Between Chelsea reclaiming the top spot in the table and breaking a WSL record for consecutive wins, Manchester City putting up seven goals over Brighton & Hove Albion last Sunday, and new signings making immediate impacts on their squads, there’s a lot happening in the FA Women’s Super League.

While depth is proving to be more important than anything else amidst a slew of make-up games, superstars can still be the deciding factor in any given contest. And with five games set to take place this weekend, we’ve got you covered on who to look out for.

PERNILLE HARDER, CHELSEA

Chelsea vs. Tottenham

Sunday, January 31st at 7:30 am ET

Lifting Chelsea to victory in a match against Aston Villa last Wednesday was Pernille Harder, who added a goal in the 68th minute to put her team up 3-0. Harder has been consistent in every contest she has appeared in this season, with Wednesday’s game being no exception, as the Blues went on to score a fourth and keep their opponent scoreless.

When Harder is in sync with teammates Sam Kerr, Fran Kirby, and Bethany England, Chelsea’s offense is nearly unstoppable, and they have the record to back it. Altogether, the Blues have scored an impressive 34 goals against their opponents this year, and on Wednesday, the high-caliber squad broke the WSL record for the longest unbeaten streak with 32 games.

At the center of it all? Pernille Harder. A threatening presence in the attacking third, Harder has contributed four goals to Chelsea’s total while notching two assists.

Still not impressed? Announced earlier this month, Harder was named the Women’s World Player of the Year by World Soccer, with the magazine citing her eye-popping stats — 38 goals in 33 games across all competitions, nine of those goals being in the Champions League — and her status as the most expensive female player in the world (Chelsea paid a €300,000 fee to Wolfsburg for the young star) as two major factors in their decision to honor her. To put it quite frankly, we agree with their choice.

If Chelsea is going to continue its unbeaten streak against Tottenham on Sunday, expect to find Harder at the center of the action.

 

STEPH HOUGHTON, MANCHESTER CITY

Manchester City vs. West Ham United

Sunday, January 31st at 9:00 am ET

An unsung hero in Manchester City’s most recent victory, center back Steph Houghton logged two goals as City overwhelmed Brighton & Hove Albion last Sunday by a score of 7-1. Though the pair of goals were Houghton’s first of the 2020/2021 season, any defender that scores not one but two goals in the same match has achieved quite the feat — one that Houghton made look like part of her everyday routine.

 

 

In her time with Manchester City, the 32-year-old has scored 9 goals and led her team to two FA Women’s Cups, three Continental Cup successes, and the FA Women’s Super League title.

With so many titles under her belt, Houghton is nothing short of impressive — and she also captains both City and the English national team, a testament to her leadership on and off the field. In fact, Sunday’s contest marked Houghton’s 150th appearance in the FAWSL, making her the first player to reach such a milestone. And what better way to celebrate than by scoring a brace?

Manchester City has finally edged into third place in the table with last Sunday’s win, a mere five points separating them from second-place Manchester United. United has played twelve matches as opposed to City’s eleven, a factor that could prove to their disadvantage as the season winds down. City will need to rely on the consistency of veterans like Houghton when making up the five-point difference, and the captain’s recent performances indicate that she can and will deliver.

Manchester City will be taking on 10th place West Ham United this Sunday, a game they desperately need to win in order to remain superior to Arsenal and stay competitive in the fight for a top-three finish. Tune in at 9:00 am ET to catch Steph Houghton leading the charge.

 

LEAH GALTON, MANCHESTER UNITED

Manchester United vs. Everton

Sunday, January 31st at 9:30 am ET

Also hitting a milestone in her career this past weekend was Leah Galton, who recorded her 50th appearance in Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Birmingham City on Sunday. Galton has been outstanding as of late, scoring a goal against Birmingham to bring her season total to six goals in twelve games played. As a result of her efforts, Galton was named the Player of the Month for December after scoring four goals in only three matches.

In a post-game interview following the win over Birmingham, United manager Casey Stoney had high praise for Galton and her performance, calling her “one of the best”:

“I think Leah is one of the best left-wingers in the country, if not the best at what she does,” she said. “She’s powerful, she’s quick and can go one-on-one. She can get in the box and score. I think she influenced the game heavily and it was really great to see. We knew [Birmingham City] would be really organized and hard to break down, and Leah created quite a few chances.”

With their undefeated streak snapped by Chelsea two weeks ago, Manchester United will almost certainly be looking to to climb back into first place with a series of wins. The Reds are slotted to take on Everton this weekend, with the odds seemingly in their favor as Everton has dropped three of their last five contests. Should Chelsea lose to Tottenham this weekend, United can easily slide back into first place with a win and three points on Sunday.

All things considered, United has a lot at stake this weekend — and the team will need to utilize Galton’s agility, scoring abilities, and sharpness on the ball to achieve the result they are gunning for.

Chelsea 2, Manchester United 1

GOALS: Chelsea: Pernille Harder 29’, Fran Kirby 65’; Man Utd: Lauren James 61’

All eyes were on the FA Women’s Super League this week as Chelsea and Manchester United faced off with first place in the table at stake. Chelsea, who sat in second place with a 7-0-2 record and 23 points prior to Sunday’s contest, defeated the Reds, 2-1, to move in front thanks to goals from Pernille Harder and Fran Kirby. With the win, Chelsea is now the only undefeated team in the league, having knocked Manchester United from the ranks of the unbeaten.

