Women's Super League

Crystal Palace boss Laura Kaminski says her side "need to keep our feet on the ground" as they prepare to face struggling Aston Villa on Sunday (kick-off 14:00 GMT).

WSL newcomers Palace have picked up points in three of their seven games this season and are two points above Sunday's opponents.

"We mustn’t get carried away in terms of where we have come from and where we are at," she said.

"We know this is early days for us. If you think about teams that have been in the WSL for several seasons, we have been there for seven games. We need to remember where we are at."

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

• Kaminski "would never calculate points per game" and expect to get a result against teams around them in the table.

• Against Everton she said her side "rode waves and patches of the game" and is grateful for the point, but knows her squad were capable of taking all three.

• On the trends of newly-promoted teams being relegated straight away, she said: "The patterns that apply to other teams don’t apply to us. We will find our own way and identity and find our own journey."

• On Aston Villa, she said: "The table is a bit false for them but there is no better time to play them. They are full of confidence [after their draw with Man Utd] but we know we are also causing teams problems."

Ellie Thomason
BBC Sport senior journalist

Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor says there is "a chance" Lauren Hemp could feature against Chelsea when the Women's Super League's top two sides meet on Saturday (kick-off 17:30 GMT).

Hemp missed Tuesday's Champions League win over Hammarby with a knee issue but Taylor is hopeful she could return this weekend.

"We are positive at the moment," Taylor said. "We will find out more tomorrow [Friday] if Lauren is able to train and participate.

"We will take that decision with the medical staff and Lauren tomorrow."

Hemp has five assists in the WSL this season, more than any other player, and is way out in front in terms of chances created with 26.

"You want to see Hempo in these games," Taylor said. "She is a top player for us and the quality goes without saying."

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

• With other key players missing out in midweek, Taylor praised those who stepped in: "They stood up to the task and everyone is standing up to be counted."

• Taylor said "there is no denying these games [against Chelsea] are really important and added: "we want to stay in contention" for the title".

• With Chelsea still having a game in hand, he said "the league table at the moment looks a little bit lopsided".

• On whether who starts in goal against Chelsea is his number one, Taylor said: "To put a label on who is my number one is a little bit unfair. It's a strong position to be in for us to have two world-class goalkeepers."

Ellie Thomason
BBC Sport senior journalist

Brighton boss Dario Vidosic said Brighton won't be "doom and gloom" after their 5-0 defeat by Arsenal and is backing his team to bounce back against West Ham on Saturday (kick-off 12:30 GMT).

Albion conceded more goals against the Gunners on Friday than in the rest of their Women's Super League games combined this season, but Vidosic is confident he can get a response from his players.

"It’s a good lesson," he said. "We are still happy, we are still third so we can’t get too down on ourselves.

"We can’t take Friday night and be doom and gloom. There were positives and stuff we can easily fix that we just got a little bit wrong.

"There is always work to be done. It’s never perfect. We always chase perfection but the beauty of that is you will never catch it. We want to improve all the time.

"There are speed bumps. The best teams in the world will have an off day. These things happen in football."

Here are more key lines from his news conference:

• Vidosic said being in the WSL's top three brings "a different pressure" but "that pressure is a privilege".

• He said "experience is the best teacher" and after Friday's defeat "we want a big response and we look forward to the challenge of West Ham".

• On another game at the Amex Stadium, he added: "We want to be on the big stages. We encourage all our fans to come out and support us."

• Maria Thorisdottir will miss out with a calf issue while the club are waiting on scan results from Aisha Masaka.

• Pauline Bremer and Jelena Cankovic are both back in the squad after returning from injury.

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton defender Poppy Pattinson says her side will not dwell on their heavy defeat by Arsenal last week when they face West Ham in the Women's Super League on Saturday (kick-off 12:30 GMT).

The high-flying Seagulls went into the match with the Gunners in fine form with four wins from their opening six league games, but they lost 5-0 with just one shot on target.

"Last week was disappointing and we have worked hard this week to put it right," said the left-back.

"It’s a mental game as well as a physical one. We can’t dwell on the last one too much and we know what we can put right.

"We take the belief from the start of the season into this one [against West Ham]."

