Slegers proves he is ready for a permanent role at Arsenal
All the noise from the Arsenal camp is positive, and recent results back that up. Renee 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 Alessia Russo. The striker has now scored in five consecutive WSL appearances.
It makes you wonder why club decision-makers are still hesitant about the head coach vacancy – because a ready-made replacement is right under their noses.Laura Hunter
Man City need their injured back and fast
Gareth Taylor cited his side's missing stars as the reason for their shock 2-1 defeat at Everton and the Man City boss will be desperate to get them fit again if they are to have any chance of beating WSL champions Chelsea at the top to take the rankings. ranking.
City had expected to beat an Everton team that had won just once in the league before kick-off and had never beaten their opponents in the WSL, but City were without the injured top scorer Alex Greenwood. Khadija Shaw, Lauren Hemp and Vivianne Miedema.
“Any team would miss Viv [Miedema]Alex [Greenwood]Bunny Shaw, it's tough for us no doubt, I'm sure they have a lot to say but it is what it is,” Taylor said after the game and while he's right the first three are perhaps their most influential players produced the visitors still a flat display which may worry him more.
That's why, after they face an important Champions League match at Barcelona on Wednesday, Taylor will no doubt be happy with the mid-season winter break so he can get back some of his running wounds, while Shaw will hope to be available again as they return to the competition. action in the Manchester derby at the Etihad on January 19. Rich Morgan
Man Utd remain a work in progress but show promise
Marc Skinner has taken his share of the stick this calendar year. Man Utd fans have called for his sacking several times and have been highly critical of the performances and results.
Most of that is valid – even if there are some extenuating circumstances – but this season they have dealt with criticism by providing some consistency on the pitch.
Man Utd are not perfect, nor are their results flawless, but they have played with absent maturity for most of last season's disappointing campaign.
As Skinner rightly points out, his role is to produce a winning team that plays attractive football. The latter needs more refinement, but Man Utd go into the winter break 21 points with Arsenal, having lost just once in 10 games – to Chelsea, and everyone loses to Chelsea.
They have won well (beating Liverpool 4-0 last weekend) and won ugly, beating Crystal Palace 1-0 this week. In the end they all count the same.
Progress is being made slowly but surely, and that deserves recognition.Laura Hunter
What happened to Chelsea?
Until Saturday, Chelsea seemed unstoppable: thirteen wins, countless goals, top of the table in both the WSL and the Champions League.
But the trip to the King Power was a reminder that, despite the results, the WSL remains fiercely contested and no team is infallible.
Chelsea had no attacking ideas for much of the match. Yes, there was plenty of possession and shots – no less than 28 – but many of them came later. They also failed to make real use of their twenty corners and were largely ineffective from set pieces.
Five of their six shots on target came in the final 15 minutes, and they simply looked unable to break through the hugely impressive Leicester defence.
They frustrated Chelsea at every turn, blocking and processing shots with confidence, coming through to get the ball and effectively marking the dangerous players.
Half-time substitute Catarina Macario started well but was quickly targeted. Mayra Ramirez and Maika Hamao – who were taken off the field at the break – were unable to make an impact.
Each of the back four topped a defensive statistical category for every player on the pitch: Sophie Howard for clearances (13), while Ale had both an assist and the most tackles (9). Julie Thibaud won the most tackles (4) and Sari Kees combined for the most interceptions (4).
Chelsea also took aim at their own back, with their defense in front of Goodwin's goal. The Leicester striker should not have been open to picking her spot with the Blues down the right.
Ultimately, a team like Chelsea should be experienced and smart enough to find the solutions, but that didn't quite work out this time.
There might be an argument that some fatigue is on the way heading into the winter break, with the continued injuries for the likes of Lauren James and Sam Kerr.
Both are catalysts for Chelsea's attacking play and provide powerful outlets, and despite seven substitutions from the midweek match against Twente, there seemed to be a general sense of lethargy.
With one match to go against Real Madrid on Tuesday, Bompastor will be hoping to right some wrongs and end on a high. Chelsea are still undefeated, but the result raised questions. Charlotte Marsh
Liverpool pays for 'imbalanced selection'
Liverpool surprised many when they finished fourth in the WSL last season, six points ahead of Manchester United, leading to genuine hopes of something similar this season – but after Sunday's home defeat to Arsenal, Matt Beard's side now have the same number of league games lost this season as well as last season.
The home side had just one shot on target all match and an xG of 0.24 as they went into the mid-season break languishing in eighth place, only above city rivals Everton on goal difference and just four points above bottom of the table. Crystal Palace.
And while relegation is out of the question, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk believes Liverpool will struggle to match last season's performances as they don't have the same strength in depth as the top four.
“Look at the composition of Liverpool's squad,” said the former Liverpool striker. “There are a lot of young players, there are quite a few older players too, maybe at the end of their careers and not too many in between.
“First of all, the balance of that team was not good. I am not worried about their relegation, but after a season in which they did relatively well and achieved relatively well, that is the argument.
“But can you add something to it? Not just one player [Olivia Smith] – a very good player – but can you add depth? And they didn't do that well. The recruitment hasn't been good for me.” Rich Morgan
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