Here’s what we learned from this weekend’s thrilling tilt between the league’s two best teams.

 

1. Chelsea provides a level of competition that Manchester United is not yet accustomed to.

United’s most recent contest was a 6-1 blowout against Bristol City, the last-place team in the table. Prior to that match, many of Manchester United’s victories had been won by a margin of two goals or less. A win is a win, and each of these victories was certainly an achievement when considering the competition. Among their opponents were top-tier squads such as Everton, Reading, and Arsenal, all members of the top six in league standings, and during these tilts, Manchester United appeared comfortable and in control of the flow of each game.

The opposite was true from the opening whistle on Sunday, as Chelsea dominated the first 45 minutes of play, something no other team has done to United. At halftime, a goal by Pernille Harder saw Chelsea up with a 1-0 advantage, after the Blues booked 11 first-half shots, 4 of which were on target, whereas Manchester United had taken only 2 shots, none of which were on target.

If one thing was inherently clear following Sunday’s match, it’s this — Chelsea provides a level of competition that Manchester United is not yet accustomed to experiencing. Finding themselves on the defensive against elite talents such as Sam Kerr, Fran Kirby, and Pernille Harder, United appeared lackluster when threatened by a fellow top squad. Despite equalizing midway through the second half, United was unable to complete a comeback.

In just their second FAWSL season, United had surprised many by advancing to the top of the table. And while they’ve proven they belong with the best of the best, this loss will certainly sting, as it gave United a chance to prove themselves against a traditional power in Chelsea.

 

2. The absence of Lauren James and Tobin Heath was detrimental.

In an interesting decision from Manchester United manager Casey Stoney, both Tobin Heath and Lauren James were left out of the starting line-up and were instead available as substitutes. Heath has scored four goals and notched two assists for the Reds this season, and though Lauren James had yet to score ahead of today’s match, she booked 6 goals in 12 games for her squad during the 2019/2020 season.

Upon the announcement of the starting line-up, many United faithful were speculating that Stoney would utilize the offensive talents as impact substitutes during the second half.

With United down 1-0 at the beginning of the second half, Lauren James came off the bench and made an instant impact, scoring the equalizer in the 61st minute to deadlock the score at 1-1. Surprisingly, Heath never entered the match as a substitute, leaving observers puzzled as to if there were ulterior reasons for her exclusion from Sunday’s game.

It begs the question, would the inclusion of James and Heath (if she was truly available) in the starting line-up have resulted in a different outcome for Manchester United? After all, many of United’s scoring chances are a direct result of the efforts of these two players — and the first half alone indicates that their absence is detrimental to the Reds’ offense. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, as United has to be left wondering if they put their best foot forward in the biggest match of the year.

 

3. It’s Fran Kirby’s world, and we’re just living in it.

Following an outstanding four-goal performance in Chelsea’s last match against Reading FC, Fran Kirby was yet again the hero. After receiving a long ball from goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, Kirby beat three United defenders in a footrace and buried a shot past Mary Earps and into the far left corner of the net. Kirby’s goal would give the Blues the edge they needed to seal the 2-1 victory and surge into first place in the table.

In just two games, Kirby has notched five goals, bringing her season total to eight. She now ranks among the league’s top scorers, second to only Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema.

In an interview ahead of Sunday’s tilt, Kirby assured reporters that the Blues would be ready for Manchester United: “It’s going to be really tough. They are coming to our home. We’ve got to be ready and I’m sure after another good week of training we will be ready to go… Everyone’s excited for the game, we want to keep on playing and keep on winning.”

Keep on winning, indeed — and with Kirby playing at this level, Chelsea is nearly unstoppable given the surplus of superstar talent they have in support. Their undefeated streak has survived another day, and looks to be relatively safe with a game against last-place Bristol City scheduled for this weekend. A more interesting test should come this Wednesday in their FAWSL Cup quarter-final match against Manchester City, who recently signed USWNT player Abby Dahlkemper as they gear up for their own run at a FAWSL title.

In another blockbuster signing for the FA Women’s Super League, North Carolina Courage and U.S. Women’s National Team center back Abby Dahlkemper has inked a 2.5-year contract with Manchester City, as first reported by Meg Linehan of the Athletic. Dahlkemper joins USWNT teammates Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle in the move across the pond, in what is another stellar addition to City’s championship-caliber squad.

Dahlkemper is an elite talent in the prime of her career.  She’s appeared in 62 matches for the USWNT, notching three assists and one World Cup trophy for her country. During the 2019 World Cup, she was the only player aside from goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher to start every match of the tournament.

In four seasons with the North Carolina Courage, Dahlkemper has won three NWSL Shields, two NWSL Championships, was named the NWSL Defender of the Year in 2017, and thrice made the NWSL Best XI, in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Prior to the franchise’s move to North Carolina, Dahlkemper also won a NWSL Championship with the Western New York Flash as well as a NCAA Championship and the Honda Sports Award during her time at UCLA.

