Women's Super League

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It was a clean sweep for Arsenal in the Women's Super League's awards for February, with Mariona Caldentey being voted player of the month and boss Renee Slegers taking the manager of the month award.

The Gunners won both of their WSL games this month, beating Manchester City 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller before thrashing north London rivals Tottenham 5-0 at Emirates Stadium.

Caldentey scored in both fixtures, as well as providing an assist against City. She beat Mary Fowler, Kelly Gago, Toni Payne, Elisabeth Terland and teammate Frida Maanum to take the award.

Slegers was voted above Sonia Bompastor and Marc Skinner.

Adam Millington
BBC Sport journalist

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Brighton boss Dario Vidosic says his side still have "belief" and want to use Sunday's game against Women's Super League leaders Chelsea (15:00 GMT kick-off) to show their quality.

The Seagulls are fifth in the division but have not won in their past six league games, while Chelsea are unbeaten.

"It's still a process," he said in his pre-match news conference. "We're still learning a lot, working on new things, new details.

"If it was perfect, we would probably be in a title race with Chelsea but that's just how it goes. We're still in a great position."

Vidosic wants his side to be persistent with his brand of football and not let standards slip against difficult opponents.

He added: "I don't really want to just sit back and hope. We want to go there, we want to try to play our football. It's hard to sometimes build something when if Chelsea come we go 'we're going to play a different style of football.'"

Here are more key lines from his news conference:

• Jorelyn Carabali will be absent "for a while" after getting injured on international duty with Colombia, but her injury is not as serious as first feared.

• It was a "proud moment" to see Nikita Parris play for England against Spain and he hopes she can push herself to be in contention for the Euros squad.

• Fran Kirby, who used to play for Chelsea, will be "massive" on Sunday with the qualities and knowledge she brings to his side.

• The international break was a "good opportunity" to train closely with the remaining players and involve the academy.

Adam Millington
BBC Sport journalist

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Brighton's Fran Kirby says she is "really excited" to play against her former club when her side take on Chelsea in the Women's Super League on Sunday (15:00 GMT).

The 31-year-old won eight league titles in a nine-year stint with Chelsea and moved to Brighton after her contract expired in the summer.

Kirby made an 18-minute cameo from the bench in Brighton's previous match after recovering from a calf injury which had kept her out since November and is looking forward to this weekend's game.

"Ultimately they are the best team in the league," she said. "For me, I had the luxury of training with them last year and seasons before. I know what they're all about.

"I'm always wanting to put myself against the best and I'm really excited for the game."

With leaders Chelsea being the only team in the division who are still unbeaten, Kirby said Brighton's players will need to be at their best and "do a little more".

She added: "They've gone unbeaten and there's a reason for that. They get injuries and they can go and buy one of the world's most expensive defenders. They'll make these decisions, spend the money they have to spend.

"We'll go in with belief. The last game against Chelsea was probably one of the best performances of the season. Hopefully we can learn from that game. It's going to be a case of every player doing their job - and a half."

Adam Millington
BBC Sport journalist

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Manager Sonia Bompastor says she is expecting a "tough" game against Brighton in the Women's Super League on Sunday (kick-off 15:00 GMT) as "every team wants to beat" Chelsea.

The Blues are currently seven points clear at the top of the table and are still unbeaten in the league after 14 games, having only drawn once.

Chelsea won 4-2 in the reverse fixture in December, taking an early 2-0 lead and preventing a Brighton fightback.

Bompastor said: "They have had two weeks to prepare for the game, I think if you reflect on the game we played against them it was a difficult game for us.

"They have this philosophy to play and put trouble to the opposition. They have a lot of quality in the squad with some individuals and collectively so we are expecting a tough game."

Here are more key lines from Bompastor's news conference before Sunday's match:

• World record signing Naomi Girma should be in the squad, it is too early for striker Sam Kerr to return and Bompastor was not yet sure whether Erin Cuthbert would feature.

• It is a "quick turnaround" after the international break for Chelsea, with three players coming from the SheBelieves Cup only arriving back with the club on Friday.

• Bompastor said it is "always good" for the league to have a system which includes relegation. There have been reports the WSL is considering scrapping it., external

• She was "really surprised" in a "positive way" to be named manager of the year at the London Football Awards.

Ellie Thomason
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

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There is "no ceiling" for Everton forward Kelly Gago, according to boss Brian Sorensen.

The 26-year-old France international has scored three goals in six games since joining for an undisclosed fee from Nantes in December.

She was in the France squad for their Nations League games against Norway and Iceland and while she did not get any minutes, Sorensen believes those will come.

"With Kelly it is not long ago that she played Serie B and was not on anyone's radar," he said. "Now she is probably on a lot of radars in terms of her performances here for us.

"There is still a lot of learning she needs to do and adapt to different situations. We have patience with her but we are already seeing early on that she can score goals and she is a threat.

"There is no ceiling for her in terms of improvement in the near future. We will work hard with her to make sure we get her even better. She is already in the France squad and next time [the goal] is to try and get playing time and showcase yourself."

