Women’s Super League

HOPE POWELL says Brighton are looking to spoil Arsenal’s top-three hopes as Albion hunt for a third win against a WSL big gun. And the Seagulls boss reckons the upturn in her side’s league form means they are unlikely to be underestimated by their top-flight rivals.
Hope Powell’s players hope to get a result against Arsenal after beating Man UnitedCredit: Rex
The last clash between Arsenal and Brighton this season ended in a 5-0 away win for the GunnersCredit: Getty
Brighton, who are sixth and the only team to have beaten Chelsea this term, have won six of their last seven games across all competitions.
They are targeting another major scalp after defeating Man United who are battling Arsenal for Champions League qualification. 
And the Seagulls are yet to beat the Gunners since their arrival in the Women’s Super League in the 2018-19 season. 
Powell, 54, said: “I think what Arsenal won’t do is take us for granted, which perhaps doesn’t help us.  
“Historically they would beat us and I think there’ll be absolutely on it in this game.
“They want to secure a top-three spot to go into Europe, but what we’re trying to do is spoil their party as we would do with any team that we come up against. 
“I think now, because of recent results, teams will make sure that they’re absolutely on it. 
“And Arsenal will come at us and I’m sure they will play their strongest side.
“For us, that means a very tough game. And we will make it tough for them. We will do our utmost to be the best we can.” 
Joe Montemurro’s side who have their sights set on a return to Champions League action next term are currently level on points with United
But the Gunners have a superior goal difference to the Red Devils and a game in hand.
Brighton will face Reading and Bristol in their final two games of the seasonCredit: PA

And wins against Brighton, Everton, West Ham and Villa will guarantee Arsenal a coveted spot in Europe. 
Montemurro, 51, said: “If we stick to our way and make sure that we don’t allow Brighton to be good in the areas that they are we should be able to get over the line.
“But it’s going to be very tough as they use quick transitions and have a very good defensive shape.”
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Arsenal will be hoping for a home win against Brighton as they target Champions League qualificationCredit: Getty
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ANN-KATRIN BERGER admits she is ‘quite critical’ of her shot-stopping heroics for Chelsea despite Emma Hayes hailing her efforts as world-class. And the WSL ace who helped seal a Champions League semis spot for the Blues relishes seeing herself as an underdog. 
Ann-Katrin Berger hopes to reach the Women’s Champions League final with Chelsea this seasonCredit: Colorsport
Berger’s breathtaking saves against Atletico Madrid and Wolfsburg helped Hayes’ side line up a clash over two legs with Bayern Munich.
The German giants and the WSL league leaders are battling for a place in the finals against PSG or Barcelona. 
But perfectionist Berger, 30, keeps an eye out for errors in performances that have won her praise from pundits. 
The Kingsmeadow keeper told SunSport ahead of today’s first leg: “I couldn’t tell you which of my games is my best performance.
“Even in my best games, I find a mistake or something annoying.
“You would have to ask my goalkeeping coach that because I’m quite critical of myself. 
“With the Atletico and Wolfsburg matches, I was just doing my job.
“I enjoy goalkeeping for Chelsea because I have a really good connection with the front four and midfield. 
“It makes it so much easier for me to do my job. And having the faith the defenders have given me, I think it’s the nicest feeling to get that trust you need to work.”
Chelsea are vying to become the first English team to be crowned football queens of Europe since Vic Akers’ 2007 Arsenal side. 
Chelsea hope to pick up an away win in the first leg of their semis clash with Bayern MunichCredit: Getty

And the Blues, who are two wins away from retaining their WSL title, have battled through some dramatic clashes on their way to their third Champion League semi-finals. 
Results include their 3-1 aggregate victory against Atletico and a 5-1 win against German champions Wolfsburg.
And Berger, who has kept 13 clean sheets in 20 games in Europe and the WSL, played a crucial part in those victories including two penalty saves against Atletico. 
The WSL star, whose football journey began with watching her late father Alois compete in a Sunday League, is relishing the battle with German league leaders Bayern.
And this term’s semis will not include seven-time winners Lyon who crashed out in the quarter-finals
They suffered a shock 2-2 aggregate loss on away goals to Berger’s former club PSG.
Chelsea hope to become the first English club since Arsenal to triumph in EuropeCredit: Getty
Berger added: “I think Bayern Munich this year are really, really good. They have a really strong squad.
They’ve improved in the last couple of years so it will be a very hard game I think, even harder than Wolfsburg. 
“But I also know that we have the quality to win this game as well. It will be a good game to watch.”
It has been seven years since Berger last played in the top-flight of women’s football in Germany with her career beginning in 2011 as a stopper for Turbine Potsdam.
Since then the Blues star has enjoyed spells at PSG and Birmingham from 2014 to 2018, before sealing a 2019 switch to Chelsea. 
And despite making the shortlist for FIFA’s 2020 Women’s Goalkeeper of the year, Berger enjoys seeing herself as an underdog.
Berger added: “In the past, I have called myself an underdog. 
“That’s because being an underdog you can actually choose who you want to be.
“That helped me a lot because I’m completely different to a lot of other goalkeepers
“And moving from Germany made me open my mind so I could peak.
Lyon’s shock quarter-final exit has blown this term’s Champions League contest wide openCredit: Rex
Berger believes the women’s game in England is becoming a more attractive prospect to players in Germany with the WSL sealing the biggest TV broadcasting deal in the history of women’s football 
The Blues stopper added: “I recently played with the national team and players from Germany were really excited about what happened in England because of the (TV) deal. 
“I feel like all the women’s leagues in Europe are in competition. I think this deal will help women’s football around the world.”
Berger says the WSL is becoming more attractive as a league to players in GermanyCredit: Reuters
Emma Hayes gets stuck into Chelsea training More

