4 h. ago Six WSL titles in a row for Chelsea and London City go up – Women’s Football Weekly

Faye Carruthers is joined by Suzy Wrack, Emily Keogh and Jamie Spangher to reflect on Chelsea’s WSL triumph, a dramatic final day in the ChampionshipOn this week’s Guardian Women’s Football Weekly: Chelsea are crowned WSL champions for a record sixth season in a row. With games to spare, can Sonia Bompastor’s side complete an unbeaten domestic campaign?Elsewhere, Arsenal’s back-to-back defeats against Aston Villa and Brighton raise questions about their defensive frailties, while Manchester United and Manchester City play out a dramatic derby with European football on the line. Meanwhile, Everton shine in the Merseyside derby, and Crystal Palace leave it late to deny Leicester. Continue reading...

Sport

29 h. ago Women’s Super League and Championship: talking points from the weekend’s action

Marc Skinner needs a deeper squad for Manchester United’s European project and Chelsea’s unbeaten season continues Liverpool’s interim manager, Amber Whiteley, said last month that it was important the club held on to fifth place in the Women’s Super League. They are now sixth after a 2-0 loss to Everton in Sunday’s Merseyside derby at Anfield, which also means they have still only ever won once at the stadium. Liverpool’s position in the table could get worse with one game of the season remaining, with three teams still able to overtake them, including Everton, whose win against their local rivals was secured thanks to goals from Katja Snoeijs and Karen Holmgaard. Liverpool could finish as low as eighth, which would be a sizeable failure for the club given they finished fourth last season. Sarah RendellWSL roundup: United seal European spot with derby draw Continue reading...

Sport

5 d. ago How Bompastor took over from Hayes and made Chelsea unbeatable in WSL | Tom Garry

Big signings arrived but recruitment of Sonia Bompastor was perhaps the key factor to club’s sixth straight titleThis was a title win that has felt inevitable since December, at which point Chelsea had won their first nine Women’s Super League matches of the season. In truth, it had felt likely long before that, in a campaign where one squad has looked uncatchable and – unbeaten with just two more games to go – they may yet prove to be the 2024-25 invincibles.It is Chelsea’s sixth WSL title in a row and eighth overall in terms of full-length campaigns, in addition to their triumph in the one-off, transitional “Spring Series” in 2017, meaning they have been crowned champions of England nine times since their first title in 2015. That represents more than just an era of dominance. They have built a dynasty and there are no signs to suggest their reign will be over anytime soon. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Arsenal book their spot in the Champions League final – Women’s Football Weekly

Faye Carruthers is joined by Sophie Downey, Ameé Ruszkai and Marva Kreel to discuss Arsenal’s win, Chelsea’s loss and latest action across the WSL and the ChampionshipOn this week’s Guardian Women’s Football Weekly, Faye is joined by Sophie Downey, Ameé Ruszkai and Marva Kreel. The panel discuss Arsenal’s 4-1 second-leg victory over Lyon, the north London side knocking out the eight-time European champions and securing their place in the final. However, it won’t be a full English affair after Chelsea’s dreams were dashed by a rampant Barcelona.The panel review the latest action across the Women’s Super League and the Championship as the season nears its conclusion and relegation spots are confirmed. Continue reading...

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2 w. ago Arsenal and Chelsea face uphill battles in Champions League – Women’s Football Weekly

Faye Carruthers is joined by Sophie Downey, Tom Garry and Emma Sanders to discuss the Champions League semi-finals, the Women’s Championship and the latest WSL actionOn this week’s Guardian Women’s Football Weekly, Faye Carruthers is joined by Sophie Downey, Tom Garry and Emma Sanders to review disappointing first-leg semi-final results for both Arsenal and Chelsea in the Champions League. They are trailing in their ties with Lyon and Barcelona respectively. But can they turn it around? The panel preview this weekend’s must-win second legs.And after teasing you for weeks, the panel take a deep dive into the Women’s Championship as we approach the final two games of what’s been a thrilling season. They also round up the very latest from the WSL. Continue reading...

Sport

2 w. ago Women’s Champions League and Super League: weekend talking points

Chelsea change under the spotlight, twins have Manchester City seeing double and Holland shines for LiverpoolWere Chelsea wrong to make a substitution while preparing to defend a corner? The former England midfielder Fara Williams criticised Chelsea for doing so in the 81st minute, when Nathalie Björn was replaced by Naomi Girma seconds before Barcelona scored their third goal, a far-post header from an unmarked Irene Paredes, with Williams telling TNT Sports, “You can see that there is a bit of confusion” in Chelsea’s organisation for the set piece. Sonia Bompastor said she had been forced to withdraw Björn because of an injury, and played down the incident. “I don’t think the substitution had an impact on the goal we conceded,” the head coach said. “When I talk about not making mistakes, maybe we didn’t have to concede that corner. If you have a better clearance from the goal and don’t concede that corner, you don’t give Barcelona the opportunity to score. I don’t think the substi...

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