The return of England midfielder Grace Clinton to her former club Everton was a joyous occasion as she netted her second goal in consecutive games for Manchester United, further cementing her importance to Marc Skinner's tactical approach. Beyond her goal, the 21-year-old from Merseyside demonstrated impressive ball control and physical presence, contributing significantly to United's midfield dynamics. Skinner particularly praised her off-the-ball efforts, stating, "While goals are celebrated, I was most impressed by her pressing today. She's doing well, but I need to keep challenging her—that's my role." Clinton spent the previous season honing her skills on loan at Tottenham. Skinner remarked, "I always knew we were bringing her back. I gave her the No 8 shirt for a reason—we wanted her to learn defensive aspects at Tottenham, which she did."
The 7-0 victory by Chelsea over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, though impressive, was a tale of two halves. It took Chelsea 38 minutes to penetrate Palace's defense on Friday night, with Aggie Beever-Jones's goal being their sole reward in a dominant first half. Palace had several promising opportunities that more seasoned WSL teams would have capitalized on. Despite conceding six goals in the second half, the home team managed to create chances on the counterattack. Sonia Bompastor's team may have found their scoring touch but must improve their defensive resilience. Bompastor noted, "I reflect deeply on games and training sessions; I never take anything for granted. Tonight, we need to work on our defensive game and make progress."
Manchester City midfielder Jill Roord made a triumphant return in the 1-0 win over Brighton after a 249-day absence due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Roord, who replaced Vivianne Miedema in the 80th minute, looked lively. The Joie Stadium erupted in applause as fans and coaches welcomed her back. City's head coach, Gareth Taylor, commended Roord's recovery: "She asked insightful questions, aligned quickly with the plan, and executed it daily without fail. The medical team had nothing but praise for her; she never had a bad day. She nailed it, which is why she's back. Her mentality and top-level play are her greatest strengths."
Leicester's spirited performance against Arsenal on Sunday was marred by a passing error that allowed the Gunners to secure a 1-0 victory. Leicester defender Catherine Joan Bott, who had a solid game otherwise, made a weak backpass to goalkeeper Lize Kop, enabling Alessia Russo to intercept. Russo then set up Frida Maanum for her second league goal of the season. Leicester's manager, Amandine Miquel, who joined in the summer, accepted the error's impact on the game: "The goal resulted from a mistake, which can happen."
There was much anticipation when Liverpool signed Canadian forward Olivia Smith in the summer. The 20-year-old, considered one of football's rising stars, quickly demonstrated her worth. Her pressing was crucial in the move leading to her first goal for the club against West Ham. Her seventh-minute opener in Dagenham was a perfect start for the visitors, but Liverpool's inability to secure the win frustrated Matt Beard. Despite more possession and chances, Liverpool managed only two shots on target. As the match progressed, an equalizer seemed inevitable, and Rehanne Skinner's side delivered through Riko Ueki in the 85th minute.
The maturing Tottenham side, led by Robert Vilahamn, showcased their growth at Villa Park. The match was expected to be a high-scoring affair, but Spurs struggled offensively against an equally attacking Aston Villa. However, their defensive resilience and work ethic were notable improvements from the previous season. Villa, under new manager Robert de Pauw, dominated but Spurs limited their chances while capitalizing on their own. The game came alive in the final 20 minutes, with Rachel Daly nearly securing victory for her side. However, Tottenham's prolific striker Bethany England had other plans, scoring a 96th-minute header to salvage a draw.