ANN-KATRIN BERGER helped Chelsea snatch a precious point at Man City with the champs on course to win their fourth WSL title. The Germany stopper’s stunning saves along with goals from Sam Kerr and Pernille Harder saw the Blues secure a drama-fuelled 2-2 draw.
Ann-Katrin Berger’s stunning second-half saves helped Chelsea secure a point at Man CityCredit: Getty
Chelsea could win their fourth WSL title if they win their remaining two league fixtures this seasonCredit: Reuters
The outcome saw the league leaders extend their advantage at the top by two points.
And the Blues are just two games away from becoming the first side to win back-to-back WSL titles since Liverpool in 2013 and 2014. 
And Emma Hayes hailed Berger’s world-class shot-stopping with her team due take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Sunday. 
Hayes said: “You can score goals to win games but the defence wins championships and she  (Ann-Katrin) is an unbelievable asset to the team. 
“She is the best goalkeeper in this country, I think along with Christiane Endler they’re the best in the world and she’s improving. 
“The more pressure she gets, the more she responds. 
“My team is extremely resilient, and there’s a mentality within the dressing room that if we’re not playing very well, someone’s going to bail us out.
“I know (before signing Ann)  people thought I had wonderful goalkeepers.
“I knew what she was capable of and refused to let her play anywhere else. 
“I wanted her here at this football club and she’s justified that decision fully.”
Berger and her team-mates will face Bayern Munich next in the Champions League semisCredit: Reuters

The highly anticipated battle between the WSL heavyweights lived up to its billing with both teams on the attack from the off. 
The hosts threatened within the first ten minutes and had a decent chance to take the lead with Sam Mewis sending her close-range header over the bar in the ninth minute. 
And Alex Greenwood headed the ball off the line moments later following a backwards headed effort from Sam Kerr. 
The 0-0 scoreline lasted until the 24th minute with hotshot Kerr losing her marker to put the Blues in front with a bullet header. 
But Gareth Taylor’s side refused to be bowed and hit back with an equaliser with a Chloe Kelly tap in four minutes later. 
There was penalty drama close to the half-hour mark after Kerr was brought down by Ellie Roebuck.
While the City keeper appeared to have got the ball ref Rebecca Welch pointed to the spot with Harder converting to put the visitors ahead. 
Lauren Hemp was on target for City who came close to snatching a third goal against Chelsea late on in the gameCredit: PA
The second half was just as frenetic as the first with the game becoming stretched as Man City searched for an equaliser. 
And they got one with Chloe Kelly taking advantage of an awkward Fran Kirby pass to set up Lauren Hemp.  
And the England winger poked home a leveller for City with 16 minutes of normal time remaining. 
Moments later Hemp would force a brilliant reflex save from Berger with the keeper parrying the ball over the bar. 
And the Blues stopper denied Stanway before Bronze missed a gilt-edged chance to score in stoppage time with the visitors securing a draw. 
A home clash with Birmingham is up next for Man City. 
The most important thing is we make sure we focus on what we’re able to control which is our final two gamesGareth Taylor
But should they draw or lose to Carla Ward’s side then Chelsea could clinch the title if they win their derby duel with Tottenham. 
And Taylor says his players intend to battle until the end of the season following the disappointment of their draw with Chelsea. 
Taylor said: “I thought girls left everything out on the pitch and played some really good stuff in the second period and dominated proceedings.
“We looked like we were going to get the late winner. It took a world-class save from their keeper to keep them in it. 
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Chelsea will play Tottenham and Reading in their final two games of the seasonCredit: Colorsport
“We just run out of time in the end so you can understand that the disappointment for the girls, 
“The most important thing is we make sure we focus on what we’re able to control which is the final two games.
“We need to take care of those games, finish the season strong, make sure we remain unbeaten at home and control we do. 
“Anything else that happens elsewhere is out of our control, but we need to give ourselves the best possible chance.”
Man City are now two points behind Chelsea ahead of their game against BirminghamCredit: Getty
Emma Hayes gets stuck into Chelsea training More