Despite last week's loss, Dario Vidosic's side are still third in the table, one point ahead of Arsenal and Manchester United.

"It’s a great feeling to be where we are right now sitting in the position we are," she said.

"I’m not someone that just settles. We want to keep getting better. We started the season very well, we set high expectations for ourselves."

This weekend's match is being played at the club's main ground, the Amex Stadium, and Pattinson says the team "love" playing there.

"It’s a great stadium and hopefully we can get a win there for our fans," she added.

"A game is a game, atmosphere can be brought anywhere, but these are the games we want to play in. We just want to put on a show."

Ellie Thomason
BBC Sport senior journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Everton boss Brian Sorensen says his side want to win against neighbours Liverpool "so badly" when the teams meet at Goodison Park in the Women's Super League on Sunday (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

The Toffees are preparing to play there for the final time and Sorenson says "everyone wants to play at this iconic stadium and in a derby".

"When I started looking at English football as a young kid you always heard how tough it was to go and play at Goodison Park. It’s legendary," he added.

Everton are yet to win at the famous stadium and are still searching for their first victory of the season.

"We want to win this so badly. It’s a derby but we also want to get the first win of the season. We are hoping to get that success and kickstart the season."

Here are more key lines from his news conference:

• Conceding inside 30 seconds against Crystal Palace was "not fun", but Sorensen praised the "great character" from his side to fight back.

• After Honoka Hayashi scored Everton's first goal by one of their own players, he said: "The amount of grass she is covering in the pitch is unreal. She is such a composed player. We are trying to get her into more of these opportunities."

• He added: "She is such a lovely player to work with, so humble, always has a smile on her face and is never in a bad mood. She is a fantastic person but an even better football player."

• On Liverpool, he said: "We are not far from each other on Sunday when it really matters out there, but they probably have a bit more depth. We have to be very solid for 90 minutes".

• Lucy Hope is "dealing with another problem" after she missed out through injury last week, but Sorensen is hopeful she could be available.

Image source, Getty Images

Steph Houghton has returned to Manchester City, taking up off-field roles as club ambassador and a project officer.

Former City captain Houghton retired at the end of last season after 10 years with the club.

She makes history as the first female to become an official representative of the club and joins the likes of Mike Summerbee, Joleon Lescott and Shaun Wright-Phillips in the role.

As club ambassador, Houghton will represent the club at matches and events around the world.

In her role as project officer, the club say Houghton will "liaise and gain valuable experience with various footballing departments at the City Football Academy".

"Everybody knows how much this club means to me," Houghton said. "I'm really excited to be in and around everyone again.

"When you retire you miss that environment and being part of a team. If I wasn't here and part of the club still that would be a massive miss for me."

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace defender Lily Woodham says there is "still a buzz" about the newly-promoted Women's Super League side, who she believes are more than capable of staying in the top flight.

Wales international Woodham joined Palace on loan from Seattle Reign until the end of January.

The Eagles, who became a WSL club for the first time this season, have taken five points from their first seven games, leaving them 10th in the table.

"For every team that comes up it's about staying in the league and I think Palace are so capable of doing that," Woodham told BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly podcast.

"There's a great staff group and some incredible players so I think it'll be fine and everyone’s still excited, it’s still a buzz."

Woodham said there is a "special group" at the club, but she is particularly enjoying playing under boss Laura Kaminski.

"She's such a character, she's so funny," she said.

"She is so kind but when you need to be told, she's ready to be able to give you that advice and information as are all the coaches so it's a real special group being here."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

West Ham manager Rehanne Skinner has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Women's Super League game against Brighton (kick-off 12:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from her news conference:

• On-loan Brighton defender Li Mengwen is ineligible to face her parent club this weekend so will not be in West Ham's squad.

• Victory over Leicester on Sunday has "elevated everybody" says Skinner, who was "really pleased" with their in-possession work.

• She adds: "It’s competitive [in the squad]. It makes people work really hard and we can push our levels. That showed with the confidence on the ball we had."

• Skinner says the "aim" is to use that win as a catalyst to move up the table and it can "give us a boost".

• She adds: "We want to try to get on a bit of a roll and keep that momentum going."