One look at Dahlkemper’s stats makes clear her outstanding consistency at center back. During the NWSL’s recent Fall Series, Dahlkemper started all four matches for the Courage, burying a penalty against the Houston Dash in the first match of the series. More impressive, however, were Dahlkemper’s passing abilities: in the defensive third, she maintained a 92% passing accuracy to go along with her 60.3% accuracy in the attacking third. 149 of her 193 attempted passes were successful, equating to a 77.2% passing success rate through 360 minutes of play.

During the Challenge Cup last spring, Dahlkemper had a 100% success rate in tackles, a 60% success rate in duels, and a 57.1% success rate in aerial duels. She also logged 15 clearances, three blocks, and two interceptions, while simultaneously maintaining an 85.1% passing success rate. That level of consistency and control will allow Dahlkemper to immediately slide into her role as a security blanket in City’s defensive third.

Needless to say, City’s gain is the Courage’s loss, especially when coupled with North Carolina’s recent trade of fellow USWNT superstar Crystal Dunn to the Portland Thorns. Dahlkemper’s move is also another blow to the NWSL as a whole in its ongoing battle with the European leagues for the best soccer talent in the world.

When Tobin Heath, Christen Press, Mewis and Lavelle all decamped to the FAWSL in the fall, fans were forced to call into question whether the NWSL was doing enough to retain its biggest stars. Dahlkemper’s signing, along with Catarina Macario’s decision to forgo the 2021 NWSL draft in order to sign with Lyon, will only amplify the scrutiny.

While there’s much to be excited about in the NWSL’s future, including three new expansion teams in Louisville, Sacramento, and Los Angeles, the ongoing talent leak of household names is becoming a serious concern.

Hard not to think the #NWSL is on the ropes. Either that or they need a new marketing strategy so #USWNT players going to #WSL doesnu2019t affect their shine. Hope Iu2019m wrong! https://t.co/TpDl2TKqIo

— Annie O'Carroll (@OcarrollAnnie) January 14, 2021

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When Heath, Press, and Alex Morgan jumped to England, the narrative was that these veteran national team players were simply looking to get games in ahead of next summer’s Olympics. (Both Heath and Press’ contracts with Manchester United expire at the end of the 2020/2021 season, and Morgan has already returned to the Orlando Pride after playing for Tottenham in the fall.)

But with a younger generation signing long-term deals with European clubs, it’s hard not wonder if this is the beginning of a trend, and if in the future, we’ll continue to see more American players abandon the NWSL for better opportunities in Europe.

Whether the reasoning for these signings is to obtain better preparation for the Olympics, concern over the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, or simply better compensation, the loss of this many high-profile players is becoming a critical issue, especially as the NWSL looks poised to rapidly expand its national profile in the coming years.

We’re still a few signings away from full-on panic mode, and in the meantime, it’s hard not to be excited at the prospect of seeing Dahlkemper, Mewis and Lavelle on one field together. Mewis in particular has thrived for City, who currently sit at 4th in the table. The club is well within the title hunt, and a talent like Dahlkemper could easily take them to the next level, whether that’s this season or in the two to follow.

MATCH INFO:

Chelsea 5, Reading FC 0

GOALS:

Fran Kirby 16’, 23’, 45+2’, 53’

Ji So-Yun 86’

If there’s one thing we learned from Sunday morning’s tilt between Chelsea and Reading FC, it’s that Fran Kirby is determined to make 2021 her year. The forward notched a perfect hat trick in the first half, scoring first with her left foot, then with her right foot, and finally with her head.

Kirby went on to add a fourth goal in the early minutes of the second half, paving the way to a dominant win that helped Chelsea advance to second place in the table. Ji So-Yun logged a goal of her own to bring the score to 5-0 in favor of the Blues.

Here’s how the action unfolded:

Setting the tone only sixteen minutes into the first half, Sam Kerr challenged a Reading defender in the air and redirected a header to Kirby. Kirby, who was already making a darting run towards the box, took the assist in stride and cut the ball to her right foot, avoiding an attempted charge from Reading goalkeeper Grace Moloney. With an open net now before, Kirby tapped in the first FAWSL goal of 2021 to give Chelsea a 1-0 advantage.

Seven minutes later, Fran Kirby struck again — this time getting a foot in front of a clearance attempt by Reading defender Emma Mitchell. In a showcase of her speed and skill on the ball, Kirby beat Mitchell with several quick touches, cutting the ball toward the penalty spot and burying a shot into the lower 90 to record the brace and extend Chelsea’s lead to 2-0.

Whispers of a Fran Kirby hat trick began to circulate as soon as her second goal brushed the back of the net, and unsurprisingly, she would deliver. Seconds before the whistle blew to end the first half, Kerr lofted a cross into the Reading box, meeting the head of Kirby. The forward flicked the cross past Moloney and into the net, notching a first-half hat trick against her former squad and providing Chelsea a substantial 3-0 cushion with only 45 minutes gone.

