Women’s Super League

EMMA HAYES has admitted Manchester United are serious title contenders this season ahead of their crunch clash on Sunday.
The second-place Blues trail Casey Stoney’s side by three points with a game in hand.

Emma Hayes has admitted Manchester United are serious WSL title contenders this season

The two title-chasers face off at Kingsmeadow on Sunday, and a win for the West Londoners would see them leapfrog United on goal difference.
Chelsea won the league last term after the campaign was axed on a points-per-game basis amid the coronavirus crisis.
But Hayes has admitted United are fierce competitors for the WSL crown this term under England legend Casey Stoney.
She wrote in her column for the BBC: “Players are often so used to only having male coaches, so we should celebrate the fact we have so many female leaders in the WSL.

“That includes Manchester United manager Casey Stoney.
“Casey is a fantastic leader who has taken that team from one division to the next with a great group of players.
“She is getting the support from her club to be able to build a team that their supporters are proud of.

WSL fixtures Sunday 17 January

Manchester City vs Aston Villa 12:30pm
Everton vs Bristol City 1pm
Reading vs Arsenal 2pm
Birmingham vs Brighton 2pm
Chelsea vs Manchester United 2.30pm
West Ham vs Tottenham 3pm 

“The rise of Manchester United is clear for all to see and they are obvious contenders for titles, so we are really excited and looking forward to playing them on Sunday.

“They are deserving of the position they are in.
“I certainly celebrate the achievements of all women within the game and I am proud that I’m a part of a league that puts these people in positions like that.”
United’s Leah Galton scored a late leveller against Chelsea when they last met to rescue a point – after Sam Kerr’s strike for the champions.
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JESS FISHLOCK admitted a bad week “has done a bit of damage” to the Women’s Super League.
Unnamed WSL players were hit with a storm of backlash after jetting off to Dubai over the Christmas break as UK coronavirus cases continued to surge.

Jess Fishlock admitted a bad week “has done a bit of damage” to the Women’s Super LeagueCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Chelsea’s 5-0 over Reading was the only game of the weekend after five matches had to be postponed as clubs wrestle a rise in positive Covid-19 tests.
Topdogs Arsenal and Manchester City both requested postponements following players testing positive for the killer virus after flying to Dubai.
Superstars from Manchester United and Birmingham were also pictured in the exotic holiday destination.
The postponements came in a week where it was suggested a coin toss could be used to settle FA Cup ties.

And Wales’ record goalscorer Helen Ward said lockdown restrictions could force her into retirement.
Fishlock told BBC Sport Wales: “So much has gone on within the women’s game in the last week that I personally think it has done a bit of damage,
“Not only to women’s football as a whole but to the league itself here. It is a bit of a blow to those of us who want to keep the league growing.”

WSL fixtures Sunday 17 January

Manchester City vs Aston Villa 12:30pm
Everton vs Bristol City 1pm
Reading vs Arsenal 2pm
Birmingham vs Brighton 2pm
Chelsea vs Manchester United 2.30pm
West Ham vs Tottenham 3pm

Manchester United boss Casey Stoney has apologised for what she calls an ‘error in judgement’ after giving her players permission to travel to Dubai.

While West Ham skipper Gilly Flaherty urged the players involved to publicly apologise for contributing to the weekend’s postponements.
 Fishlock added: “It is hard to talk about how this week has gone. It’s the players, the clubs, the FA – for me personally they have got the decisions wrong,
“It’s a sad week for us involved in women’s football and I’m not putting that solely on the players. It’s a shame. Everyone involved is just disappointed in how it has gone.
“We are human beings before athletes and we can get things wrong. Sometimes people make wrong decisions.
“It was human error and that’s okay, but what wasn’t okay was the lack of accountability.
“I have a lot of respect for Casey Stoney. For me, that is what true leadership looks like. But we have to move on from this issue now.”

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GEMMA EVANS wants the Robins to ‘redeem’ themselves when they battle Aston Villa for a place in the Conti Cup semi-finals this evening. 
Bristol City’s impressive run in the competition has been in stark contrast to their struggles in the league with the team yet to pick up a win this term. 

