Have Man Utd gone off the boil once more?

Man Utd vs Liverpool – Sunday, kick-off 12pm, dwell on Sky Sports activities

Man Utd opened the season with three straight victories however have received solely one in all their 5 video games since then.

Marc Skinner was lucky to stay in publish in the summertime after ending behind this weekend’s opponents, and is now in peril of discovering himself below stress as soon as once more after dropping factors in opposition to Brighton, Arsenal, Aston Villa and now Chelsea this season.

The latter outcome, the one defeat, isn’t any shame, particularly limiting a facet who had scored 25 occasions of their opening seven video games to a 1-0 victory.

However dropping having managed a solitary shot on objective till the ninetieth minute, and Skinner’s subsequent defence of his tactical choices, left a bitter style.

“It isn’t a defensive mentality,” he stated. It definitely felt like one.

Elisabeth Terland’s absence was all the time going to be felt at Kingsmeadow, however Skinner raised extra questions on his tactical decisions given the late influence of substitute Melvine Malard, who hit the bar and brought about Chelsea some defensive complications within the half-hour she was on the pitch.

Dealing with a Liverpool facet who haven’t stored a clear sheet all season could assist. The Reds have manoeuvred themselves into the highest half once more regardless of successful solely two of their eight video games, and though sitting a spot behind United, are already six factors adrift.

A stinging defeat to metropolis rivals and beforehand rock-bottom Everton final outing was significantly painful given the successful penalty was awarded for a foul dedicated exterior the field, however with the underside seven sides within the WSL now separated by solely 4 factors there’s little time for Matt Beard’s facet to really feel sorry for themselves.

Slegers’ extension presents Arsenal stability

Arsenal vs Aston Villa – Sunday, kick-off 2pm

Renee Slegers has finished a positive job steadying the Arsenal ship after the water taken on within the closing months and weeks of the Jonas Eidevall reign.

Six wins from seven in Europe and the WSL have ensured their development into the Champions League knockouts with two video games to spare.

Although the home title might be already out of attain, the four-point hole to second-placed Man Metropolis seems to be eminently extra attainable than it did when she took over lower than eight weeks in the past.

She has deserved an extra likelihood to make the case to succeed her former supervisor.

“A everlasting supervisor is finest for the membership, clearly,” she admits – however given her file to this point and going through three very winnable video games from 4 earlier than the winter break, there’s methodology to the Gunners taking their time.

However have issues began to click on for Sunday’s opponents Aston Villa at simply the fitting time?

They lastly picked up a primary win on the eighth time of asking in opposition to Crystal Palace within the final sport earlier than the worldwide break, with Ebony Salmon’s 94th-minute strike the final and most important of twenty-two pictures on the guests’ objective.

Villa have been wasteful all season however have the instruments at their disposal to alter that, particularly when Rachel Daly, who fired in her fiftieth objective for the membership in that win, is round.

Can Brighton finish Bompastor’s excellent dozen?

Chelsea vs Brighton – Sunday, kick-off 2pm

Managing Chelsea is easy, proper? You’re taking over from top-of-the-line managers in historical past, tweak just a few bits right here and there and sit again to look at the outcomes. Sonia Bompastor is making it look that easy.

Her facet have extra mettle than merely utilizing their high quality to undergo the motions. The leanest defence within the league, Man Utd, have been meant to supply them a stern check earlier than the worldwide break however have been dominated even with out the Blues wherever close to their finest.

Man Metropolis have been dispatched in comparable vogue per week earlier than, managing solely two pictures on track.

In contrast to Skinner and Gareth Taylor, Brighton boss Dario Vidosic arrives at Kingsmeadow this weekend with out the expectation of returning to Sussex with something.

5 wins from eight has put him firmly in credit score in his first season on the south coast, and their entertaining fashion – scoring extra objectives than Man Utd and Tottenham, and just one fewer than Arsenal – has been a bonus.

Groups who take the sport to Chelsea have discovered some pleasure, however accompanied with extra important ache this season. Simply ask Spurs, who left south London on the unsuitable finish of a 5-2 battering regardless of giving the Blues some worrying moments defensively.

Whether or not this one finally ends up extra like their 1-1 draw with Man Utd or the 5-0 hammering at Arsenal which adopted, something is on the desk. The one assure appears that it will be an entertaining 90 minutes.

One thing has to offer on the backside…

West Ham vs Crystal Palace – Sunday, kick-off 2.30pm

Backside play second backside, separated by solely six objectives conceded, as West Ham host Crystal Palace on Sunday. Rehanne Skinner’s facet completed second-bottom of the pack final season, and are discovering life little simpler this season.

Nevertheless, there’s optimism to be gained across the Chigwell Building Stadium after lastly getting up and working in opposition to Leicester of their final residence league sport, earlier than a slim 3-2 defeat at Brighton after which a 4-1 win at London Metropolis Lionesses within the Continental Cup earlier than the worldwide break.

Newly-promoted Palace constructing some momentum with 5 factors from as many video games after hammerings by Tottenham and Chelsea of their opening two, earlier than a last-minute defeat at previously-winless Aston Villa of their final sport soured the temper considerably for Laura Kaminski’s facet.

The type of Annabel Blanchard, who has scored three of their six objectives to this point and netted each of their solitary win, a 2-0 victory at Leicester, is a optimistic for the guests, whose best concern will likely be to keep away from the specter of changing into lower adrift this weekend as Bristol Metropolis did a 12 months earlier than them. Particularly with a run of Arsenal, Tottenham, Brighton and two video games with Manchester United to return of their subsequent 5 matches.