WSL talking points: Man Utd vs Liverpool, Arsenal vs Aston Villa, Chelsea vs Brighton and more

Has Manchester United Lost Their Spark Again?

Manchester United takes on Liverpool this Sunday at 12 PM, with the match being broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Manchester United started the season strong with three consecutive wins, but they've managed to secure just one victory in their last five matches.

Marc Skinner was lucky to keep his job over the summer after finishing behind the team they are facing this weekend. However, he might soon face mounting pressure again, as his team has lost points this season against Brighton, Arsenal, Aston Villa, and now Chelsea.

The only loss they faced isn't something to be ashamed of, particularly considering they managed to hold a team that had netted 25 goals in their first seven matches to just a 1-0 win.

However, failing to take a single shot on target until the 90th minute, coupled with Skinner's later explanation of his strategic choices, left a bitter impression.

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"It's not about being defensive," he stated. However, it certainly seemed that way.

Elisabeth Terland's absence was bound to be noticeable at Kingsmeadow, but Skinner's decisions regarding tactics sparked further inquiries, especially with the late contributions from substitute Melvine Malard. During the half-hour she played, Malard struck the bar and created several challenges for Chelsea's defense.

Going up against a Liverpool team that hasn't managed to secure a single clean sheet this season could be beneficial. The Reds have managed to climb back into the top half of the table, even though they've only won two out of their eight matches. While they're currently just behind United in the standings, they find themselves six points behind already.

Losing to their city rivals, especially to a struggling Everton team, was tough for Matt Beard's squad, especially since the penalty that led to the defeat was given for a foul outside the penalty area. However, with just a four-point gap separating the bottom seven teams in the WSL, they can't afford to dwell on this setback for long.

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Slegers' Extension Provides Arsenal Stability

Arsenal will take on Aston Villa this Sunday, with the match starting at 2 PM.

Renee Slegers has effectively stabilized the Arsenal team following the challenges faced during the last weeks and months of Jonas Eidevall's leadership.

With six victories out of seven in both Europe and the Women's Super League (WSL), they have secured their spot in the Champions League knockout stage with two matches still remaining.

While the chances of winning the domestic title are likely out of sight, the four-point distance to second-place Man City now seems much more reachable than it did when she assumed her role just under eight weeks ago.

She has earned another opportunity to present her case to take over her previous boss's position.

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She acknowledges that having a permanent manager is clearly the best option for the club. However, considering her performance so far and the fact that there are three out of four upcoming matches that are quite manageable before the winter break, it makes sense for the Gunners to be patient in their decision-making.

Has Aston Villa found their rhythm just at the right moment before facing Sunday’s challengers?

They achieved their first victory after seven attempts in their recent match against Crystal Palace, just before the international break. Ebony Salmon scored the decisive goal in the 94th minute, capping off a total of 22 shots aimed at the opposing team's goal.

Aston Villa has struggled with their finishing throughout the season, but they have the resources to turn things around. This is particularly true with Rachel Daly on the team, as she recently scored her 50th goal for the club in that victory.

Can Brighton Stop Bompastor's Winning Streak?

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Chelsea will face off against Brighton on Sunday, with the match scheduled to start at 2 PM.

Running Chelsea seems easy, doesn’t it? You step in after one of the greatest managers ever, make a few adjustments, and then kick back and enjoy the outcomes. Sonia Bompastor is demonstrating that it's almost that simple.

Her team shows greater determination than just relying on their skills to get by. Manchester United, known for having the toughest defense in the league, was expected to provide a serious challenge before the international break, but they were completely outplayed, even though the Blues weren't at their peak performance.

A week earlier, Manchester City faced a similar fate, managing to get just two shots on goal.

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In contrast to Skinner and Gareth Taylor, Brighton coach Dario Vidosic comes to Kingsmeadow this weekend without the pressure of needing to leave Sussex with any points.

With five victories out of eight matches, he has made a positive impact in his inaugural season on the south coast. Additionally, their exciting playing style has been a pleasant surprise, as they've scored more goals than Manchester United and Tottenham, and just one goal fewer than Arsenal.

Teams that have been aggressive against Chelsea have experienced some success, but often with considerable setbacks this season. Just look at Spurs, who departed from south London after suffering a heavy 5-2 defeat, even though they managed to create a few challenging situations for Chelsea's defense.

It’s hard to say if this match will resemble their earlier 1-1 tie with Manchester United or the heavy 5-0 loss they faced against Arsenal afterward. Anything could happen. The one thing we can be sure of is that we’re in for an exciting 90 minutes.

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Change Is Coming At The Bottom..

West Ham will take on Crystal Palace on Sunday, with the match starting at 2:30 PM.

The two teams are positioned near the bottom of the league, with just a six-goal difference in goals conceded, as West Ham prepares to take on Crystal Palace this Sunday. Rehanne Skinner's team ended up in second-to-last place last season and is experiencing a slightly better season this time around.

There's a sense of hope surrounding the Chigwell Construction Stadium now that the team has hit its stride. They managed to secure a victory against Leicester in their recent home league match, followed by a close 3-2 loss at Brighton. However, they bounced back impressively with a 4-1 win over London City Lionesses in the Continental Cup right before the international break.

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After earning promotion, Palace seemed to be gaining some traction, gathering five points from five matches following heavy losses to Tottenham and Chelsea in their first two games. However, a last-minute loss against Aston Villa, who had yet to win this season, dampened the spirits of Laura Kaminski's team.

Annabel Blanchard's performance has been encouraging for the visitors, as she has contributed three of their six goals so far and scored both in their only win, a 2-0 triumph over Leicester. However, their main worry will be steering clear of falling behind, similar to what happened to Bristol City last year. They face a challenging stretch ahead, with upcoming matches against Arsenal, Tottenham, Brighton, and two games against Manchester United in the next five fixtures.