Homebound and Determined: Alessia Russo's Thrilling Return to Manchester United - A Bittersweet Reunion?

Man Utd vs Arsenal - Friday, 7.30pm, live on Sky Sports

Manchester United Women

Arsenal Women

Friday 6th October 7:00pm

Kick off 7:30pm

Manchester United Women Arsenal Women

Lucia Garcia's debut season at Manchester United went by unnoticed, despite her notable contributions. Throughout the 24 WSL matches, she showcased her talent, scoring eight goals in her appearances. However, her efforts often went unacknowledged, overshadowing her deserving recognition.

Marc Skinner has always been a devoted fan of Garcia, and he foresaw her playing a significantly more impactful role once she had acclimated to English football. In preseason, he confidently stated, "This year, you can expect to witness an abundance of Lucia's abilities."

"People always desire immediate results, but it is crucial to allow time for adaptation. Lucia has returned in exceptional form, showcasing her remarkable abilities, as you have witnessed. Garcia made a strong start by securing Manchester United's equalizer against Aston Villa on Saturday. She led the game in both shots and dribbles, and ranked second in creating chances, impacting the opposition's box, and maintaining passing accuracy."

She has now netted three goals in her past three WSL matches, both before and after the summer break. With the departure of Alessia Russo and Garcia appearing eager to fill the void left behind, it might be her moment to truly excel. Charlotte Marsh

Is this Garcia's time to shine?

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Russo says she swapped Manchester for Arsenal to win WSL titles

Maybe the victorious goal in the WSL clash between Arsenal and Man United on Friday night would be a conflicting moment for Alessia Russo. It has only been two months since she moved from Old Trafford to north London, but these situations have a tendency to unfold in unexpected ways.

Russo is now a proud member of Arsenal's team. She was delighted when it became evident that United's attempts to secure her with a long-term contract would be fruitless during the summer. The move felt like a perfect fit - the Gunners were in need of more offensive power, while Russo longed for a bigger challenge.

Arsenal's aim this season is to compete for honours. However, they have already suffered a setback by losing to Liverpool on the opening weekend. Such mistakes do not typically lead to championship victories. The WSL season is short and demanding, and even minor errors can have disastrous consequences.

As Russo gets ready to go back to the club where she made a name for herself, the question arises: will she be the one to ignite Jonas Eidevall's team and demonstrate that her move was worth all the hype? Will sentimental feelings come into play? Or will United deliver a performance that highlights what she will be missing?

Will Russo's homecoming end harmoniously?

Week one and Emma Hayes was far from pleased. While she celebrated their victory over Tottenham in the opening weekend, the performance left the Chelsea manager discontented.

Man City vs Chelsea - Sunday, 12.30pm

Hayes employed words such as laboured, complacent, poor, and a step off. If Chelsea replicate that performance against title rivals Manchester City on Sunday, they will suffer a negative outcome. The presence of Sam Kerr, who lagged behind her teammates in recovering from the World Cup, may potentially enhance Chelsea's prospects.

Kerr return could help Chelsea sharpen up

Chelsea's performance against Spurs last week was impressive, with a total of 21 shots. However, having Kerr behind most of those shots could have resulted in an easier outcome. Additionally, the return of Erin Cuthbert to the Chelsea matchday squad presents an opportunity for the Blues to demonstrate their depth and send a strong message to their rivals. On the other hand, when it comes to Manchester City, there is no denying their potential. Nevertheless, doubts linger about their ability to maintain consistent form throughout an entire season, as they seem to falter at crucial moments.

There is no definitive formula for achieving success in the WSL, although Chelsea came close to finding one. However, City's recent attempts seem unconvincing. Their start last season with two losses put them at a disadvantage, always playing catch up to their rivals. Winners initiate action from the beginning rather than being two steps behind.

The potential of this season is to be different. City's style of play is visually pleasing, occasionally dazzling, and at their peak, they can overpower any opponent. While they have always had talented individuals, what is crucial is that now their collective strength has had time to develop and unite.

Last season might have been seen as a period of transition, with numerous player changes, transfers from overseas leagues, and the necessity to rebuild a sense of camaraderie that was disrupted by many departures.

Man City still have much to prove

Potential Upset against Chelsea Could Enhance Their Promising Start

A remarkable beginning to the new term, triumphing over West Ham despite having only 10 players, would be significantly elevated if they could stun Chelsea on Sunday. Such an outcome would undeniably create quite a stir. Laura Hunter

Liverpool Women

Aston Villa Women

Sunday 8th October 6:30pm

Kick off 6:45pm

Liverpool vs Aston Villa - Sunday, 6.45pm, live on Sky Sports

Liverpool continue their impressive start to the WSL with yet another significant win. After their stunning triumph over Chelsea in the opening game of the 2022/23 season, Matt Beard's squad secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Arsenal, all within the electrifying atmosphere of a record-breaking crowd at the Emirates.

Notwithstanding last season's unexpected triumph, Liverpool experienced a challenging phase of seven matches without a win, although this period did feature two captivating 3-3 draws against both Brighton and Reading. Their next taste of victory only arrived in early December when they faced West Ham.

Liverpool will undoubtedly aim to capitalize on their previous triumphs this season. They will have back-to-back matches aired live on We, starting with their encounter against Aston Villa on Sunday, followed by the highly-anticipated Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield.

In the corresponding fixture last year, Liverpool suffered a 3-0 defeat shortly after defeating Chelsea. They will unquestionably seek redemption for that letdown when October 15 arrives.

Beard expressed his belief in having a stronger squad this time, mentioning the importance of preserving consistency. Referring to the previous year's experience, he pointed out the moment when they faltered during the Anfield game.

"But it's one game. We beat Chelsea last year and everyone was raving about it and then we went on a run without winning. For me, it's just important we keep our feet on the ground."Charlotte Marsh