WSL talking points: Liverpool finally get first win but are Chelsea out of title race? | OneFootball

Too little, too late for Arsenal?

The Arsenal head coach, Renée Slegers, was effusive in her praise of her players’ ability to make things happen when their backs are firmly against the wall. After a dominant 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge she was asked about the Gunners’ ability to defy the odds and win against a major rival despite several key squad members being absent through injury and suspension. “When the moment is there for this team, when it really, really, really has to happen, they do it every single time, and so there’s a lot of strength in this team in those moments,” she said. That ability is great, but also a little damning. Five draws this season have already done the damage of practically ruling Arsenal out of the title race, one point separating them from Saturday’s opponents but 10 between them and the league leaders, Manchester City. It is not enough to find the fire, clarity and focus you need when up against the wall, Arsenal need to find it far sooner if they are to properly challenge for a title they’ve not won in seven years. Suzanne Wrack

Are Manchester City a Shaw thing for title?

Cometh the hour, cometh Bunny Shaw, the player for the big moment. Well, make that the 86th minute actually. When Manchester City needed a goal, was there ever any doubt that Shaw would deliver? The Jamaica striker’s late strike to give City a 2-1 win at London City Lionesses sees her continue to average a goal per game in the WSL this season and she is surely in line to dominate the end-of-season awards, having scored nearly twice as many times as any other player in the division. Her latest goal felt like a really significant one, sending Manchester City nine points clear at the top, and winning a tricky game that had looked in the balance. But with a lethal finisher like Shaw, the leaders look capable of finding a way to win any game regardless of whether they are playing at their best. Tom Garry

Enderby ends Liverpool’s long wait

It finally happened. On the 13th matchday, Liverpool secured their first win of the WSL season – and it was thoroughly deserved. Two stoppage-time goals with Mia Enderby at the heart of both were enough to earn three points and keep Liverpool within touching distance of West Ham, Leicester and Everton. The 94th-minute opener was deflected in off Toko Koga, before Enderby slotted home seconds after the restart. The Reds were rewarded for their high-intensity approach against an in-form Tottenham and looked the better team throughout. It had been coming for weeks with performances gradually improving as the season went on. “Really satisfying,” head coach Gareth Taylor said. “It probably looked at some stages like we weren’t going to get it, especially when Alice [Bergström] hit the post in the 91st minute – but football does that. It can give you another opportunity. The girls willed the ball into the net today. The second goal shows what we’re about as a team, being on the front foot. A lot of good chances today and we looked more like what we wanted to be.” Emillia Hawkins

Goodison Park woes continue for Everton

The sound of boos from some home supporters met the full-time whistle after Everton’s sixth league defeat out of six at home this season, and fifth out of five since the women’s arm of the club made Goodison Park their permanent home, with the other loss coming at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Friday’s latest struggle on home soil came against a hard-working Brighton side. Everton badly lacked creativity and, crucially, lacked a focal point in attack. They put together just 41 successful passes in the final third, compared to Brighton’s 100. The visitors’ interim head coach, Chris Roberts, said he “could not have been more proud” of Brighton’s players as their focused performance delivered a win while they sent their best wishes to Dario Vidosic, who has been granted a period of personal leave for private family reasons. But Everton need home results soon or their fans will be voting with their feet. TG

Guarino’s tactical setup ends Hammers’ away-win wait

Everyone is talking about the race at the top of the table, but the battle at the bottom is just as riveting as West Ham claimed their first league away win of the season. Rita Guarino’s arrival at the club has turned the tide it seems, as two stunning goals helped defeat Leicester 2-1. First, Verena Hanshaw curled a free-kick to beat Olivia Clark in goal. They doubled their lead with Shekiera Martinez, who drifted in from a wide position to strike into the far top corner. These goals came despite West Ham being happy to sit in their own half and defend. It’s indicative of the culture that Guarino is building on the pitch, in this case with the 3-4-3 formation, which allowed wide players to thrive in high-pressure counterattack situations, for maximum impact going forward. “It’s important that the wing-backs can be box-to-box players. We need help out of possession, and we need to support the team in possession,” said Guarino, and it certainly worked. Renuka Odedra

United show maturity in must-win encounter

Manchester United have experienced a series of firsts recently whether it be debuts, first goals or reaching a historic League Cup final. Backing those moments up with consistent performances is the next step if they are to mount a title challenge soon. “I don’t think there is any better teacher than the experience of that moment … Performing big, winning big and coming back to do it again,” Marc Skinner had said before this game against Aston Villa. His team were required to rise to the occasion once more in a must-win fixture against a side who had beaten them already this season. Three goals in eight second-half minutes turned the game on its head as the manager looked to his newfound squad depth to help undo a resolute opponent. Elisabeth Terland and Hanna Lundkvist came off the bench to score – it was the latter’s first goal for the club – and secure a 4-1 win that keeps them in touch with third-place Arsenal. Sophie Downey

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