Elisabeth Terland was at her clinical best on Thursday night to fire Manchester United into the Women's Champions League proper for the first time, her hat-trick haunting former side Brann and giving the Red Devils a 3-0 win which rendered last week's 1-0 loss in Bergen meaningless.
When it was revealed that Leah Williamson would miss the start of the new Women's Super League season, most assumed Lotte Wubben-Moy or Laia Codina would take her place in the heart of Arsenal's defence. Wubben-Moy came into the campaign fresh off the back of a new contract and a role in England's Euro 2025 triumph, while Codina's status as a key starter in Spain's World Cup win in 2023 tells you the level she can reach. And yet, both have been usurped by 18-year-old Katie Reid.
It’s well-known at this point that despite winning back-to-back European Championship titles and reaching a World Cup final in between, England’s Lionesses have a problem at left-back. There’s a real lack of options for Sarina Wiegman in the position and shoehorning players into it hasn’t helped much either - leaving many wondering just what Gabby George has to do to get her chance.
Ordinarily, when Sam Kerr gets the ball inside the six yard box, she shoots. We're talking about one of the deadliest strikers on the planet, someone who has set records on three continents and scored more international goals than any player in Australia's history. But when she found herself in that position on Sunday, as Chelsea visited Aston Villa, it was the first time she had done so in 634 days. So while her uncharacteristic decision to pass was somewhat jarring, given how unfamiliar it looked, it was understandable.
The Lionesses' shot-stopper kept Sonia Bompastor's side in the game at times, before the champions showed their quality to battle to victory
The league's all-time top goal-scorer was surprisingly wasteful on Friday night, but Andree Jeglertz's side were able to come through despite that
England's schedule for the remainder of 2025 has been confirmed, with the Lionesses to host Brazil, Australia and Ghana before the year is out.
The Red Devils need to win at home next week if they are to make it through to the UWCL proper for the first time in their history.
The England star faces plenty of competition at the Gunners from Chloe Kelly, Olivia Smith and Caitlin Foord, but still has a big part to play
Lionesses star Grace Clinton will not make her Man City debut against Brighton on Friday - but there is good news on Alex Greenwood's injury situation.
