Arsenal kept the pressure on the Women's Super League's top two – Chelsea and Manchester City – with an important 1-0 win over Liverpool ahead of the winter break.
The Gunners are within a point of second-placed Manchester City, who lost to Everton earlier in the day, but are still seven points behind leaders Chelsea as Renee Slegers' unbeaten run as interim boss extends up to ten games.
Alessia Russo scored the only goal of the match through a clever corner routine – to mirror their male counterparts' success from set-pieces – when Katie McCabe's front post throw was poorly cleared by Gemma Bonner, allowing Russo to tap home.
Injury-hit Liverpool had their chances but were equally let off the hook by Arsenal when Mariona Caldentey squandered her chance from the penalty spot and Frida Maanum fired a good second-half opening effort over the bar.
Arsenal were far from their best – Slegers acknowledged as much after the match – but did enough to beat a fragile Liverpool team after a run of four consecutive defeats as injuries continued to blight their season.
Russo: Slegers gives me self-confidence
Arsenal striker Alessia Russo:
“Set plays are an important part of football, you can win and lose games with them, so I'm very happy to score and get three points.
“I feel good, I play my best when I'm happy. We're finding good connections on the pitch and Liverpool away is a tough game, so the three points are the most important.”
“[Renee Slegers] was great and gave me confidence. We know how good we are as a team and we keep our heads down. We are happy as a team, it is a club decision [whether Slegers makes her interim role permanent]but she has gone the extra mile and we are really enjoying it.”
Slegers: We played into Liverpool's hands
Arsenal interim head coach Renee Slegers:
“This is not one of our best performances. I think Liverpool are getting the game where they want it, a lot of set pieces, it's sloppy, it's duels. I think we gave them the game they wanted.
“I will have to judge the game, there is so much emotion from the end, but we have to be more clinical even though we did well.”
Analysis: Slegers appears to be prepared for a permanent role
All the noise from the Arsenal camp is positive, and recent results back that up. Slegers has done a fantastic job since taking over from Jonas Eidevall in October. The smiles are back on the faces and the football is shining just as much.
Arsenal's squad is packed with quality, so it's no surprise they are unbeaten in 10 competitions in all competitions, but the real revival has been in the performances.
Slegers told Sky Sports this week that she does not view her role as temporary and, evidence shows, that includes her players. The fluidity has returned, the goals are flowing and the football is entertaining – everything Arsenal are known for.
Slegers' side have even taken a leaf out of Mikel Arteta's playbook and become a wizard at set pieces, once again scoring from a corner, predictably through Russo. The striker has now scored in five consecutive WSL appearances.
One wonders why club decision-makers are still hesitant about the vacancy for a head coach, because a ready-made replacement is right under their noses.
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