Women's Super League

Ciara Fleming
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Rehanne Skinner has welcomed the arrival of the Women's Super League winter break, saying it is "healthy to get away from it sometimes", ahead of West Ham's crunch match at the bottom of the table against Liverpool on Sunday.

"The break is often a good thing," said Skinner in her pre-match press conference. "We responded brilliantly after the break in October and the spell between was really positive.

"Then we had another international break and we played well against (Manchester) United, came back from a goal behind, gave a good account of ourselves."

The Hammers currently sit 11th on four points, having struggled in the first half of 2025-26.

They would slip to the foot of the table if Liverpool win their game in hand away at Aston Villa on Thursday evening.

Skinner added: "When you get those natural breaks it gives people a chance to remember there's other stuff as well, because football can be all consuming. A step back can often be a real positive."

Having won just one of their opening 10 games this season, West Ham will be looking to end the calendar year on a positive note against Liverpool.

"Being at home is a massive plus for us. We want to make sure we give our fans a home league win before the Christmas break.

"We have strong characters in the group who know how to get things done. So we just need to make sure that we turn up and do that."

Image source, Getty Images

Midfielder Drew Spence has signed a new long-term contract with Women's Super League club Tottenham.

The 33-year-old has made 75 appearances for the Lilywhites to date, scoring ten goals since joining from London neighbours Chelsea in 2022.

"I'm really happy. I feel so comfortable here at the Club and I can see where it's progressing to, and it shows in our results so far," said Spence.

"It feels like a family. The feeling amongst the girls is great and we're learning every day. It's been a massive six months for us, and we have to keep taking these steps."

The Jamaica international has been a mainstay for Tottenham under new boss Martin Ho this season, playing nine of the side's first 10 league games.

Spurs currently sit in fifth place on 19 points, just one point shy of the club's 2024-25 season tally after 11 fewer games.

Head coach Ho added: "What sets Drew apart is not just how she plays, but how she behaves. She leads by example every single day. Her work ethic is unwavering, her competitiveness is infectious, and her willingness to take responsibility has become a benchmark for others. "

"Her personality carries weight in this group, she brings experience, honesty and a calm authority that strengthens the entire environment."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa manager Natalia Arroyo says they want to "create a winning culture" by beating Liverpool in the Women's Super League on Thursday.

Villa sit eighth in the table with two wins and four draws from their opening nine matches.

They drew with European champions Arsenal in September and beat Manchester United away from home last month, but Arroyo wants her side to show the same level of "winning desire" against teams below them in the table.

"We need to grow there," she said. "We are competing with the top teams - and we need to keep doing that - but we need to grow in these games where we can have some pressure off.

"We must wins those games and build pressure without a fear of losing. We want more of a desire of winning.

"This feeling we have against the top teams, we need to bring that here also. I want to see if [the players] are better there. We need to grow in this mentality.

"Liverpool are behind us in the table, they need points as much as us, but we are here to create a winning culture and that starts with winning games you think you must win."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool are seeing "small wins" internally and the players' belief remains strong, says manager Gareth Taylor despite not picking up a league victory this season.

The Reds sit bottom of the Women's Super League table with two points from their first nine matches under Taylor.

Former Manchester City boss Taylor was hired late in the summer and Liverpool have had a thin squad for most of the season due to injuries.

They conceded a late goal against European champions Arsenal on Saturday in a narrow 2-1 defeat, following draws with Chelsea and Brighton last month.

But Taylor thinks those performances are "really important" in their progress.

"If you don't have the result or the performance then you're really starting to clutch for things. Our performances have improved - not always in a linear path - but you can certainly see that," he told BBC Sport.

"Our brief was to bring a unique style and identity. If you look at the changes to this Liverpool team, and not just in personnel but the way we play, it's been in a progressive way and in a manner that is hopefully attractive to the team playing it.

"There is a lot of work to do in that space, don't get me wrong, but it can also be attractive for bringing players to the club. It's not just doing it to play nice football, it's to win and I truly believe in it.

"There have been moments we've been close and just not quite crossed the line for various reasons. The belief levels, considering we've had some difficult results, have been really good.

"We've made compromises to the way we've played. We don't want to but we have to be realistic with what we have. I think people can see we're getting closer."