As for Reading, the squad looked less than prepared to handle Chelsea’s advances, as had been a worry heading into the match. Kirby’s first two goals caught their defenders too far up the field and unable to recover, leaving Moloney as their sole line of defense against the lethal Chelsea offense. Reading concluded the first half with only two shots on goal, none of which were on target, a feat that simply cannot be afforded should the Royals want to remain competitive at sixth place in the table. It goes without saying that Reading needed to piece together a near-perfect showing in the second half to cut into Chelsea’s three-goal lead.

Unfortunately for the Royals, however, Kirby was not yet finished with her statement performance as the second half began. In the 53rd minute, Chelsea was awarded a corner kick. On the receiving end of the ball? Fran Kirby, of course. As the former Royal headed home her fourth goal of the match, Reading’s hopes of a comeback campaign were extinguished as Chelsea improved their lead to 4-0.

Also etching her name on the scoresheet for Chelsea was Ji So-Yun, who settled an attempted clearance by the Reading defense, cut the ball to her left foot and buried Chelsea’s fifth goal of the match in the 86th minute. As the clock wound down, Reading was unable to mount a scoring chance and would ultimately be shut out by the Blues, 5-0.

With the win, Chelsea continues their undefeated streak into the new year, now boasting a 7-0-2 record and 23 points. Next weekend’s showdown against Manchester United will now pit the top two teams in FAWSL against each other, with a win for Chelsea bringing them level with United at the top of the table.

MATCH INFO:

Reading FC vs. Chelsea

Madejski Stadium, Reading, England

Kickoff: January 10th, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. ET

WHERE TO WATCH: The FA Player

The FA Women’s Super League is back following the holiday break, with a weekend of full action, including a much-anticipated tilt between Reading FC and Chelsea. Teams have already been making moves off the field during the January transfer window, and now two of the league’s top squads face off on Sunday, January 10th, at Madejski Stadium in Reading, England at 9:00 a.m. EST.

Reading FC certainly has something to prove in Sunday’s match, as they ended the holiday break at sixth place in the table with 13 points and a 3-3-4 record. Only a handful of points separates them from top-tier squads such as Everton and Manchester City, and a win over Chelsea this weekend could provide Reading the opportunity to leap Everton in the standings and move into fifth place.

In their most recent match, Reading defeated Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 behind a brace from Jess Fishlock and a stoppage time goal from Rachel Rowe. Though the win allowed the squad to end on a high note prior to the break, taking a closer look at previous matches against other (and sometimes more challenging) opponents tells a different story. In the last two months, Reading has lost to first place team Manchester United 2-1, tied last place team Bristol City 1-1, and lost to tenth place team West Ham United 3-0. Inconsistency has plagued them throughout the season, and if there is any team that you cannot afford to be inconsistent against, it is Chelsea.

Though Sunday’s match against Chelsea will certainly be a challenging one for Reading, manager Kelly Chambers has high hopes for her squad moving forward.

“We’ve performed against Chelsea and Arsenal in the past and I don’t see why we can’t do it again,” she said in an interview. “We pose a lot of different threats to the top sides and always have. Last season we beat Chelsea on penalties and only just lost out to Arsenal the month after by a very late winner from them.”

Chelsea, on the other hand, has yet to be defeated this year. Led by standout players such as Fran Kirby, Sam Kerr, Bethany England and Pernille Harder, the squad boasts a 6-0-2 record and currently sits at third place in the table behind Arsenal and Manchester United, despite playing two fewer matches than the squads ahead of them. Just recently, Harder was awarded the honor of Female Football Player of the Year in Denmark for the seventh (yes, the seventh) time.

Chelsea’s most recent wins come against teams such as West Ham United, Everton, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Tottenham, with Chelsea rendering their opponents scoreless in three of those wins. Should Chelsea defeat Reading and Arsenal lose their next match, the Blues can sneak into second place in the table.

The last meeting between these two teams took place a little more than a year ago, with Chelsea recording a comfortable 3-1 win over Reading behind goals from Bethany England, Guro Reiten and Erin Cuthbert. Fara Williams recorded the lone goal for the Royals. With such a large amount of time having passed since the two sides have clashed, it could be anyone’s game — so set those alarms and clear your Sunday calendar. FAWSL is back.

As the FA Women’s Super League wrapped up their ninth gameweek of the season, Manchester United cemented their place atop the league standings, Chelsea added another big win over Brighton & Hove Albion, and Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema continued her reign as the league’s top scorer.

But beneath the biggest headlines, a small cohort of players likewise used the weekend to cement their status as among the most important footballers playing today. They may not win any end-of-year hardware, but that hasn’t stopped these four women from proving just how critical they are to their teams’ success.

 

CAROLINE WEIR, MANCHESTER CITY

Caroline Weir rightfully tops our list after having been a key player in Manchester City’s most recent wins over Everton and Arsenal. In eight appearances this season, Weir has booked three assists and a goal — her one score being the game-winner in Sunday’s contest against Arsenal, which she rocketed home in the final minutes of stoppage time. Though a quiet presence in her first few games with Manchester City, Weir has emerged as an asset in City’s midfield as of late, her excellent passing talent and ability to think quickly on the ball endearing the 25-year-old to both her teammates and the City faithful.

