Chelsea

Chelsea maintained their perfect start to the Women’s Super League season with an impressive 3-0 victory over Liverpool, marking their sixth consecutive win. Under the management of Sonia Bompastor, the defending champions have achieved their best-ever start, showcasing their dominance in the league. Bompastor made history by becoming the first manager to win their first four away matches in WSL history, with Chelsea also securing victories against Crystal Palace, Arsenal, and Everton. The team has now won all eight of their matches across all competitions, solidifying their status as a formidable force in women's football.

**Chelsea vs Arsenal: Premier League Live Updates** Join us for live updates from the highly anticipated Premier League clash between Chelsea and Arsenal, kicking off at 4:30 PM GMT. As we approach the final half hour of the earlier matches, excitement builds for this showdown. In team news, Chelsea's Cole Palmer is set to start, which comes as no surprise given the recent speculation about his fitness. Manager Enzo Maresca has kept his cards close to his chest regarding Palmer's condition, but his absence from Chelsea's Conference League squad suggests he is ready to make an impact today. Reece James will start on the bench, with Marc Cucurella taking his place in the lineup and Malo Gusto positioned at right-back. Stay tuned for more updates as the match unfolds!

Liverpool is set to face Chelsea in the Women’s Super League, with the match kicking off at 12:30 PM GMT in St Helens. **Liverpool Starting XI:** - Rachael Laws - Jenna Clark - Gemma Bonner - Gemma Evans - Taylor Hinds (C) - Grace Fisk - Jasmine Matthews - Ceri Holland - Marie Höbinger - Olivia Smith - Leanne Kiernan **Chelsea Starting XI:** - Hannah Hampton - Lucy Bronze - Millie Bright (C) - Kadeisha Buchanan - Sandy Baltimore - Sjoeke Nüsken - Erin Cuthbert - Guro Reiten - Maika Hamano - Johanna Rytting Kaneryd - Mayra Ramírez Stay tuned for live updates on the match!

Leandro Trossard has acknowledged that Arsenal need to be more clinical in front of goal if they hope to improve their performance against Chelsea. Mikel Arteta's team has not secured a Premier League victory since October 5 and recently suffered a defeat to Inter in the Champions League, where they managed 21 shots but only hit the target four times, failing to score for the second consecutive match. With captain Martin Ødegaard sidelined due to injury, Trossard has taken on additional creative duties. Ødegaard is anticipated to make a return at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, which could provide a much-needed boost for the team as they prepare for the London derby.

**Midfield Stars Caicedo and Lavia Push Fernández to Chelsea Bench** Enzo Fernández, the £106.8 million standout from Chelsea's recent 8-0 victory over FC Noah, is set to start on the bench when the team faces Arsenal this Sunday. During the Europa Conference League match, Fernández showcased his talent with a remarkable first-half performance, providing three assists that helped secure the win. His contributions included delivering corners that led to goals from Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi, as well as setting up João Félix for one of his goals. Given Fernández's status as a World Cup winner and his previous record as the most expensive player in England, his dominance in a third-tier European competition was hardly surprising. However, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca's decision to keep Fernández on the sidelines for the second half against Noah raises questions about his management of the player's workload. More likely, the decision reflects the improved balance in the team since Roméo Lavia and Moisés Caicedo have been paired in central midfield, leading to Fernández not starting in the last three league matches. As Chelsea prepares for their clash with Arsenal, it appears that Fernández will continue to play a supporting role from the bench.

**Saliba: Arsenal's Scouting Triumph That Prompted Chelsea's Big Investment** Arsenal made a savvy move in 2019 when they secured William Saliba for £25 million, a decision that would later be contrasted by Chelsea's hefty £70 million acquisition of his teammate, Wesley Fofana. On a chilly, rainy day in Montpellier, Arsenal's interest in Saliba began to take shape. At the time, he was an 18-year-old playing for Saint-Étienne’s under-19 team, and Ty Gooden, Arsenal’s scout in France, had recognized his potential. Gooden's enthusiasm led Francis Cagigao, the club's head of scouting, to travel to the south of France to observe the young talent. Initially, Cagigao and Gooden were focused on another centre-back at Saint-Étienne, who was a year older and already making waves in the first team. This player would eventually be signed by Chelsea for a staggering £70 million. However, it was Saliba's remarkable speed and commanding presence on the pitch that ultimately swayed the Arsenal scouts in his favor over Fofana.

