the back line and her efficiency in the box," the manager said.

• Bompastor said she is "lucky" to work in an environment where the players don't get complacent despite being accustomed to winning. "It's not a hard job for me to motivate them. They have the right mentality. In games we just need to make sure we put all the right ingredients together."

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United boss Marc Skinner praised new Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor before the two sides meet on Sunday (kick-off 12:00 GMT).

Bompastor took over from Emma Hayes in June and became the first manager in WSL history to win her first seven games in charge.

"They've got that same winning attitude, it's been born into the players over many years," Skinner said when asked if Bompastor's Chelsea is different to Hayes'.

"Sonia is cleverly and subtly trying to change the way Chelsea play. They're very one-v-one dominant, they're wide in their build-up so they spread you out as much as possible to create one-v-ones. She's doing a good job."

Manchester City struggled to live with Chelsea's intense pressing in their 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, but Skinner has a plan to deal with it.

"It's a huge part of their game. But we have to mix our style, know when to play, when to go beyond the press," he said.

"Having a mix of that is what we've been good at. That will keep Chelsea guessing. We've got to go into it and just be us. If we do that then we've got a good chance of winning the game."

Chelsea striker Mayra Ramirez scored a superb solo goal against City last weekend, and caused havoc with a two-goal performance at Old Trafford in May. Skinner said United's defenders will learn from that.

"We need to defend against that huge threat. Mayra is a fantastic footballer, so we've got to find a way to stop her. But she's surrounded by [other] great players."

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United boss Marc Skinner says his side will use their 6-0 defeat by Chelsea on the final day of last season as motivation when the two sides meet on Sunday (kick-off 12:00 GMT).

United are unbeaten in the WSL this season, but will take on a Chelsea side that has a 100% record in all competitions under new head coach Sonia Bompastor.

"When we walked off that field, nobody felt good," Skinner said about May's heavy defeat at Old Trafford that saw Chelsea clinch the WSL title.

"You can have a choice: you can fear from it or you can do something about it. We have to learn and grow from that game. It's fuel and motivation. It was a big wake-up call for us. If you let the opponent have one second over you in the game then you deserve what you get."

Here are more key lines from Skinner's news conference:

• Skinner said United 'won't put Chelsea on a pedestal' on Sunday and will prioritise playing their own game.

• Striker Elisabeth Terland will "potentially" miss the trip to Kingsmeadow after suffering groin tightness against Leicester last weekend. She missed the midweek win against Everton and was left out of the Norway squad.

• Ella Toone's calf injury may keep her out until 2025, but United will asses her after the international break. Aoife Mannion could return on Sunday.

• Skinner doesn't think United must win on Sunday to keep their title hopes alive: "To say it's a must-win against a team that hasn't lost a game and have played the way they have, it's a bit over-reaching."

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham midfielder Katrina Gorry and Everton's Clare Wheeler have withdrawn from the Australia squad due to injury.

West Ham have confirmed that Gorry sustained a shoulder injury during their 3-2 defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion, during which she scored her first goals for the club.

Everton midfielder Wheeler suffered a "minor" lower leg injury during their 1-0 victory against Liverpool that kept her out of her side's 2-0 defeat by Manchester United in the League Cup on Wednesday.

The duo join San Diego Wave defender Kaitlyn Torpey in withdrawing after she suffered a hamstring injury.

Australia interim head coach Tom Sermanni named an extended 36-player squad for upcoming friendly double-headers against Brazil and Chinese Taipei.

The Matildas will face Brazil on 28 November and 1 December before hosting Chinese Taipei on 4 December and 7 December.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor said his side have shown a positive reaction after Saturday's Women's Super League defeat by Chelsea.

The 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge was City's first defeat in all competitions this season and Taylor wants his side to bounce back when they face Hammarby in the Champions League on Thursday.

"I’ve been pleased with the reaction since Chelsea, the margins were tight in that game.

"Being able to train for last few days has been good, we’ve put thought into the game and want to finish on a high [before the international break]."

City will reach the last eight of the Champions League if they avoid defeat in Sweden.

Key players including Vivianne Miedema, Lauren Hemp and Laia Aleixandri are missing through injury, but Taylor said: "We’ve got a few bumps and bruises but we’ll put out a competitive team tomorrow."

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester midfielder Ruby Mace spoke to BBC Radio Leicester after receiving her first senior England call-up.

On how she found out she was in the squad: "I got a message from my manager to say you're going to get a call so make sure you pick up and I actually missed the first call. I was doing the dishwasher, so that's why.

"I had to call the number back. Sarina Wiegman said that she wanted to call me up to the first team and I think my first response was, 'Oh my God, really?'. I was shocked.

