Summary

  • Reigning champions Chelsea win season opener against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge

  • Blues debutant Fishel headed in and James added second; Thomas pulled goal back after Musovic save

  • Arsenal suffer shock defeat against Liverpool in front of record WSL crowd

  • Wins for title challengers Man Utd and Man City

  • Brighton hold on to beat Everton and Leicester see off newly-promoted Bristol City

  1. KICK-OFFpublished at 45 mins

    Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham

    We are back playing again for the second half. No changes made.

  2. 'We need to be better'published at 18:34 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    FT: Arsenal 0-1 Liverpool

    Arsenal

    Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall: "We had our 10th training session in the last four months with all players available on Saturday.

    "That's not great, but it's where we're at. We need to invest time in relationships and be better than we were today.

    "But we can't use that as an excuse. It's really disappointing to lose a game, especially at home and with 54,000 fans through the turnstiles."

  3. 'We weren't lucky'published at 18:32 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    FT: Arsenal 0-1 Liverpool

    Liverpool

    Liverpool celebrating a WSL winImage source, Getty Images

    Liverpool manager Matt Beard: "It's been a tough and challenging week with a great end to it. Defensively, we were outstanding. We weren't lucky - we put our bodies on the line. [Rachael] Lawsy was outstanding.

    "Even when Arsenal are playing with a back four, they play with three. We planned for that and forced them wide, as well as into turnovers every now and then.

    "We restricted them to shots from distance and kept their crosses out. We started slowly and weren't getting into positions we should have. If you look at the way the goal came, it's because we broke their press - that takes six or seven players out of the game. I was pleased with how it worked, especially at the start of the second half.

    "We had a nightmare second half of the season last time with injuries. We've done a lot of work on distances and defending crosses, because that's where a lot of the goals come from in the WSL.

    "We've done a lot of work on how to stop conceding goals and how to score them. We want to make sure that we give ourselves the best possible chance of winning games."

  4. Drought goes on for Gunnerspublished at 18:28 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    FT: Arsenal 0-1 Liverpool

    Ben Miller
    BBC Sport at Emirates Stadium

    Arsenal after playing Liverpool in the WSLImage source, Getty Images

    Arsenal have lost and failed to score in their last three WSL games - their longest such run in each respect since at least 2011-2012.

    Lots of fans have stayed behind to applaud the team off and ask for autographs, but their heroes will have plenty to ponder in training next week.

  5. 'Emma Hayes is going for the quadruple'published at 18:26 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    HT: Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham

    Gilly Flaherty
    Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Emma Hayes high fives young fans as she walks into the stadium from the bus.Image source, Getty Images

    Arsenal, Man City, Man United and even Aston Villa are going to want Chelsea to stay in the Champions League for as long as possible.

    The moment they got knocked out by Barcelona last year and their full focus switched to the league, they just turned thingsup a gear. They had such a strong end to the season.

    For Emma Hayes she will be going for the quadruple, one million percent.

    Of course the Champions League is the one that has always alluded her and Chelsea.

    Their squad and recruitment is made every year to make it big enough and strong enough to compete on all fronts, they have players that can walk into any other team in the league.

  6. 'Chelsea punished Spurs when it mattered'published at 18:24 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    HT: Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham

    Helen Ward
    Former Chelsea striker on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    Tottenham have been well in this game, Chelsea know they are in for a battle this evening.

    There have been one or two moments where they have lacked concentration and Chelsea have punished them.

    That has been the key difference this evening, Chelsea not playing as well as they'd like, a bit slow in possession, but they had the bit of quality to get the goal they needed.

  7. HALF-TIMEpublished at 18:22 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham

    Very fun half of football.

    Spurs have had some brilliant build-up play bit haven't found the key pass enough.

    Chelsea have been very good since taking the lead.

    Chelsea players gather together to celebrate the opening goal.Image source, Getty Images
  8. 'Credit to Musovic, she closed the goal quickly'published at 18:20 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham

    Helen Ward
    Former Chelsea striker on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    You have to give Musovic a massive amount of credit there, she made herself so big it was hard for Thomas to score.

    Maybe she could have lifted the attempt but the goal closed up so quickly.

  9. GREAT SAVE!published at 18:20 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham

    Musovic denies Thomas!

    That is exactly what Spurs were threatening to do at 0-0. Spence drives into space to feed the striker, but she can't finish. Bright clears the rebound off the line.

    Thomas heads the ball towards goal as Bright gets set to clear danger.Image source, Getty Images
  10. INJURY TIMEpublished at 18:17 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham

    Four minutes added.

  11. Postpublished at 18:16 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham

    Martha Thomas goes down in the area under a challenge from Millie Bright.

    Ref says no.

  12. Postpublished at 18:11 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham

    Guro Reiten is having a growing influence, as is Lauren James.

    They link up and James fires just wide from the angle on the edge of the box. She should test Spencer from there to be honest.

  13. Postpublished at 18:10 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham

    Reiten's delivery is dangerous, but eventually finds Becky Spencer's arms.

    Spurs have dropped off since the goal as Chelsea have improved. Maybe they need the break. Six minutes plus stoppages to go.

  14. Postpublished at 18:09 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham

    Drew Spence fouls Lauren James.

    She's on a yellow, remember.

    Lauren James tries to dribble past Drew Spence.Image source, Getty Images
  15. Postpublished at 18:08 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham

    Quick corner by Reiten and James sees the ball find Maren Mjelde in space on the edge of the box.

    Her shot is saved but Spurs will wonder why nobody closed the corner down.

  16. 'Spurs can't dwell on that setback'published at 18:05 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham

    Helen Ward
    Former Chelsea striker on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    It is important that Tottenham don't sink too much after conceding that.

    Yes it is disappointing to concede, arguably against the run of play, but it only takes a moment of quality from Chelsea to find yourself behind.

    They have done well to contain Chelsea so far but it is the quality Chelsea have that has made the difference.

    They need to keep themselves in the game and not dwell on that setback too much.

  17. Postpublished at 18:04 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham

    In 43 games where Chelsea have scored the first goal, 41 have ended in victory.

    That is ominous, but Spurs have been good overall so far.

  18. YELLOW CARDpublished at 18:03 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham

    Drew Spence has been booked for a challenge on Jess Carter.

  19. 'Taken fantastically well by Fishel'published at 18:02 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham

    Helen Ward
    Former Chelsea striker on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    Fishel has taken this fantastically well.

    A lovely chip from Charles into the middle of the box, and Fishel rose the highest to get on the end of it and nod it into the back of the net.

    That will do her the world of good. Coming in to fill the boots of Sam Kerr is not easy, and as a forward goals are what you are judged on, so it will settle her.

    On the scoresheet 30 minutes into her debut, she will be very happy with that.

    Fishel runs to celebrate with the assist provider Charles in the corner.Image source, Getty Images
  20. goal

    GOAL - Chelsea 1-0 Tottenhampublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 1 October 2023

    Mia Fishel (27 mins)

    Breakthrough!

    Sam Kerr who? Mia Fishel with a superb directed header past Spencer.

    Niamh Charles' touch and cross from the left, though. Oooft.

    Pinpoint.

    Fishel leaps into the air to head the ball towards goal.Image source, Getty Images