Gemma Evans wants Bristol to redeem themselves against Aston Villa in the Conti Cup quarter-finalsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

This evening Wales centre-back Evans, 24 and her team-mates will take on the Villans at home for the second time this season. 
The last clash between the two sides ended in a crushing 4-0 loss for the Robins who like their rivals are battling to avoid the drop.
Evans told Bristol City’s website: “We’ve all been looking forward to the game. We’ve had a great cup run and we have performed well in all three games in the group.
“It’s a chance for us to redeem ourselves from our previous loss to Villa. 

“We definitely didn’t perform how we wanted to, and it went completely wrong for us, so we have a chance to put things right to a degree.
“It’s been a good build-up to the game. Since we have come back from the break over Christmas, training has been brilliant. 
“It’s been high tempo and positive as we look to start the back end of the season with a bang.
“We have got to be positive; we have got to believe in ourselves and stick together. 

“That should set us on the right path to getting the results that we want and a win will stand us in good stead for the games ahead.
“As a player you want to be in knockout stages and have a shot at winning competitions, because you want to have those milestones in your career.
“We know we’re going to have to be on top of our game to give us the best opportunity to get into the next round.”
The league cup quarter-final between Villa and Bristol will be the first competitive game for both teams this year following the axing of FIVE top flight clashes. 

Aston Villa’s new striker Mana Iwabuchi is due to travel with the Villans to BristolCredit: Getty Images – Getty
And Villa’s new signing, Japan striker Mana Iwabuchi, 27, is expected to travel with  Gemma Davies’s squad to Twerton Park this evening. 
Davies told The Telegraph: “I expect a tough 90 minutes and we’re going to have to work exceptionally hard. 
“There’s a lot of excitement though, a lot of energy as our first game back, and ultimately it’s a quarter-final of a league competition and for us being a newly promoted side, the opportunity to get into a league semi-final, that’s huge for us.”

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CLAIRE RAFFERTY reckons Emma Hayes or Casey Stoney would be ideal candidates as coach of Team GB’s women’s football team. 
But the ex-Chelsea defender thinks it would be tricky to ask the Blues and Manchester United bosses to leave their jobs for a short-term Olympics role. 

Claire Rafferty wishes to see Emma Hayes or Casey Stoney take as Team GB’s women’s football coachCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The vacancy to lead Great Britain’s women’s players at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics was expected to be filled by Phil Neville. 
However, SunSport reports the Lionesses chief, 43, has ditched his Team GB coaching plans and is set to become Inter Miami’s new boss instead. 
Rafferty, 32, told TalkSport 2’s Women’s Football Show: “I would love to see Casey Stoney or Emma Hayes take up the role. 
“I’d like to know if it would affect their ability to manage other teams because as it’s a short-term role, it would be difficult to ask someone to step down. 

“For the likes of someone like Casey Stoney from Man United you really wouldn’t want to be asking her to step down for something that is quite short-term. 
“It would be interesting to see what kind of angle they (the FA) take. 
Neville is expected to be confirmed as the new boss of David Beckham’s MLS Miami club within the next 48 hours. 
It would see the former Man United and Everton star bring the curtain down on his three-year tenure as manager of England Women’s football team. 

In that time Neville has led Lionesses to the 2019 Women’s World Cup semi-finals and to triumph at the SheBelieves Cup. 

Rafferty believes it may be ‘difficult’ to ask Casey Stoney to give up her Man United job for a short-term Olympics roleCredit: Getty Images – Getty

And Rafferty, who played for Great Britain at London 2012, says she understands Neville’s decision opt for a role as a club coach.
Rafferty added: “For Phil, you can’t really blame him in my opinion just because of the way it (Tokyo Olympics) has been pushed back and the fact that the Olympics are short-term. 
“It’s probably a two or three-month contract.”

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MANCHESTER CITY are reportedly in discussions to sign World Cup-winning US star Abby Dahlkemper.
The North Carolina Courage defender is thought to have been offered a ‘multi-year’ deal to swap the NWSL for the Women’s Super League.

Man City are reportedly in talks to sign USA defender Abby DahlkemperCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow

Should Dahlkemper agree to a move, it would see her join US team-mates Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle in Gareth Taylor’s side.
And City’s defensive ranks would be boosted by having the only player to start every game for the United States during their triumphant 2019 World Cup campaign. 
Dahlkemper, 27, has played 62 times for the US Women’s national team. 
The defender was part of a Courage side crowned NWSL Champions in September 2019 after beating Chicago Red Stars 4-0. 

