Women's Super League

Charlotte Coates
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool manager Matt Beard has questioned the work-rate of his side after a lacklustre performance in the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.

Palace took the lead through former Reds striker Katie Stengel but Liverpool drew level soon after thanks to Cornelia Kapocs.

However, despite earning a point, Beard questioned the desire of his players: "We were lucky to get that point, to be honest. I'm disappointed with the whole performance. I think our DNA is work-rate, being aggressive and we were so passive today with and without the ball.

"I thought Palace wanted it more than us, we were pulling out of tackles. From that front, we need to get to the bottom of why that is because it's super frustrating. That's not the marker for this team which has been so good for three years now. We're not losing games, we've lost to Manchester City and everyone has lost to Manchester City.

"I can't put my finger on that performance. It reminded me of the Leicester FA Cup quarter-final a little bit last year. I don't know, we just seemed flat today.

"We need to highlight in the debrief people pulling out of tackles. We need to highlight people not recovering or stretching because it can't happen. We have to make sure the players are aware of what's happened but we've still got plenty to do."

Liverpool, who sit fifth in the WSL, will visit Aston Villa after the international break.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor said Lauren Hemp was a "role model" after she inspired her team's third comeback win in the space of a week.

Hemp scored the equaliser before assisting Jill Roord's winner as City beat Aston Villa 2-1 to move top of the Women's Super League.

“She was everywhere today, she just gives such energy," Taylor told BBC Two.

"When she has that mindset of doing everything with and without the ball, she's such a role model for every player we have and of course the girls managed the game really well."

Hemp was City's lead creative force on a day where they were far from their best, with top scorer Khadija Shaw effectively neutralised by Villa.

Instead it fell to the England international winger, who provided most of the threat for City until she finally lobbed them level on 62 minutes - then laid off for Roord to smash home eight minutes later.

It means City are top of the WSL with 13 points from five games - seven of which have come from games where they trailed.

Villa opened the scoring at Joie Stadium through Gabi Nunes, after City also fell behind at Liverpool last week and against St Polten in the Champions League on Wednesday.

"I’m always about the performance," said Taylor. "I thought we were fantastic in so many ways, even at half-time I said to the girls it was very good - we just did not control one action from Villa who are well coached, well organised, have some good players.

"I think that it was a great fightback in the second half. What I loved about it was the fact we stayed calm.

“Of course we have got to thank Lauren for a brilliant goal and a fantastic assist. That second goal was really special.”

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor says her side must improve defensively if they are to retain the Women's Super League title.

The reigning WSL champions will look to maintain their 100% start to the season when Tottenham Hotspur visit Kingsmeadow on Sunday.

However, after conceding in each of their last three games against Twente, Arsenal and Real Madrid, Bompastor has challenged her players to improve at the back.

"It’s a question of confidence and bravery, especially when we have the ball," she said ahead of Sunday's match.

"Against Twente [in the Women's Champions League], we lost the ball too many times in the second half. That was when we gave opportunities to the opposition. We have all the quality to perform better than we performed in the second half against Twente.

"If we are able to keep more of the ball, and control more of the game, we should be fine. I know Tottenham have a lot of quality. We played them in pre-season so we know exactly what to expect from their side, but I also know how we can hurt them."

Victory could see Chelsea spend the international break top of the table, depending on how Manchester City fare against Aston Villa earlier in the day.

Chelsea are currently fourth in the table with nine points, one point behind City having played one game fewer.

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Brighton boss Dario Vidosic said Saturday's 1-1 draw with Manchester United is an experience his players can learn from going forward: "We started off slowly. That sense of belonging on this stage against a very good opponent and the possibility to go top of the WSL if we want – it’s a good learning curve for us.

"Once we settled down, got into our game and did what we wanted to do we matched them and we created a lot of problems. It was a great game. I had a lot of fun as well.

"We know that there's still lots of improvement in the squad, but we're taking the right steps."

On what he changed at half-time: "We needed something a little bit different, to be more aggressive. We saw that there was space in behind, so we had that threat as well. I thought we were a bit more brave and we played quicker.

"We started to get into the spaces quicker and caused them numerous issues. It's a good one to learn from."

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Manchester United boss Marc Skinner was disappointed his side conceded their first goal in the Women's Super League but was pleased with the performance overall: "It was a really good game from both teams. We had a couple of big chances which we have to be more ruthless with and then we get a goal. It’s a fantastic goal. Start of the second half we let off the pace a little bit and then we let a goal in which we won’t be happy with. But it happens.

"I thought we were exceptional for most of the game. The second part of the second half we took the game to them again and all of a sudden we could have won the game. To go and want to win the game at the end shows a great mindset. We are in a really good space and long may it continue."

On the penalty shout for the foul on Celin Bizet: "In my opinion it’s an absolute stonewall penalty. It’s a clumsy challenge and she goes over and it’s in the penalty area. Not even a foul is given. You will hopefully get them in games but it is a big moment.

On Maya Le Tissier breaking the record for the youngest player to have started 100 WSL games: "She is brilliant. She has come back to her old stomping ground. She is hugely important to what we do and she is a credit to our captaincy."