Here are more lines from Sorensen's news conference before Sunday's game against Aston Villa (kick-off 14:00 GMT)

• He is taking confidence from the narrow 2-1 defeat by Chelsea before the international break: "It brings confidence that we matched the best team in Europe at the minute, we matched them all the way."

• He said the international break came at an unfortunate time and he wants to gather momentum: "For my team to be better, we just need games. We didn't have a pre-season with six new players. You have to build while you are flying."

• Sorensen expects a tough test against an Aston Villa side with a point to prove after their 3-0 defeat last time out: "They have something to prove after their last result and will be doing everything in their power against us."

• On offering his Goodison Park season tickets to a fan with terminal bone cancer, Sorensen said: "I was a couple of minutes late, there was someone else who already offered his ticket. I just saw it and can't go to that game because we have training that day. I was just trying to be kind."

Ellie Thomason
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

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Manchester United boss Marc Skinner said goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce can become the best goalkeeper in the world.

United have conceded fewer goals than any other Women's Super League side and Leicester manager Amandine Miquel, who worked with the 28-year-old at French side Reims, said Tullis-Joyce is the best keeper in the division.

"I have been fortunate enough in my time to work with some incredible goalkeepers," Skinner added. "For me, she has an agility and an athleticism that I don't think many can match.

"She comes up big in the moments we need her, she is dominant, she gives confidence to all of the defenders behind her and more importantly she is a student of the game. She is constantly trying to get better and she has a fantastic attitude.

"I'm incredibly proud of her because she has come through some challenging times to get to where she is. She is an incredible goalkeeper and somebody who I think can be the world's very best."

Here is more from Skinner before Sunday's game, which you can watch live on BBC iPlayer.

• On Grace Clinton being an option for the number eight role after her peformance with England: "Grace is for sure growing in the eight role. She still wants to develop box-to-box because she has all those qualities to give. It's about trying to put her in the team in the best space to give us the best chance of winning because she is a fantastic player."

• Skinner feels the reverse 2-0 win over Leicester in November was "the turning point" for United's season "when we were like 'this is who we want to be again'."

• On Elisabeth Terland's growth at United, Skinner said: "Her attitude has stayed the same, nothing has really changed. She is such a young, tender age, there is so much growth still, I wouldn't be surprised to see a big evolution in Liz in the next few years too."

• With a two day turnaround for every team Skinner expects "you might see a bit of rustiness from most teams" and added "that is our challenge, we have to find a way to win this game even if we aren't at our very best".

• Players return from international duty later on Friday and will be assessed. Skinner confirmed Lisa Naalsund is "not quite there" and is unavailable.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

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Manchester United's Phallon Tullis-Joyce has been called the best goalkeeper in the Women's Super League by Leicester manager Amandine Miquel.

Second-placed United have conceded only six goals in 14 matches, the best defensive record in the WSL, with 28-year-old American Tullis-Joyce an ever-present.

Tullis-Joyce played under Miquel at French side Reims and the pair will be reunited on Sunday as United host the Foxes at Leigh Sports Village.

"United have a great goalkeeper," said Miquel in her news conference on Thursday. "It's a goalkeeper I know very well, because she was my goalkeeper for three seasons in France.

"Congratulations to her, I think she is the best goalkeeper in this league and she is proving it. We will work on her weaknesses because we know her well.

"We know we're able to score against all the teams, we have done it against Chelsea, scored against Manchester City in the cup and we're getting better offensively. We know our threats can come from any player and we will do our best to cause them trouble when we attack."

Here are more key lines from Miquel's news conference before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Manchester United (kick-off 12:30 GMT).

• Miquel's side won 3-0 at home to Aston Villa in their last match, to move up to 10th, six points clear of bottom side Crystal Palace. "I've had that confidence [of staying up] since day one, even when we struggled," said Miquel. "A lot of people seemed to panic around us, but I felt no panicking. We had challenges for many different reasons and that's why we struggled, now things are looking better for us. I'm quite confident if we continue in this rhythm we should be able to stay in the league."

• Miquel felt Liverpool's sacking of manager Matt Beard on Thursday showed how difficult the WSL was. "It is a hard league and ruthless league towards managers and also players," added Miquel. "It is one of the best leagues and where everyone wants to be now."

The Women's Super League resumes on Sunday 2 March, after the international break, for the 15th round of fixtures. Chelsea still lead the way, seven points ahead of Manchester United, with Crystal Palace propping up the table on six points.

Here are the best of the stats ahead of this weekend:

• Manchester United v Leicester: United haven't dropped a point in their last six WSL matches, including four in 2025, making it their best ever winning start to a calendar year in the top flight.

• Aston Villa v Everton: The Toffees have failed to win any of their last seven away games in the league (D2, L5).

• Crystal Palace v Liverpool: The Eagles are still searching for their first home win in the WSL, losing five of their six games with their only point coming in a draw against Everton in November.

• Tottenham v Manchester City: The visitors are aiming to win back-to-back WSL games for the first time since November.