Following her standout performance, which lifted City to a needed victory over Arsenal, Weir said: “Our performances have grown as the season has gone on, and I think you can see how we want to play now. It takes a bit of time but the depth of quality in the squad means that we can rotate, and to go unbeaten for so long is obviously a positive thing, and that’s what we are going to need going forward,” she continued. “That was my first goal of the season, so I have been waiting a while for it. The team needed the three points and we’re delighted we came out on top in the end.”

After struggling with inconsistency as a team earlier on in the season, Weir’s presence in the midfield has helped steady the Blues, who are now firmly in position to compete for the title.

 

LEAH GALTON, MANCHESTER UNITED

Scoring her second goal in two games this weekend was Manchester United’s Leah Galton. Beating a defender up the left flank, the forward took a touch towards her left foot, burying a shot past Reading goalkeeper Grace Moloney. Galton’s goal would be a contributing factor in United’s 2-1 win over Reading FC, keeping her squad undefeated through nine matches with a 7-2-0 record.

The young player has appeared in all nine of United’s games this season, notching three goals and two assists.

The forward’s stellar performance in Sunday’s match earned her the honor of Barclays Player of the Match, with fans and fellow teammates alike having high praise for her consistency and quality of play. As for Galton’s thoughts on the match, she acknowledged the importance of every contest moving forward should Manchester United want to remain atop the table in a post-game interview, not losing sight of what matters most to Casey Stoney’s team.

United’s dominance has been the biggest surprise this season, in what is only their second FAWSL campaign. But if Galton can maintain both her on-field play and her big-picture attitude, the Red Devils could be on track for a historic finish.

ALEX MORGAN, TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

A major recent storyline in the FA Women’s Super League has been the resurgence of Tottenham Hotspur since the hiring of new manager Rehanne Skinner. Now sitting at eighth place in the table, a major contributor to the Spurs’ surprising win streak has been USWNT forward Alex Morgan. In the Spurs’ match against Aston Villa, Morgan logged her second goal in two games, driving home yet another penalty kick to draw first blood for her team in the 13th minute, as Tottenham went on to defeat Aston Villa in a comfortable fashion, 3-1.

Not only did Morgan get on the scoresheet this weekend, but she logged valuable minutes of playing time — starting the match and playing the entire game, something she has not done since returning to the pitch since the birth of her daughter. Her performance also earned her a spot in the Barclays FAWSL Team of the Week, selected by Siobhan Chamberlain.

It’s worth noting that Tottenham has not lost a single match that Morgan has played in — in case her importance to the Spurs wasn’t already obvious.

 

SAM MEWIS, MANCHESTER CITY

Joining Caroline Weir on the scoresheet for Manchester City this weekend was none other than the “Tower of Power” herself, Sam Mewis. Down by a goal early on thanks to Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema, City was in desperate need of an equalizer. After 28 minutes of play, City would get their opportunity, as Chloe Kelly lofted a corner kick into the Arsenal box. The ball met the head of Mewis, who redirected a header into the lower 90 to notch her third (!) goal of the season for the Blues.

After heading in another goal in Man City’s FA Cup Final win over Everton in November, Mewis is starting to cement her reputation as a player who quite literally rises to the occasion.

Like Alex Morgan, Mewis was also named to the Barclays FAWSL Team of the Week as City handed Arsenal another loss to move into fourth place in the table. Now edging even closer to a top-three finish on the season, City will rely on players like Mewis to maintain a strong midfield and continue on with their winning ways.

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE FA WSL

December 20th

Manchester United vs. Bristol City @ 7:00 a.m. EST

Arsenal vs. Everton @ 7:30 a.m. EST

Birmingham City vs. Manchester City @ 9:00 a.m. EST

Chelsea vs. Tottenham @ 9:00 a.m. EST

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Reading FC @ 9:30 a.m. EST

West Ham United vs. Aston Villa @ 10:00 a.m. EST

Another action-packed weekend of soccer is on the horizon in the FA Women’s Super League, and if you’re still unsure of who to watch, we’ve got you covered.

Here are four impact players to keep your eye on as the regular season continues to take shape.

ELLA TOONE, MANCHESTER UNITED

Manchester United vs. Reading FC @ 7:30 a.m. EST on AtaFootball.com

At the ripe age of 21, Ella Toone has been an instrumental piece in Manchester United’s line-up as the squad fights to maintain their positioning atop the table. In only eight games with United, Toone has notched four goals and one assist — her most recent goal being in last weekend’s contest against Aston Villa, providing United a comfortable 2-0 cushion in the 89th minute to seal the win.

Toone shows patience and abilities on the ball that extend well beyond her years. Most importantly, she is able to find the net when it matters most. In a match against Arsenal back in early November, it was Toone who finally broke through the Gunners’ defense after 82 minutes of scoreless play as her tap-in goal handed Arsenal their first loss of the 2020/2021 season. An impactful presence up top, keep an eye out for Toone as Manchester United faces off against Reading FC this Sunday.

 

SAM KERR, CHELSEA

Chelsea vs. Brighton & Hove Albion @ 9:00 a.m. EST

It should come as no surprise that Sam Kerr is included as a player to watch this weekend. Bagging three goals in last Sunday’s 3-2 win against West Ham United, Kerr continues to cement her reputation as an elite goal-scorer, even when playing against some of the best defenses in Europe. In seven matches with Chelsea this season, Kerr has scored six goals and is beginning to mesh well on offense with teammates Fran Kirby, Bethany England, and Pernille Harder.