And she was voted Defender of the Year in America’s top women’s football division in 2017. 
Dahlkemper racked up three championship wins in her first four seasons in the National Women’s Soccer League 
These include the ‘treble’ which are the NWSL Shield, the NWSL Championship and the ICC Championship with the Courage in 2018.
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Abby Dahlkemper is the only player to have appeared in every game for the USA at the 2019 Women’s World CupCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow

The former Adelaide United ace is currently with the US women’s squad at a training camp in Florida along with Mewis and Lavelle.
It is thought Dahlkemper will not be able to travel to the UK – if she does decide to sign for City – until after her country’s friendly match against Colombia on January 22.
City, who are yet to play this year, are due to take on Aston Villa at home on Sunday.

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VICKY JEPSON has left her job as Liverpool Women’s boss by mutual consent after a 12-year affiliation with the club.  
The Merseyside team – who were once big guns in the WSL – are currently third in the Women’s Championship. 

Vicky Jepson has left her Liverpool Women’s manager role by mutual consentCredit: PA:Press Association

Jepson, who worked at the club in a variety of roles since 2009, had been in charge of the Reds since October 2018. 
In a statement on the club’s website Jepson said: “It’s with a heavy heart that my time has come to an end with Liverpool Football Club; the place I love and have been lucky enough to call home for over a decade,” said Jepson on the club’s website.
“Over the years I have been fortunate to work across the entire pathway at this club. 
“During this time, I’ve seen so many youth players go on to wear the first-team red shirt, which fills me with immense pride. 

“It’s been a privilege to have contributed to their careers.
“I’m also grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside the talented people at the LFC Foundation. 
“Seeing the increase of girls’ participation in football has been truly inspiring.
“To the many senior players, both past and present, that I’ve worked with, I thank you. 

“Thank you for empowering me with your relentless efforts, professional attitudes and sacrifices that you make daily as a professional footballer.
“I will be forever grateful for our time together and will be supporting you all from afar this season.”
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Liverpool are due to play Leicester in the Women’s Championship on Sunday Credit: Alamy Live News

Jepson’s assistant manager Amber Whiteley has been appointed as Liverpool’s interim boss. 
The team, who were relegated from the women’s top flight last season, are yet to play their first Championship game of the year. 
The club were forced to postpone their clash with London Bees following five positive Covid-19 test results in their squad.
Whiteley and her players are due to take on leaders Leicester City on Sunday.

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LAUREN JAMES has been named a rising star of the women’s game in Europe following her contribution to Manchester United’s journey to the top.
The Red Devils striker – whose brother Reece plays for Chelsea – is featured on UEFA’s 2021 ‘ten to watch’ female players list.

Man United’s Lauren James has been named as one of Europe’s most promising young female players Credit: PA:Press Association

James, 19, who has made five starts across all competitions this term, began her life as a footballer playing for Arsenal boys Under-13s before crossing over to the club’s Under-15’s girls’ team. 
And the London-born player, who joined the Red Devils in 2018, scored her side’s first-ever WSL goal when the team beat Liverpool in their top flight debut season in 2019. 
James, who UEFA describe as a ‘flair-forward’, is in the running to be part of a United squad heading to Chelsea on Sunday for a tantalising title clash.
And the ambitious Red Devils striker posted a training picture on Twitter alongside a caption which reads “it’s great to be back’’. 

The last encounter between the league’s two topdogs ended in a 1-1 draw in September.
James, whose club are currently top in the WSL, is part of the only brother-sister duo to have represented England football teams at senior international level. 
The Man United ace received her first Lionesses call-up from Phil Neville in November last year. 

Lauren and her Chelsea star sibling Reece James are the only brother-sister pair to have represented England football teams at senior levelCredit: Instagram / @rjames

Other starlets included in UEFA’s ‘ten to watch’ LIST include Pernille Harder’s old Wolfsburg team-mate Lena Oberdorf and Lyon wonderkid Vicki Becho. 

The 17-year-old striker is part of the Ligue One Women’s giants who are rivalling Chelsea and Man City for this season’s Champions League crown. 
And the club, who are second in their division, are due to play Stade de Reims next. 

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