"Since I was a kid it's been my dream to be in the England first team and to get the call, it felt so surreal."

On her family's reaction: "I told my dad [first]. Me and him are very close when it comes to football, and I know it would mean the world to him. My mum cried. My dad was close to tears and couldn't believe it. My whole family is just so proud."

On what it would mean to make her debut against the USA: "If it happens, it will be a dream come true and just the start for me. But I have to push all the emotions to the side until the game's finished.

"I'm grateful for Leicester [giving] me the platform to showcase what I can do. It's now just going and showing Sarina that you called me up for a reason, I'm going to prove to you why I've been called up."

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal having to move their Women's Champions League from Emirates Stadium because of a fixture clash with the men's side is "disappointing" but was "bound to happen" at some point, says former Gunners defender Jen Beattie.

They will now play their high-profile match against Bayern Munich on 18 December at Meadow Park in Borehamwood.

Mikel Arteta's side have an EFL Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace on the same date, and it could not be moved because the Eagles have televised Premier League matches on the previous Sunday and the following Saturday.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly podcast, Beattie said: “There’s no doubt it’s disappointing but I knew there was always going to be a calendar clash at some point.

"We would maybe a bit naive to think there was never going to be. Champions League fixtures don’t get put in until quite last minute.

"It is disappointing, the fans will be gutted, especially the ones that bought tickets to go to that game. It will change the atmosphere but it’s not going to change the game. It’ll just change the experience and the spectacle of it."

Beattie says the club, which had promised to play all the team's European fixtures at the club's main stadium, need to look at how it happened and how they can fix it going forwards.

"I honestly believe it’s a one-off. I don’t think it’s really anyone’s fault. It might feel like going backwards a bit but it’s short term.

"It’s not a bad solution going back to Borehamwood, it’s been there home for so many years. They are comfortable there."

Hear more from Beattie on the Women's Football Weekly podcast.

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

Jen Beattie, Ellen White and Ben Haines react to the England squad announcement ahead of friendlies against USA and Switzerland.

Hear from Lioness boss Sarina Wiegman on her selections, injury issues including Lauren Hemp and on the excitement around facing Emma Hayes at Wembley.

In the WSL, Ellen and Jen discuss Chelsea’s dominance with a record unbeaten run and what didn’t work out for Manchester City on the day.

Listen now on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United manager Marc Skinner says the club will "keep assessing" midfielder Ella Toone following her calf injury.

The England international has been ruled out of United's League Cup game against Everton on Wednesday and their Women's Super League visit to Chelsea on Sunday, as well as the Lionesses' upcoming fixtures with the United States and Switzerland.

The boss said she picked up the injury in training before their WSL win over Leicester on Sunday.

"She'll miss the international window where we'll keep assessing her time and then, we'll see whether she's back for the block of three games after that," said Skinner, at a media conference on Tuesday.

But Skinner said Emma Watson and Jess Simpson, who both suffered anterior cruciate ligament injuries last season, could both make their debuts in United's midweek game.

Tom Gayle
BBC Radio 5 Live reporter at the King Power Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Without doubt Marc Skinner is one of the most talked about managers in the Women’s Super League.

Manchester United’s global profile means scrutiny over their results will always be intense, with the most vociferous critique often coming from within the clubs own fanbase.

For the majority of 2024, sections of the Manchester United support - both online and more notably in the stands at games - have made it clear they feel a head coaching change is needed.

Winning, often, but not always, silences critics. A 2-0 victory away to a struggling Leicester City understandably won’t appease those who crave the offensive clarity which still hasn’t been resolved nearly 18 months on from Alessia Russo’s departure.

However, from a more optimistic perspective, the performance I witnessed from the stands further reinforced Manchester United’s current greatest strength - their defence.

Never before has the club conceded just two goals from their opening seven WSL games. Manchester City are the only other team to concede fewer - during the starts they made in 2016 en route to winning the title, and in 2019-20, where they eventually finished runners-up.

Speaking to the group of radio reporters afterwards Skinner was keen to highlight “another clean sheet”, demonstrative with his delight at restricting Leicester to just one shot on target, and notably proud of how well they “defended as a team”.

Further encouragement comes via the numbers put up by Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who has been rewarded with a call-up to the USA national side. No other WSL goalkeeper has ever kept more than the five clean sheets she has registered in her first seven appearances in the English top flight.

Another is the form of Gabby George, whose performances have surely caught the eye of Sarina Wiegman ahead of tomorrow's Lionesses squad announcement.

Sir Alex Ferguson famously once said "attack wins you games, defence wins you titles".

Whilst I don’t believe Manchester United will go on to be crowned champions this season, Skinner’s defensive nous is something to be admired heading into their toughest league test so far, away to the only other unbeaten side, Chelsea.