Chelsea is set to take the field against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, a match that will be pivotal for the squad should they want to remain competitive for a top-three finish on the season. With 17 points, the Blues currently sit at third place in the table, bested only by Arsenal’s 19 points and Manchester United’s 20. The Australian will look to mark up the score sheet yet again this weekend, in hopes of stealing a necessary victory for her squad.

 

RACHEL DALY, WEST HAM UNITED

West Ham United vs. Bristol City @ 9:00 a.m. EST

On loan to West Ham United from the Houston Dash, Rachel Daly was a key component of West Ham’s attempted comeback campaign in their most recent loss to Chelsea on December 6th. Logging the equalizer as the second half began, Daly was able to tie the match at 1-1 in the 47th minute. Despite the forward’s best efforts as the game continued, however, West Ham would ultimately be defeated 3-2.

Daly has not received nearly the amount of attention she deserves since joining West Ham United in September, and though her time with the Hammers is coming to a close (as she is only on loan until the end of the year), she has put forth an incredible effort for the squad. In only three appearances during the FA WSL Cup, Daly scored two goals, and in eight regular-season appearances, she has scored two goals and assisted one.

West Ham currently holds a 1-1-6 record and is in desperate need of another win to avoid the relegation zone, as they’re only two points off the bottom of the table. This weekend could be West Ham’s best chance to build a cushion as they compete against last-place Bristol City. Expect Rachel Daly to lead the offensive attack.

 

CAITLIN FOORD, ARSENAL

Arsenal vs. Manchester City @ 9:30 a.m. EST on AtaFootball.com

A machine on offense for Arsenal, Caitlin Foord has bagged five goals and five assists in eight appearances for the Gunners this season. Given that Arsenal is the top-scoring team in the league with 33 goals, this is no small feat. Foord is currently one of the WSL’s top scorers behind Sam Kerr and teammates Vivienne Miedema and Jill Roord. The Australian star has been a key contributor in wins over Birmingham City, Tottenham, and Bristol City, and has scored in three of Arsenal’s last six matches.

Though Arsenal has cruised through its recent contests, a test awaits them this weekend in amatch-up against Manchester City, who is in red-hot form as of late. In the last meeting between the two teams, Manchester City bested Arsenal 2-1 to keep them out of the FA Women’s Cup Final. It goes without saying that Foord and her team will be on the hunt for sweet revenge, so be on alert for a thriller Sunday morning.

Following their return from the international break, the FA Women’s Super League saw an exciting week of women’s football. It was a week of firsts — Sam Kerr notched her first hat trick for Chelsea, and Alex Morgan netted her first goal for Tottenham — while Manchester City cemented their status as a “Big Three” squad.

Below is a breakdown of everything we learned.

1) Sam Kerr is an elite goal-scorer, regardless of what league she is playing in 

One of the most prominent storylines from this past weekend was Sam Kerr’s performance in Chelsea’s match against West Ham United. The Australian bagged a hat trick in the contest, and has totaled six goals in seven matches for her squad this season. Though it took Kerr a while to get settled into the Women’s Super League upon her signing with Chelsea a little over a year ago, there is no question that she is a force on offense, no matter what league she is playing in.

Taking a look at Kerr’s playing history, she has been nothing short of an all-world striker in stints with the Chicago Red Stars, Sky Blue FC, and the Western New York Flash of the NWSL; the Australian national team; and Perth Glory FC. Her stats speak for themselves — most notably, Kerr netted 28 goals in 40 appearances for Sky Blue FC in only three seasons, 52 goals in 49 appearances for Perth Glory between 2014 and 2019, 11 goals in 26 appearances for the Australian national team, and a dazzling 35 goals in 43 matches for the Chicago Red Stars. In fact, Kerr still holds the record for the most goals scored by a player in an NWSL regular season and was named the NWSL league MVP in 2017 and 2019. She’s also the all-time leading goalscorer in both NWSL and W-League history.

Given her impressive past, it should come as no surprise that the 27-year-old superstar is making strides on offense for Chelsea. Following Saturday’s performance, Kerr said of her hat trick: “It’s my first hat-trick for the club so I’m really excited about that,” before politely deflecting credit to her fellow teammates. “It’s nice playing with players like Fran [Kirby], Pernille [Harder], and Bethany [England]. Every day in training we score goals like today.”

Many are calling Kerr’s hat trick “the first of many,” which is indicative of how far her reputation precedes her. Fans expect her to score goals, no matter the opponent. Sunday’s performance was further proof of Kerr’s consistency. From the NWSL, to the W-League, to the FAWSL, Kerr has made it apparent that she’s a threat to go off whenever she steps foot on the field.

2) Alex Morgan is starting to find her groove

Also marking the scoresheet this weekend was Alex Morgan, lifting Tottenham Hotspur to their first win (!) of the 2020/2021 season. Converting from the penalty spot, Morgan’s goal was her first for club or country since the birth of her daughter, sealing the dominant 3-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion for her team. The goal also comes as a bit of sweet redemption, following a missed PK in a match prior that saw the USWNT star catch quite a bit of heat from English soccer fans.