• Brighton did "a great job with their recruitment" this summer, says Skinner, who thinks the new signings have settled in quickly for their opponents.

• "They are moving the ball really well and creating problems for people. I think the game will be difficult but that’s not new to us," Skinner adds.

Image source, Getty Images

Erin Cuthbert said playing as much as she has for Chelsea was "beyond my wildest dreams".

The midfielder returns to Scotland on Wednesday as Chelsea face Celtic in the Women's Champions League.

The Scotland international played for Rangers and Glasgow City between 2013 and 2016 before making the move to Chelsea.

Cuthbert, 26, has made more than 130 appearances for Chelsea and is an integral part of Sonia Bompastor's squad.

On how she has developed since leaving Glasgow, Cuthbert said: "I left as a really young, naive 18-year-old girl who was just working in Morrisons and playing part-time.

"This was beyond my wildest dreams playing as much as I have for Chelsea. I feel really lucky and privileged but it’s never about being settled.

"It’s a moment to reflect on how far I have come, but also how much work I have still got to do. I am still learning, I still feel I have got more in my game, I still feel I have got more to come and I want to see where my ceiling is."

Image source, Getty Images

Sonia Bompastor has confirmed four of her first team players have not travelled to Glasgow for Wednesday's Women's Champions League game against Celtic.

Kadeisha Buchanan, Millie Bright, Sjoeke Nusken and Mayra Ramirez have all stayed in London to manage their minutes.

"The squad is in a good place," Bompastor said. "We have a good dynamic and we are full of confidence.

"We have been playing a lot of games and this is a special week because we play three games.

"As a manager it’s important to manage some players. I have some players who didn’t travel to this game."

Playing against Celtic in the Champions League on Wednesday is a "full circle moment" for Chelsea's Erin Cuthbert.

Cuthbert joined Scotland internationals Rachel Corsie and Leanne Crichton on the Behind The Goals podcast to discuss Wednesday's tie.

The match at Celtic park is Cuthbert's first Champions League game in Scotland since playing against Chelsea for Glasgow City in the 2015-16 campaign.

Hear the full interview on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

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

Ben Haines is joined by Jen Beattie and Tom Garry, who stands in for Ellen White.

The team discuss how tight things are at the bottom of the Women's Super League table and a deep dive into the teams that could find themselves in a relegation fight.

There plenty to talk about with Chelsea and Manchester City meeting in the top-of-the-table clash, plus, hear from Wales international Lily Woodham on her time on loan at Crystal Palace, the "buzz" around playing in the WSL and how it compares to the NWSL.

Listen now on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City players know they "have to put on a good performance" when selected due to competition in the squad, says midfielder Laura Coombs.

The 33-year-old has not started a game this season with City sitting top of the Women's Super League table and their Women's Champions League group.

"We’ve not always had a great start," said Coombs. "We’re feeling really good at the minute and that’s being reflected in the WSL and other competitions.

She has come off the bench in recent games and Coombs says she wants to give as much energy on the pitch as a substitute, as she would if she was starting.

"The competition in the squad is super high. Every week players go out knowing they have to put on a performance. Everyone wants to start. Everyone wants that.

"But if that’s the role [as a substitute] I have at the minute, I just want to do it to the best of my ability.

"Of course it’s disappointing not to play [as much] but everyone wants that. There’s only 11 players who can start."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor says the club's new women's director of football Therese Sjogran will "really help" them in the January transfer window.

The former Sweden international will lead recruitment, as well as first team coach and player development at the Women's Super League club.

Sjogran, who spent 10 years as sporting director at Swedish champions FC Rosengard, starts her role on 1 December.

"I'm looking forward to working with Therese. We have had conversations already, discussing the positive results Rosengard had this season," said Taylor.

"We need someone with the experience she has having been a player and having been in the director's role for a number of years.

"That's what we need. The January window is around the corner. Therese is going to really help us in that space."

Sjogran knows the Swedish market well from her time at Rosengard and it has proved to be a talent pool for WSL clubs in recent years.

Asked if she may help the club sign Swedish talent, Taylor said: "Maybe, who knows? She has real strength in that area and knows the league really well.

"We have had discussions already around certain players and of course we have a plan going into that January window."

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."