WSL talking points: Miedema proves doubters wrong and Chelsea stumble again | OneFootball

Liverpool stand firm to deny Chelsea

When Alyssa Thompson fired in a superb ninth-minute opener, Chelsea looked on course for another routine win. However, Liverpool’s defence held firm and the Reds levelled in the 33rd minute and held out until half-time. The Chelsea manager, Sonia Bompastor, introduced further attacking options in the second half, including Lauren James and Aggie Beever-Jones, but a solid defensive display from Liverpool ensured Chelsea were unable to find a winner as the hosts earned their second point of the season. Although the result did mean Chelsea set a record of 34 successive unbeaten WSL games, clearly all is not well with the defending champions. Last season they had 27 points after nine games and led the way, this campaign they have eight fewer and are three points behind Manchester City. Réshma Rao

Miedema’s quality shines bright

With 79 minutes on the clock and Manchester City 3-0 up, Vivianne Miedema would have been forgiven for taking her foot off the gas. However, this is not the Dutch player’s mindset and she produced a quintessential moment of quality. Winning possession with a perfectly timed sliding challenge on Julia Zigiotti Olme, she got to her feet to unleash a cutting through ball for Bunny Shaw. It was a move that summed up the 29-year-old’s rich vein of form as she pulled the strings in behind the Jamaican forward. When Miedema signed for City, many wondered how she and Shaw could play in the same team but both are showing exactly what they can achieve together when fully fit. Miedema created the most chances (four) against Manchester United on Saturday while having opportunities of her own and was unlucky to have been denied a goal by the woodwork. Sophie Downey

Can Arsenal find a way out of their slump?

There are concerns for Arsenal after back-to-back draws in the WSL and relinquishing a 2-0 lead against Bayern Munich on Wednesday for two defeats in three games in the Champions League, but the prominent issue in a frustrating 0-0 draw with north London rivals Tottenham was that they just did not look like scoring. Despite their dominance, particularly in the second half, they had no noteworthy chances. Renée Slegers’s side had 13 shots and four on target but the Spurs goalkeeper Lize Kop remained mostly untested. Slegers remarked on the struggle afterwards. “We create momentum, so I’m happy with that and we have a lot of situations in and around their box, but we need to capitalise when we have momentum,” she said. “The finishes aren’t so easy from those moments we get in the box, so that’s definitely something we want to look at.” A team creating chances but not converting has far fewer problems than a team that is failing to create big opportunities and Arsenal need a reversal of fortune in this area, sharpish, with Real Madrid up next. Suzanne Wrack

Foxes set unwanted record in Brighton defeat

Leicester set an unwanted record during their trip to Brighton on Sunday. Going into the game at the Amex Stadium, the Foxes had gone 20 games on the road without a win, dating back to January last year. That total extended to 21 winless games after a 4-1 loss to the Seagulls – surpassing the previous record for the longest period without a WSL victory set by Yeovil Town between April 2017 and February 2019. “We’re still learning, we’re still developing,” said the Leicester manager, Rick Passmoor. “What you saw is real good progress within the first 25 minutes in terms of in possession, unlocking the defence, creating chances … It’s good to see how we play with our intention and purpose and then it’s the clinical finishing to ensure we can step forward because goals do change games, so it would’ve been a real plus.” Emillia Hawkins

Tysiak shines as West Ham finally ignite

Rehanne Skinner finally saw her side claim their first league win of the season, beating Everton 3-1 to end a nine-game wait and lift West Ham out of the relegation playoff place. It came with the control and ruthlessness they have lacked, built on keeping attacks alive, winning second balls and unsettling an Everton side stretched by injuries. Amber Tysiak set the tone, her superb sliding challenge to deny Ornella Vignola in the 18th minute underpinned a commanding display later capped by a towering header from Viviane Asseyi’s corner. Shekiera Martinez continued her prolific goalscoring form this year, with Skinner saying: “When she’s only focusing on scoring goals, she’s excellent. She causes goalkeepers and defenders a lot of problems.” Everton, without Kelly Gago, never settled. For West Ham, at last, lift-off. Mitul Samji

Lionesses eye Champions League places

London City Lionesses piled the pressure on the WSL top five with a comfortable 3-1 win over Aston Villa. The promoted side endured a difficult start to life in the top division but have gradually been picking up some good results in recent weeks. Their latest win – courtesy of goals from Saki Kumagai and Isobel Goodwin – saw them move within one point of Arsenal and Tottenham after the two north London sides held each other to a goalless draw. With Manchester United and Chelsea also failing to win their respective games, London City now find themselves closing in on the league’s top dogs. Kumagai said: “I am so happy and a huge three points for us. It was maybe not the perfect game for us but [with] our mentality we could concentrate to the end of the game. We expect more and more and we want to compete for the Champions League.” EH

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