Tottenham’s persistence pays off against Arsenal while Liverpool stun Man Utd – WSL talking points | Football News – Canada Boosts

Vilahamn persistence pays off for Tottenham

After a historic win for Tottenham towards Arsenal, Spurs supervisor Robert Vilahamn’s evaluation to Sky Sports activities was frank.

“7-0 against Man City, everyone might have thought I was stupid and that’s fair,” he stated. “They tried a little bit against Man Utd, but we didn’t go for it. So I needed to restart with the Wednesday game because I will keep doing this until I stop working here.”

Spurs gamers have described his arrival as a ‘breath of recent air’, with Vilahamn wanting his aspect to play out from the again, progress by means of the thirds to construct their assault. Very similar to his males’s staff counterpart Ange Postecoglou – who watched Spurs’ win from the stands – the Swede has sought to implement his concepts rapidly and fully.

And like Postecoglou, it has not all the time panned out as they’d hope. Towards the 2 Manchester groups, Tottenham tried to persevere with Vilahamn’s fashion, however have been finally closely punished. However the Spurs boss has not waivered from his philosophy, believing his gamers have been greater than able to its execution.

Some questioned his strategies and whether or not Spurs had what it takes to compete among the many WSL’s elite. However all of them have been answered towards Arsenal and their objective epitomises simply what Vilahamn desires.

It started with spectacular WSL debutant Barbora Votikova, enjoying by means of the phases earlier than a effective end from Martha Thomas. The goalkeeper’s inclusion from the beginning solely helped with Spurs enjoying out from the again – one thing common No 1 Becky Spencer has struggled to undertake.

The winter break – and the teasing of latest additions already on their approach – will solely enhance their means to play in Vilahamn’s fashion and have extra well-known days like they did this weekend.

For a staff that started the 12 months breaking a switch file to signal Bethany England as they battled relegation, to ending with a primary victory over their North London rivals, Tottenham are definitely on track.
Charlotte Marsh

Arsenal’s hard work undone by derby despair

There was a lot to marvel about Arsenal’s efficiency towards Chelsea final weekend.

The Gunners have been masterful at instances, scored 4 fantastic objectives, and all of their forged of fundamental characters got here to the fore.

Kim Little’s command of the midfield was sensational, Lotte Wubben-Moy was an impenetrable rock in defence, whereas Alessia Russo sprinkled her magic on the high finish.

Maybe essentially the most full show of Jonas Eidevall’s tenure.

So, simply six days later, to give up their momentum and benefit to Tottenham – of all sides – is nearly sinful.

There isn’t any good time to lose a North London Derby, after all, however this felt notably unwelcome. It is a consequence that lets Chelsea again in. If the door was ajar earlier than, it is now swung huge open.

Eidevall was “disappointed with efficiencies” on Saturday, however generally you must entrance up; this was removed from classic Arsenal and the price might finally be ruinous.
Laura Hunter

Famous Liverpool win symptomatic of closing gap

Up till Sunday, Manchester United have been the one WSL aspect Liverpool had did not beat. The Reds hadn’t even managed to attain previous their north-west neighbours. They’d barely laid a glove.

That each one modified of their newest assembly, the place Liverpool roared again from conceding a third-minute opener to register a well-known win.

Two well-taken objectives did the trick, together with a volleyed winner from captain Taylor Hinds – her first league strike since February 2022.

The style of the comeback was spectacular but additionally indicative of the broader narrative at play throughout this intriguingly open WSL marketing campaign. Anybody genuinely can beat anybody. It is what the followers need.

Alongside the expansion of the sport extra broadly, a narrowing of the standard hole has begun occurring in current seasons, and it is made for beautifully aggressive engagements week in, week out.

This Liverpool scalp, towards the arch enemy, is simply the newest instalment of the brand new unpredictability of the league, which continues to meander in so many various instructions it is laborious to maintain up.
Laura Hunter

Chelsea capitalise on Arsenal slip

Chelsea should have thought Christmas got here 9 days early as Arsenal slipped to defeat at Tottenham. After their very own dismal efficiency per week in the past on the Emirates, the Blues have been provided a lifeline to re-establish their WSL lead.

By no means ones to move up a possibility twice, Chelsea have been finally snug winners at Bristol Metropolis.

It have to be stated too that the consolation stems from an assured, assured Chelsea debut for Hannah Hampton. Bristol Metropolis had their possibilities too, however the 23-year-old was equal to all of them. Do not be stunned if she turns into Chelsea’s common No 1 in 2024.

And a few of these opposing possibilities have been created by Chelsea’s personal hand, particularly within the first half. They regarded to bear the load of a heavy defeat and irritating draw within the final week, with sloppy play gifting Bristol Metropolis openings.

However as soon as they began to move and play faster, the rewards got here. Let’s additionally not overlook two moments of excellent high quality from Lauren James and Erin Cuthbert within the first half too. That definitely settled some nerves, and it was all Chelsea for the rest of the sport.

It was good too to see Fran Kirby, Guro Reiten and Sam Kerr combining for the third objective too. All three have struggled with accidents and health for the reason that begin of the season, and confirmed a glimpse of their significance to Chelsea’s assault.

The Blues head into the winter break – though with one recreation left to play within the Champions League on Wednesday – high of the WSL desk and providing a well timed reminder that they’re nonetheless the staff to beat.
Charlotte Marsh

Man City are the quiet title contenders

A lot of the discourse over the past week has centered on Chelsea, Arsenal and the WSL title race. One slips, one other slips – however there’s a contender who has been not noted of the current dialog.

Manchester Metropolis regarded each a lot the title challengers in an expert, medical win at Everton, aided by Khadija Shaw’s hat-trick. The striker is now the WSL’s high scorer this season with 9 objectives.

It was solely a second of sheer magnificence from Aurora Galli that saved Man Metropolis from conserving a clear sheet too, however they did come away a fourth successive WSL win.

It has been the right response to the 1-0 defeat by Brighton. Since then, they’ve scored 16 objectives and conceded simply three – and the revenge tour doesn’t seem like stopping any time quickly.

Man Metropolis had their critics final season and a few questioned if Gareth Taylor was the person to assist the staff attain that subsequent degree. However over the previous couple of weeks, they’ve performed their greatest soccer in a while, which seems like a duplicate of the work performed on the coaching pitch.

They end 2023 sitting second within the WSL desk with their free-scoring method seeing them with the second-best objective distinction within the league. Man Metropolis might really feel a bit pissed off that the break has come at a time when they’re the WSL’s in-form staff.

However relaxation, recuperation and time on the coaching floor will certainly be useful for a busy 2024, the place they’ll discover themselves deep within the title race.
Charlotte Marsh