Sport Writer Charlotte Berman discusses domination from usual suspects and surprises in the bottom half
Chelsea have continued dominating the WSL in the early stages of the 2024/25 season. Despite still missing key striker Sam Kerr, who is expected to make her return in January. Chelsea have kept the goals flowing. Norwegian midfielder Guro Reiten has bagged five goals for the Blues so far, the second-highest tally in the league. Under Sonia Bompastor’s leadership Chelsea do not look like they are slowing down. Bompastor is now the first WSL manager in history to win her opening seven matches. This record-breaking streak indicates that Chelsea will continue fighting hard in the hopes of securing what would be a sixth consecutive league victory.
Under Sonia Bompastor’s leadership Chelsea do not look like they are slowing down
Chelsea will, however, face challenges from a very strong Manchester City side who sit only two points behind. Khadija Shaw is the league’s top scorer, carrying on her form after winning the golden boot last season, notching twenty-one goals. After drawing with Arsenal, and losing to Chelsea, both away, Manchester City have work to do to challenge Chelsea for the title.
They face Arsenal and Chelsea at home on the 2nd of February and 23rd March respectively and will be searching to unleash the likes of Khadija Shaw, Vivianne Miedema, and Jill Roord on their opposition in hopes of securing all three points from both matches. Should they successfully navigate a current injury crisis, they could mount a strong challenge at the league title.
The first surprise of the season comes from Arsenal, a team that usually challenges for the title right from the start has failed to impress this season. With only four wins from eight played, the side have struggled to win against the league giants, and have even struggled against more lowly opposition. Losing to Chelsea in October, and drawing with sides including Everton served as a huge knock to Arsenal’s confidence.
Despite this, the departure of Jonas Eidevall has marked a turning point. Having six wins in the last seven WSL and UWCL matches, with the other game ending in a draw, shows that Arsenal, under management from Renée Slegers, has gone back to their dominating ways. It is however imminently expected that Slegers will step back from her role as interim manager to pave the way for a more permanent replacement. As we come into the new year, Arsenal will be throwing everything into challenging for the league title. However sitting six points behind Chelsea before going into the November international break means there is much work to be done.
Arsenal, under management from Renee Slegers, has gone back to their dominating ways
A team outside the elite that has certainly impressed is Brighton. A team who last season came in 9th place having only picked up 19 points, now sit in 3rd place with 16 points going into the international break. Despite suffering a heavy 5-0 defeat to Arsenal, they have drawn with a strong Manchester United side, and delivered convincing victories against Aston Vila, Crystal Palace, Leicester City, and West Ham.
The arrival of Japanese international Kiko Seike during the summer transfer window has proved crucial to Brighton’s success this season. Sitting in 3rd place in the race for the golden boot, Seike has four goals for the Seagulls so far. Brighton will face tough competition in January, playing both Liverpool and Manchester United away. However, if they keep up their goalscoring ways, they could find themselves challenging for the title, or at a minimum. a place in the champions league.
Looking to the bottom half of the league table, both Tottenham and Aston Villa have failed to live up to expectations. After winning the golden boot in the 2022/23 season with a record breaking twenty-two goals scored, Rachel Daly has struggled, with only four goals in eight appearances so far. Villa have won one of their eight WSL matches, collecting only eight points in total.
Tottenham and Aston Villa have failed to live up to expectations
Tottenham also sit in a similar position with only two wins from their first eight matches. The arrival of Australian duo Hayley Raso and Clare Hunt during the summer transfer window set expectations high for Spurs, however they have failed to deliver. Striker Bethany England has also failed to impress this season, with only two goals so far.
Going into the international break, three teams sit bottom on five points; Leicester City, West Ham, and Crystal Palace. Newly promoted Crystal Palace have struggled to make an impact in the WSL, with their only win coming against Leicester City. Leicester City and West Ham who both finished in 10th and 11th place respectively, will be fighting hard to maintain a status which has been precarious since their entry into the league.
Since the start of the season in September, the WSL has been tumultuous to say the least, with shocks at both ends of the league table. Going into the new year, the pressure is on for all sides in the league to showcase their best football. At the top of the table Chelsea will be looking to complete the season undefeated, whilst Manchester City look to challenge their lead. At the bottom end, a tense relegation battle looms.
The WSL has been tumultuous to say the least
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