Dec 15, 2024, 12:16 PM ET
Arsenal capitalised on their Women’s Super League (WSL) title rivals dropping points by signing off for the winter break with a 1-0 win over strugglers Liverpool.
A first-half strike from Alessia Russo helped continue interim head coach Renée Slegers’ unbeaten run, with the Gunners now seven points behind league leaders Chelsea — who drew 1-1 with Leicester City on Saturday — and just one point behind second-placed Manchester City, who lost 2-1 to Everton on Sunday.
Arsenal largely dominated the contest at St Helens Stadium and could have doubled their lead in the first half when they were given a controversial penalty for a perceived foul by Gemma Bonner on Russo, but Mariona Caldentey was denied by the post.
Liverpool frustrated the visitors in the second-half and nearly drew level when Katie McCabe‘s miscued clearance came back off the woodwork, but the Reds now drop down to eighth place and have just two wins from their first nine WSL games. — Beth Lindop
Alessia Russo is in the right place at the right time to score the only goal of the game. Jan Kruger/Getty Images
Russo vital in Arsenal turnaround
After a slow start her second season with the Gunners, failing to score in the first eight games, Russo is excelling, netting in a fifth consecutive WSL game. After bagging a brace last week in the 4-0 demolition of Aston Villa, Russo provided the decisive goal in the 20th minute after a well-worked corner.
It’s the first time the 25-year-old has scored in four or more games back-to-back and after Arsenal’s disappointing start to the season, her contributions have been imperative to overturning the team’s fortunes ahead of the winter break.
With six goals and one assist, Russo now sits second in the Golden Boot race, three goals behind City’s prolific striker Khadija “Bunny” Shaw. — Emily Keogh
Gunners take advantage of Chelsea, City slip
With top three rivals Chelsea and Manchester City dropping points this weekend, Arsenal took advantage to keep pressure on the top three, stretching the unbeaten run to 10 games in all competitions.
Chelsea dropped points for the first time this campaign in a 1-1 draw with Leicester, but remain well ahead of the Gunners. But Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Liverpool took them to 21 points, moving them within a single point of Man City — and the gap is starting to close between those below Chelsea, with Manchester United level on points with Arsenal in fourth.
After the long winter break — the WSL restarts on Jan. 17 — Arsenal start 2025 by hosting bottom spot Palace before two consecutive and potentially decisive title-race fixtures, travelling to Chelsea and Manchester City. Both games could easily change the picture at the top of the table, meaning Arsenal’s undefeated seven-game string to end 2024 is all the more vital heading into the second half of the season. — Keogh
Liverpool’s disappointing season continues
Pressure is continuing to build on Liverpool boss Matt Beard. Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
There will be few teams as eager for the winter break as Liverpool. It’s been a difficult campaign so far for Matt Beard’s side, who have already lost as many WSL games this season (five) as they did in the entirety of the last.
Having defied expectations to finish fifth in 2023-24, it was always going to be a challenge to replicate that success, however their haul of just nine points from 10 games is disappointing.
Of course, there are some mitigating factors. Beard’s side have been plagued by injuries in recent months, with several key players — including striker Sophie Román Haug and midfielder Marie Hobinger sidelined for the Arsenal game.
Beard has been quick to point out that his team have largely overachieved since their promotion from the Championship in 2022 and, while that might be true, there is plenty of work to do if Liverpool harbour serious ambitions of breaking into the top three.
The winter break will at least offer the chance for some players to work their way back to full fitness, while Beard said in his news conference on Friday that Liverpool are looking to bring “possibly one” new player in in January. — Lindop
Liverpool can’t stop conceding
Last season, only the top three of Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal had a better defence than Liverpool. Beard’s side let in 28 goals across the campaign. Already this season, they have conceded 17.
Liverpool have yet to keep a clean sheet in the WSL and have let in nine goals in their last four league games, though injuries once again have played their part.
Last season, Bonner and Jenna Clark formed a formidable partnership at the heart of the Liverpool defence, while Grace Fisk was named Players’ Player of the Year for her superb showings at full-back.
This term, Fisk was sidelined until early November with an ankle injury while Clark has been in and out of the starting lineup, and Liverpool have paid the price for that inconsistency in selection.
While the hosts defended admirably in the second half against Arsenal, their bluntness up front — only three WSL teams have scored fewer goals — means they desperately need to shore things up at the back. — Lindop
Slegers sends statement for Arsenal job
Renee Slegers, centre, celebrates victory with her players. Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
It’s been a meteoric turnaround for Arsenal in their final seven games of the season, recording straight wins in all competitions. At the start of the season, Arsenal only had two victories from their first five games and the outlook looked bleak. Since Renee Slegers took charge of the side following Jonas Eidevall’s departure she has turned the side around, now sitting in third place.
Slegers has been unbeaten in 10 games in charge, only dropping two points in a draw with Man United. She has one fixture left against Bayern Munich in the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday to end 2024 undefeated.
The Dutch coach has set herself in the perfect position to lead the side in the second half of the season, with Arsenal’s hunt for a new manager still ongoing. Whether she wants the job full-time or not, the statistics speak for themselves. The fans would surely be happy if she stayed, singing a rendition of Wham’s “Last Christmas,” fondly rewriting it in support of the interim manager. — Keogh
