The Women's Super League witnessed significant drama this weekend as defending champions Chelsea dropped crucial points while Manchester City's Vivianne Miedema delivered a masterclass in midfield creativity.
Chelsea's Title Defence Shows Cracks
Chelsea's unbeaten record extended to 34 games but manager Sonia Bompastor will be concerned after her side could only manage a 1-1 draw against Liverpool. The Blues started brightly when Alyssa Thompson fired in a superb ninth-minute opener, suggesting another routine victory was imminent.
However, Liverpool's defence organised superbly after going behind, with Beata Olsson equalising in the 33rd minute. Despite Bompastor introducing attacking reinforcements including Lauren James and Aggie Beever-Jones in the second half, Chelsea couldn't break down a resilient Liverpool defence, with the hosts earning their second point of the season.
The result highlights Chelsea's concerning dip in form compared to last campaign. After nine games last season, they had 27 points and led the table, whereas this term they have 21 points - eight fewer - and sit three points behind Manchester City.
Miedema's Manchester City Masterclass
While Chelsea struggled, Vivianne Miedema demonstrated exactly why Manchester City invested in the Dutch international. With 79 minutes played and City already 3-0 up, Miedema produced a moment of pure quality that summed up her current form.
After winning possession with a perfectly timed sliding challenge on Julia Zigiotti Olme, Miedema immediately sprang to her feet to deliver a cutting through ball for Bunny Shaw. The move showcased the growing understanding between the two forwards, silencing those who questioned how they would play together when Miedema signed for City.
The 29-year-old created the most chances (four) in City's match against Manchester United on Saturday and was unfortunate not to score herself, hitting the woodwork during the game.
Arsenal's Concerning Scoring Drought
Arsenal's frustrations continued with a goalless draw against north London rivals Tottenham, extending their worrying run of form. The Gunners have now drawn back-to-back WSL matches and squandered a 2-0 lead against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
The most pressing issue against Tottenham was Arsenal's inability to convert dominance into clear chances. Despite 13 shots and four on target, Spurs goalkeeper Lize Kop remained largely untested throughout the match.
Manager Renée Slegers acknowledged the problem afterwards, stating: "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. The finishes aren't so easy from those moments we get in the box, so that's definitely something we want to look at."
With Real Madrid next in European competition, Arsenal urgently need to rediscover their scoring touch.
Other WSL Highlights
Leicester City set an unwanted record during their 4-1 defeat to Brighton, extending their winless away run to 21 games - surpassing Yeovil Town's previous WSL record.
West Ham finally claimed their first league victory of the season, beating Everton 3-1 to lift themselves out of the relegation playoff place. Amber Tysiak delivered a commanding performance, capped by a towering header from a corner.
London City Lionesses continued their impressive form with a 3-1 win over Aston Villa, moving within one point of Arsenal and Tottenham in the race for Champions League qualification.
The WSL table now shows Manchester City leading with 24 points, followed by Chelsea on 21 points, with Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham closely contesting the remaining European spots.