After many near-scoring chances (including one in the recent USWNT friendly that was called offsides), Sunday’s goal was the breakthrough Morgan needed as she progresses in her playing career with Tottenham. As Doug McIntyre reported for Yahoo! Sports, the Spurs are unbeaten in the three matches that Morgan has appeared in, tying against Reading FC and Bristol City before finally adding a win this weekend. Following the victory, it looks as if the tables are finally starting to turn for the Spurs, as they advance to ninth place in the league over West Ham United, Aston Villa, and Bristol City.

Morgan was a member of the starting line-up during Sunday’s match and subsequently logged 85 minutes of playing time, the most she has played in a single match for Tottenham this season. The contest was Rehanne Skinner’s first match serving as Tottenham’s manager, and it seems that Skinner plans to utilize Morgan in ways that former managers Karen Hills and Juan Amoros did not — which may be just the opportunity that Morgan needs to continue getting settled in the UK.

3) Manchester City is worthy of their “Big Three” label

Last but certainly not least, we learned that Manchester City is worthy of their status as a “Big Three” team following a comfortable 3-0 win over Everton on Sunday. With the win, Manchester City edges closer to a top-three ranking in the table, leaping the vanquished Everton to move into fourth place. With plenty of matches left on the 2020/2021 season, a top-three finish is certainly in reach as City strives to move past prior inconsistencies and continues on their current trajectory.

During Sunday’s match, a trio of goals by Ellen White, Gemma Banner, and Janine Beckie went unanswered by Everton in the first half, and City’s solid defensive play held their opponent to only 9 shots throughout the entirety of the contest. Still not impressed? Consider that City’s stellar first half was carried out without the assistance of big-time contributors like Sam Mewis, Chloe Kelly, Georgia Stanway, and Alex Greenwood, all of whom entered the game as second-half substitutions.

While City’s performance against Everton is promising moving forward, their work is nowhere near complete as the squad takes on fellow “Big Three” opponent Arsenal next weekend. Arsenal, who defeated Birmingham City 3-0 in their most recent match, currently boasts a 6-1-1 record and holds second place in the table. For City to continue their climb up the FAWSL rankings, their upcoming contest against Arsenal is a must-win — so buckle up, because it looks like City is only beginning to dip into the talent their roster has to offer.

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE FAWSL:
December 9th:

Bristol City vs. Aston Villa @ 2:30 p.m. EST

December 13th:

Reading FC vs. Manchester United @ 7:30 a.m. EST

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Chelsea @ 9:00 a.m. EST

Birmingham City vs. Everton @ 9:00 a.m. EST

Tottenham vs. Aston Villa @ 9:00 a.m. EST

Bristol City vs. West Ham United @ 9:00 a.m. EST

Manchester City vs. Arsenal @ 9:30 a.m. EST

MATCH INFO:

Manchester City 3, Everton 0

GOALS: Ellen White, 25’; Gemma Banner, 26’; Janine Beckie, 45+2’

A long-awaited rematch of the FA Women’s Cup Final was at hand as Manchester City and Everton faced off on Sunday morning at Walton Hall Park in Liverpool. Ahead of the match, each team had something to prove — for Manchester City, it was cementing their status as a “Big Three” squad, and for Everton, it was holding onto their position at fourth place in the table, with only one game giving them an edge over City. Manchester City would put on one of their most dominant performances of the year to run away with a 3-0 victory over Everton, improving to 4-3-1 on the 2020/2021 season.

Interestingly, City manager Gareth Taylor elected to leave the key players of his team’s recent FA Cup Final victory over Everton on the bench to begin the match — among those names being Sam Mewis, Georgia Stanway, Chloe Kelly, and Alex Greenwood. Though the exclusion of these players from the starting lineup is unfortunate, it seems that Taylor at least took notice of Rose Lavelle’s performance in the recent USWNT friendly, as she was granted a start in Sunday’s contest.

Here’s how it all went down: 

From the opening whistle, Manchester City maintained possession in their attacking third, creating a scoring chance only two minutes into the match. To begin the attack, Janine Beckie slipped a pass to defender Demi Stokes, who had broken away from the Everton player marking her on the left wing. Stokes took a touch, attempting a shot but instead slotting a ball across the face of the net. Nearly getting a foot on the attempt was Ellen White, but no dice as she collided with Everton goalkeeper Alexandra MacIver and the ball exited out of bounds.

White would go on to redeem the missed chance midway through the first half, as Caroline Weir lofted a cross into the Everton box, meeting the head of the forward. Redirecting a looping ball just over the fingertips of MacIver, White scored her fourth goal of the season to grant City a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute of the match.

Only a minute later, City was awarded a corner kick, with Weir on the ball again. This time, the cross found Gemma Banner, who headed home another for City to extend their lead to 2-0 in the 26th minute. In a quick series of events, Everton found themselves down two goals and yet to create a promising attack, now scrambling to cut City’s lead going into the half.