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Nikita Parris may have come into this game with a point to prove to her former employers, who she had failed to establish herself as a regular starter with during two years at the club.

Players often do not celebrate scoring against a former club, but there was something cathartic about Parris pumping her fists and roaring in delight after drawing her side level with a poacher’s finish.

Parris hasn’t been included in an England squad since November 2022, but in the build-up to Saturday's match, Parris, who has 71 England caps, said she wants to give Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman a selection "headache" before the European Championship next summer.

With two goals and an assist in the WSL this season and Brighton starting strongly, she might be about to do just that.

Manchester United boss Skinner predicted a close game on the south coast, but he might be disappointed his side didn't capitalise on their early dominance.

That said, United remain unbeaten after four games and could spend the international break top of the table.

Scoring eight goals and going 322 minutes without conceding is impressive, even if they are yet to face any of last season's top-four finishers.

Their first major test of the season will come at home to Arsenal on 3 November, a side out to prove themselves following their stumbling start and resignation of manager Jonas Eidevall.

Full match report here.

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Manchester United boss Marc Skinner has compared Elisabeth Terland to 'The Terminator' as she prepares to face former club Brighton on Saturday.

Forward Terland joined United in July and scored her first goals for hew new club on Sunday, netting twice in the 3-0 win over Tottenham.

Skinner likes what he has seen from the Norway international so far and likened her to Arnold Schwarzenegger's famous film character.

"If you look at the way the Terminator would see in the movie, and it is like you're narrowing down the angle - that's how I see Lizzie's brain working because she's so ruthless in those moments," he said.

"It was her attitude when I spoke to her, it was all about she wants to win. She wants to push herself. She's hungry for success. Not only as a person but, obviously, as a team."

Image source, PA Media

Liverpool boss Matt Beard said it was "disappointing" to see Jonas Eidevall resign from Arsenal, but that manager exits are becoming "part and parcel" of the women's game.

Eidevall's resignation was announced on Tuesday following Arsenal's winless run in their opening four Women's Super League games of the 2024-25 season.

"It is always disappointing to see a fellow manager lose their job, even though it was the Jonas’ decision," Beard said.

"I took that decision when I was at West Ham. You feel you've done as much as you can, but he’s going to be a miss.

"He was a character on the touchline, that's for sure. He's a lovely person."

Beard said that the investment that top clubs are making adds to the pressure on managers.

"Arsenal are one of the biggest clubs in our country and I think if you look at the money that they've spent and the move to the Emirates, that's going to put pressure on you," he said.

"I think every single football club now with the investment - the owners and the board members are going to be obviously wanting to see results on their investment.

"It's going to end up becoming pretty much like what you see in the men's game."

Liverpool boss Matt Beard has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Crystal Palace (kick-off 14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Sophie Roman Haug is unavailable and will undergo a scan on her ankle injury

• Sunday might be "too soon" for Grace Fisk to return, but Ceri Holland is available.

• Beard said Jonas Eidevall will be a "big miss" in the league following his resignation as Arsenal boss.

• He said Liverpool's defensive effort in their 2-1 defeat by Manchester City last week was "outstanding".

• Beard is "not worried" about Liverpool's "indifferent" start to the season.

• He called Marie Hobinger "such a gifted player", adding that she has been a "real creative spark this week".

• The Liverpool boss has been "impressed" with how Crystal Palace have adapted to the WSL this season.

• He said the international break comes at a "good time" for Liverpool and will allow them to get players back fit.

Arsenal interim boss Renee Slegers 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 her news conference:

• There is no update on finding Jonas Eidevall's replacement and Slegers doesn't know if she will still be in interim charge after the international break.

• "I'm interim coach so that is where my focus is now. About the future, I have no idea," she said.

• She added that a applying for the job on a permanent basis is "not on my mind at all".

• On how the players have reacted to Eidevall's departure, she said: "In general big changes always impact people. The big change that happened last week impacted the players. They went into a self-reflection moment and that is what they showed on the pitch on Wednesday."

• Lotte Wubben-Moy trained on Friday and will be assessed before Sunday, otherwise Slegers has the same squad available.

• On Lina Hurtig's return on Wednesday, she said: "You see how much the other players care and how much the staff care. It was very much needed for Lina and for the togetherness of everyone. It was a beautiful moment."

• Sleger praised Caitlin Foord's start to the season and said: "She is one of the players in really good form and scored important goals in important games."

Aston Villa boss Robert de Pauw has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Manchester City (kick-off 12:15 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Adriana Leon is unavailable to face City due to "personal circumstances".

• Midfielder Lucy Staniforth will be out for "three to four weeks" after suffering a knock on her knee in training.

• On Lucy Parker's England call-up, De Pauw described her as "very committed and very focused", adding: "I hope she does well, because she deserves it."

• He said Manchester City are "offensively, maybe the strongest team in the league".

• However, the Villa boss believes his side can take confidence from their pre-season win over City.

• De Pauw said he and his players are getting "impatient" because "we just want it in and I think we deserve more based on the way we play in the last four games".

