GW15: The Power of Mid Season Signings

Nothing is ever secure in the WSL league table...

ARSENAL V MANCHESTER CITY (1–0)

One side is leading the WSL league table. The other recently cemented themselves as champions of the world.

Coming up against one another in North London, Arsenal may well have been considered the underdogs of this fixture; they may officially be the best club in the world, but their on pitch performances have lacked consistency. However, from the moment the Gunners put studs to grass, their dominance over Manchester City was clear.

Seventeen minutes into their home performance, Olivia Smith, with the assistance of Mariona Caldentey, placed the ball in the back of Ayaka Yamashita’s netting. And while there were no more goals from either side, Arsenal made numerous attempts on target, keeping the Gooners in the stands on their toes.

Entering this game 13 points ahead at the top of the league table, City’s command of the 2025/26 season has been a change from Chelsea’s usual control of the title. But, even the best of the best have their off days. Certainly not the result the Manchester side will have wanted, they remain 8 points in front. Just a blip?

LIVERPOOL V ASTON VILLA (4–1)

So far, this has been a season to forget for Gareth Taylor’s Liverpool. Only last game week did the Reds achieve their first win of the 2025/26 season, and in hosting Aston Villa, currently eighth in the table, they made it two on the trot.

Does a second consecutive win signal a change in trajectory? Of the four goals they scored, two came from recent winter transfer signings, namely Martha Thomas and Aurélie Csillag. Mid-season upgrades of a squad can have the potential to truly bring some fire and it would be impossible not to note a correlation in this particular case study.

It was not an easy 90+ minutes for Aston Villa who, clearly, struggled to keep Liverpool’s attack at bay. Having goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo replaced by Ellie Roebuck in the opening minutes of the second half following a collision certainly did not help morale. It’s a day to forget for the Villans.

Liverpool no longer sit bottom of the table, an honour now awarded to Leicester City. Next, they face Chelsea. Can they make it three in a row? Wilder things have happened.

OTHER GAMES ACROSS THE WEEKEND

Leicester City V Manchester United

0–2

London City V Everton

0–1

West Ham V Brighton

3–2

Tottenham V Chelsea

0–2