Chelsea's Johanna Rytting Kaneryd is making waves as a key player for the club, showcasing her impressive form and enjoying her time with the goal-scoring Blues. As the team gears up for a crucial stretch of matches, starting with a visit to Liverpool on Sunday, Rytting Kaneryd reflects on her development as a player. In a recent match against Tottenham, she demonstrated her skills with a stunning volley, scoring Chelsea's third goal in a thrilling 5-2 victory. This goal has been recognized as the Women's Super League's goal of the month for October, highlighting her growing confidence on the pitch. Rytting Kaneryd acknowledges that her performance has evolved significantly over the past few months. "A few months ago, that wouldn’t have been as normal for me as it is now," she admits. She emphasizes her commitment to becoming a more dynamic player, focusing on being in the right place at the right time and improving her positioning, particularly at the back post. The coaching staff has been instrumental in guiding her development in these areas, encouraging her to be more direct in her play. As she prepares for the upcoming match against Liverpool, Rytting Kaneryd is determined to continue her growth and avoid becoming a predictable player, which she describes as her "nightmare." With her current form and the support of her coaches, she is poised to make a significant impact in the crucial weeks ahead for Chelsea.

Mikel Arteta is in urgent need of the "Chelsea effect" as he prepares to lead Arsenal into a crucial match against their London rivals at Stamford Bridge this Sunday. The stakes are high for the manager, who is looking to secure a significant result to boost his struggling team. Reflecting on his journey, Arteta recalls a painful lesson from his early days in charge. In December 2019, during his first home game, Arsenal faced Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium. The match epitomized the challenges he was up against, as Arsenal found themselves in the lower half of the Premier League table, with confidence at a low ebb. In that match, a costly mistake by goalkeeper Bernd Leno in the 83rd minute allowed Jorginho to equalize, leading to a dramatic collapse. Chelsea capitalized on the momentum, with Tammy Abraham scoring the decisive late goal, sealing a disappointing defeat for Arsenal. As Arteta prepares for the upcoming clash, he is acutely aware of the need to turn the tide and restore belief within his squad. A positive result against Chelsea could be just what Arsenal needs to regain their footing in the league.

**João Félix Shines as Chelsea Crush Noah 8-0** In a stunning display, Chelsea overwhelmed Noah with an 8-0 victory, showcasing their dominance in the Europa Conference League. João Félix and Christopher Nkunku each netted two goals, leading the charge in a match that saw Chelsea score six unanswered goals in the first half alone. When UEFA first proposed the idea of the Europa Conference League, it’s hard to imagine they anticipated a club of Chelsea’s stature would be dismantling a relatively new Armenian team, founded just seven years ago, in such a lopsided fashion. The competition was designed to provide opportunities for smaller clubs across Europe, and while Chelsea's supporters may relish the chance to add another European trophy to their collection, the reality of this match felt somewhat absurd given the disparity in resources and experience between the two teams. Chelsea's emphatic win over Noah highlighted the challenges faced by clubs in the lower tiers of European football.

**How Much Longer Will Maresca Stick with Sánchez as Chelsea’s No. 1?** Chelsea is grappling with a significant goalkeeper dilemma, a situation that has persisted since Thibaut Courtois left for Real Madrid in 2018. In an attempt to fill the void left by the Belgian, the club made a record-breaking move for Kepa Arrizabalaga that same summer. However, Kepa's tenure at Chelsea has been marked by inconsistency, and he is currently on loan at Bournemouth. He is not the only goalkeeper to struggle in securing the No. 1 position at Stamford Bridge. Édouard Mendy has also come and gone, while Robert Sánchez and Djordje Petrovic have joined the ranks as Chelsea continues its search for a reliable successor to Courtois. Among these, Petrovic has shown the most promise, yet he has been sent out on loan to Strasbourg, further complicating Chelsea's goalkeeping situation. As the club navigates this ongoing challenge, the question remains: how much longer will manager Enzo Maresca continue to rely on Sánchez as the first-choice goalkeeper? The Blues have a range of options available, but finding a consistent and dependable presence in goal has proven elusive.