• "Points wise, we're not where we are where we want to be," he added.

Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Aston Villa (kick-off 12:15 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On Vivianne Miedema's fitness, Taylor said: "We don't think it's an issue that's going to keep her out for her too long".

• Taylor said Wednesday's 3-2 win over St Polten in the Women's Champions League showed the "character" of the team.

• He said it's been a "good start" to the season with six straight wins despite thinking that City "couldn't have had much more of a difficult start".

• "The players have fire in their bellies and intensity in their manner," Taylor said when asked if he could see a difference from last season within his team.

• Aston Villa have "quality in the top end of the pitch" and "good options in back line".

• He said Villa forward Rachel Daly is "always really difficult to play against".

• Taylor said there is "never a good time" for international breaks but that he said the removal of the September international window was a "big improvement".

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

West Ham boss Rehanne Skinner has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Arsenal (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from her news conference:

• There are no fresh injury concerns for West Ham but Kristie Mewis remains absent.

• Skinner says the noise around Arsenal following manager Jonas Eidevall's resignation will not impact West Ham.

• "Players react in different ways when there is change so I don't think it puts us in a better or worse position", she adds.

• Reflecting on last season's victory over Arsenal, Skinner says it was a "historic" moment for the club but they need to "make life tough for them again" this time around.

• Skinner says it is "another opportunity" for West Ham to get points after picking up two draws in their four matches so far this season.

• On Eidevall's departure, Skinner says it was obviously a decision that was "not taken lightly".

• Skinner says West Ham "can't get too caught up" in what has happened at Arsenal.

• She adds: "When we get the pieces of the jigsaw right, we will compete with any team in this league".

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Tottenham boss Robert Vilahamn has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Chelsea (kick-off 18:45 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Amanda Nilden is back in training and is likely to be in contention to face Chelsea following a final assessment on her fitness.

• Hayley Raso is still out this weekend with a minor injury but Ella Morris is expected to return.

• Maite Oroz will be absent for "around six to eight weeks", says Vilahamn, while Shuang Wang and Amy James-Turner are still absent.

• Vilahamn says Sonia Bompastor has "an impressive CV" as manager and has "adapted to the WSL in a very good way".

• He adds: "She knows how to win games because they are not looking brilliant but they are finding ways to win. She is a great coach and they have a great team so it will be tough."

• Following last weekend's 3-0 defeat by Vilahamn, he says "you can feel sorry for yourself and take action" and the players "want to take the fight".

• He says it is a "tough schedule" for Tottenham at the start of the season but a few bad results will not change his assessment on the progress they have made since his arrival last year.

Leicester City boss Amandine Miquel has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Everton (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from her news conference:

• She said there were some "bruises" from a physical game against Aston Villa last weekend, but that there are no new injury concerns.

• Miquel does not know how long forward Jutta Rantala will be out for, but "it is looking more like mid-long than short".

• On Leicester’s lack of goals this season, she said: "It’s strange because I felt that in the pre-season, we did have a good offensive connection between our players. So it's just finding that back."

• She hopes Leicester can score their second WSL goal of the season so that her players can "relax and and helps us go forward".

• Having so many players on international duty next week "shows the quality of the of the team and the quality that we bring into this club."

• "They need to stick with me, please don't give up," Miquel said when asked what her message to Leicester fans would be.

• She said it will be a "tight game" against Everton, who are also "having a slow start" to the season.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool forward Olivia Smith is set to be available for this weekend's Women's Super League game against Crystal Palace despite picking up an injury at Anfield.

Club record signing Smith scored Liverpool's opening goal in their 2-1 defeat by Manchester City on Sunday but was forced off at half-time with a back issue.

However, manager Matt Beard says she trained "partly" on Wednesday and will be in contention for Sunday's clash with Palace.

"Smithy is fine now. She got a whack on the back in the box and then when she got caught after her strike for the goal it just jarred her back again," said Beard.

"She was uncomfortable at a point to run so we needed to see the bigger picture and it was just one of those unfortunate things.

"She trained partly on Wednesday and will be in full training tomorrow [Friday] and is available for Sunday."

Elsewhere, midfielder Ceri Holland and defender Grace Fisk are close to a return and will be assessed.

"Holland will be back training with the group on Friday and Fisky is also back in training, but we will play it by ear with her," added Beard.

Crystal Palace boss Laura Kaminski has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Liverpool (kick-off 14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from her news conference:

• There have been "a couple of minor setbacks this week" with injuries and fitness, but the players with long-term injuries are progressing well.

• Kaminski was "really proud" of her team's performance against Brighton, but they were disappointed by the 1-0 defeat.

• She said the club are in a "transition year" and that the jump up to the WSL has been "extremely difficult in terms of a playing sense, but also a training sense".

• She expects a "really tough" game against Liverpool, adding: "We know that they put their bodies on the line, and they're an aggressive side so we're aware of that."

• Kaminski views next week's international break as "an opportunity to reflect" on the season so far.

• She believes Palace are "starting to find our own identity as a team" in the WSL.