• Brighton v Chelsea: The Blues are unbeaten away in the previous six WSL meetings with the Seagulls, conceding only one goal to them in September 2019.

• Arsenal v West Ham: Renee Slegers' side have won 10 of the 12 WSL battles between the two sides, while the Hammers currently holding the joint-longest winless streak away from home in the WSL.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

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Brighton midfielder Maisie Symonds said there was a "complete shift" in mentality at the club this season after signing players who knew what it took to win.

Among those to join in the summer was England internationals Fran Kirby and Nikita Parris, who were part of the squad that won Euro 2022.

Symonds also named Michelle Agyemang, her England under-23s team-mate who joined on loan from Arsenal, as a strong aquisition.

"In the last few years, we have been really building. This year, when our coach Dario Vidosic came in and big players, it showed we were attracting top [talent]," said Symonds.

"They have that win-at-all-costs mentality. You can feel it in our training sessions and in matches.

"It was a complete shift this season, at the beginning, that you could feel straight away."

Brighton have had a strong season overall, sitting fifth in the Women's Super League table - but they have dipped in form.

They have not won in their last five league matches and were knocked out of the Women's FA Cup this month.

"We've had a really tough period since Christmas. We've been wanting to pick up momentum but things have fallen against us," added Symonds, who is currently on international duty with England's under-23s, preparing to face France on Tuesday.

"We're still in a great position and we want to keep looking up. We need to find the mojo we had at the start of the season again."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

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Manchester City defender Naomi Layzell was on course for the perfect evening when she scored a goal and assisted another on her Women's Champions League debut, helping her side stun defending champions Barcelona.

But 20-year-old Layzell, who had not scored a goal in her career prior to that night in October, was forced off with an injury right at the end of the match.

She is back fit again now and on international duty with the England Under-23s team for Tuesday's game against France, hoping to regain the form she had shown prior to her injury.

"Straight afterwards, I didn't know what the injury was and I was so happy with the performance," said Layzell.

"But when I had a few setbacks with my injury afterwards it was tough to go through that. I expected to come back a lot earlier and it just kept being put back.

"That was really frustrating. You can never really predict when injuries will come. I was hoping to build some momentum.

"I've been fortunate with injuries mainly in my career. It's the first injury that's been more difficult in that sense. I had moved clubs so it was a lot to tackle at once."

Manchester City's Women's Super League game against Chelsea will be broadcast live on BBC One and iPlayer.

WSL leaders Chelsea got the better of Gareth Taylor's side in November's reverse meeting, winning 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.

The match on 23 March is the second of four matches inside 12 days that the two sides will meet, with the League Cup final on 15 March and Champions League quarter-finals scheduled for 23 and 27 March.

City are currently fourth in the WSL, 12 points behind Sonia Bompastor's side.

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Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw performing the Black Power salute was an "incredibly powerful image" in response to the racist abuse she suffered, says her former City team-mate Ellen White.

Shaw returned to City's starting line-up on Sunday for the first time since withdrawing from the League Cup semi-final against Arsenal earlier this month after receiving abuse online.

After scoring the first of her two goals against Liverpool, she stood with her right fist raised and her head bowed.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly podcast, White said: "Taking herself away from the game must have been a horrible moment and feeling but obviously she needed that time.

"And then to come back and perform and do the thing that she loves – phenomenal finishes by the way - shows the type of person she is, the type of player she is. I've just got real love for her to be honest.

"It's real strength of character – to have to go through something like that and then go back on the football field, which is something that you love and just show everyone I'm here to stay - just an incredible person."

Former Arsenal defender Jen Beattie added: "We all pride ourselves in the women's game about how progressive it is and then things like this [abuse] happen and you realise 'no, we're nowhere near as far forward as we think we can be and we should be'."

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

Ellen White, Jen Beattie and Ben Haines reflect on the last weekend of the WSL before the international break.

White gives an insight into what makes Bunny Shaw such a prolific striker and what a huge player she is for Manchester City.

It was a massive weekend for Arsenal in the North London derby, while the team also discuss England with Chloe Kelly being called into the squad to replace injured Beth Mead.

Listen here.

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Arsenal striker Alessia Russo "is like a new signing" for the club, according to former Gunners defender Gilly Flaherty.

The England international has scored eight goals in 10 Women's Super League games since Renee Slegers took charge in October, finding the net again in the 5-0 win over Tottenham on Sunday.

Under former manager Jonas Eidevall she failed to score in the opening four league matches this season.

"She is just looking so much more confident," Flaherty told the BBC's Women's Football Show.

"I think it's important for Arsenal that they keep her central because she's such a livewire in there. She's so dangerous with her head, with either feet.

"She has got the bit between her teeth and she is full of confidence."

Russo, who will join up with the Lionesses this week for games against Portugal and Spain, told BBC Sport she was enjoying her football under the Dutchwoman.

"There's a lot of work that we're doing in the background but it's really fun, as forwards we're getting lots of finishing [practice], so it's nice to see it come to fruition."

For more analysis and highlights from all six of Sunday's WSL games, watch the Women's Football Show.