Later, in what seemed to be an opportunity for City’s third goal of the game, Janine Beckie received a pass into space, beating the defender on her back in a show of her speed and skill on the ball. Unfortunately for Beckie, her shot was buried into the side netting, bringing to demise a near-chance for her squad.

In the final minute of the first half, Weir played yet another cross into the Everton box. Finally, Janine Beckie was rewarded for her efforts on offense, meeting the ball in the air and knocking in City’s third goal to end the half. Weir ended the first half with two assists, and was an integral part of her squad’s dazzling performance.

Unfortunately for City, what was otherwise a flawless half ended with Rose Lavelle going down with an apparent knee injury. After the game, manager Gareth Taylor said it was still too soon to know the severity of the injury. (We’re keeping our fingers crossed.)

Everton needed to enter the second half with guns blazing, however, the better part of the second half was purely defensive for both sides. Through nearly 70 minutes of play, neither team was able to find the net, with any chance at marking the scoresheet either cleared out by a defender or swept up by the goalkeeper.

In the 80th minute, Everton forward Nicoline SØrensen played a cross into the Manchester City box, intended for Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah. Boye-Hlorkah redirected the cross towards the goal, but the header fell directly into the hands of City goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck. Though certainly a near-chance for the Blues, it would not be enough to get them on the board.

As the final minutes of stoppage time ticked away, Everton worked desperately to cut into City’s lead, but to no avail.

Everton remains unable to defeat City this year, losing every match against their opponent since January 11th. With Sunday’s loss, Everton falls to fifth place in the table. As the season continues to take shape, the squad will have to solve their struggles with finding the net if they are to secure any wins in upcoming matches.

City, on the other hand, secured three points to move into fourth place. They’ll now have a chance to edge into the top three when they take on Arsenal next weekend. After battling inconsistency earlier in the season, it seems that the powerhouse we once knew City to be is beginning to resurface. Today’s stellar performance leaves no question as to whether they belong in the “Big Three” — now they just need to prove it in the table.

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE FAWSL:

December 9th:

Bristol City vs. Aston Villa @ 2:30 p.m. EST

December 13th:

Reading FC vs. Manchester United @ 7:30 a.m. EST

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Chelsea @ 9:00 a.m. EST

Birmingham City vs. Everton @ 9:00 a.m. EST

Tottenham vs. Aston Villa @ 9:00 a.m. EST

Bristol City vs. West Ham United @ 9:00 a.m. EST

Manchester City vs. Arsenal @ 9:30 a.m. EST

MATCH INFO:

Manchester City vs. Everton

Walton Hall Park, Liverpool, United Kingdom

Kickoff: December 6th, 2020, at 9:30 a.m. ET

WHERE TO WATCH: The FA Player

As the FA Women’s Super League returns following the international break, a rematch of the FA Cup Final is in store as Manchester City and Everton face off this Sunday, December 6th at 9:30 a.m. ET at Walton Hall Park in Liverpool.

Manchester City currently sits at fifth place in the table, holding a 3-3-1 record and having drawn two, won two, and lost one of their last five contests. Usually known as a “Big Three” team (along with opponents Arsenal and Chelsea), City is now being forced to chart new waters as they struggle to solve their problem with inconsistent performances. City is either dominating their competition, as they did in an 8-1 win over Bristol City in early November, or squandering leads to draw as they did in a recent contest against Manchester United. For City to remain competitive in the race for a top-three finish, Sunday’s match is a must-win.

City’s last contest took place during the group stage of the Continental Cup, as they faced off against Manchester United. After ending regular time deadlocked at 0-0, the match required a penalty shootout to decide its winner, though each team received a point given the draw in full time. Unfortunately for City, Laura Coombs’s penalty kick was saved by United goalkeeper Emily Ramsey and Alex Greenwood’s attempt ricocheted off of the crossbar, leading to victory for United, 4-3. Though City was unable to clinch the win in penalties, the point was enough to progress the squad to the next round of Conti Cup play.

As for Everton, the squad has also drawn two, won two, and lost one of their last five matches, with only one win granting them an edge over Manchester City. A loss in Sunday’s contest could mean a demotion into fifth place, which makes the match against City one of the utmost importance.

Everton has yet to defeat their opponent this year, losing by a score of 3-1 in three contests against Manchester City since January 11th. Like City, Everton’s most recent match also took place in the group stage of the Continental Cup, in which the Blues defeated Liverpool 1-0 to secure the Merseyside Derby. Izzy Christiansen notched the game-winning goal in the fifth minute before her squad held on to walk away with the victory.

The last meeting between the two teams took place during the FA Cup Final, which saw Manchester City take home yet another piece of hardware with a 3-1 win over the Blues. Despite a standout performance from Everton goalkeeper Alexandra MacIver, goals from Sam Mewis, Georgia Stanway, and Janine Beckie propelled City to victory. Valérie Gauvin recorded the goal for Everton, battling back from an injury at the beginning of the match to get the Blues on the board, but ultimately it was City who persevered to see the victory through.

Sunday’s match is certain to be a thriller, as City and Everton sit neck-and-neck in the standings. Each team will be looking to set the tone for the rest of their season, so set those alarm clocks early Sunday morning, and roll out of bed for some coffee and FAWSL.