Things looking up for Manchester City, United need signings, Reading on the rise and Carter has a big job at Birmingham Manchester City’s dominant 5-0 defeat of Aston Villa was their third win in eight league games. After suffering a tough 4-0 loss to Chelsea at the Academy Stadium and then a League Cup defeat to Manchester United on Wednesday night, the second-half goal-fest against Villa could be the start of a turnaround in the club’s fortunes. However, the biggest wins for Gareth Taylor’s under-pressure side this weekend came elsewhere. The defeats suffered by Brighton, Tottenham and Manchester United mean last season’s runners-up sit just five points off third and only two behind their derby rivals. Suddenly Champions League football...
Questions for Gareth Taylor at Manchester City, serious progress for Spurs, and a wasted opportunity of a weekendGareth Taylor said he believed his Manchester City team could still be playing Champions League football next season despite two wins from seven league games. “We know we’re up against some strong opposition especially when we’re probably – well, no probably about it – not strongest in terms of our squad depth,” he said. “But nothing changes. The attitude is still to be in Europe. We still believe that we can get there. We know that today if we had won the game, we would have been a lot closer. But I still think there’s plenty to come.“ City’s bruising 4-0 defeat by...
Manchester City have struggled with injuries while Everton have faltered, leaving unbeaten Arsenal looking the most likely threat to champions ChelseaAs the Women’s Super League season pauses for the international break, unbeaten Arsenal top the table after five games and are on a mission to reclaim the title from the back-to-back winners, Chelsea. Meanwhile, there has been the first managerial casualty, with Everton’s Willie Kirk out after a slow start to a campaign when his team was expected to be serious challengers.The Gunners’ strong summer spend on and off the pitch, with Gary Lewin’s arrival as head of medicine and sports science among the backroom recruits that have perhaps been as important as players such as Mana Iwabuchi and Tobin...
Chelsea have a full-back problem, Toone lifts Manchester United after exodus and Leicester learn a harsh WSL lessonWhen Arsenal’s forward Vivianne Miedema wrong-footed the 23-year-old defender Jess Carter and slotted in Arsenal’s first goal against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon the problem that haunted the reigning champions at the end of last season was evident at the start of the new one. Injury to the superb Maren Mjelde in March left Chelsea light at the back, not in numbers but in experience. Carter and Niamh Charles shared right-back duties during the run-in and did well but Mjelde’s absence ruptured things. Where Jonna Andersson’s weaknesses had been papered over by the strengths of Mjelde, Millie Bright and Magda Eriksson alongside her, now...
Players must learn lesson after damaging Dubai trip while Chelsea top WSL after beating Manchester UnitedIt has been a difficult few weeks for the WSL amid the fallout from some players going on a trip to Dubai during the winter break. The trip resulted in positive Covid tests for a number of returning players, leading to games being postponed, and it brought into sharp focus the fact that the spotlight is so much bigger on these players these days. This is good news in many respects and this is what we have wanted for a long time. Related: Fran Kirby hits winner as Chelsea beat Manchester United to go top of WSL Related: Manchester United's Leah Galton: 'Press and Heath...