Joe Nelson

BBC Sport journalist

The Women’s Super League returns on Friday after a 33-day wait as Liverpool host Brighton.

Some WSL sides returned to action last weekend in the FA Cup, but a ball has not been kicked in the top division since 15 December as the league paused for its annual winter break.

Matt Beard’s side host the high-flying Seagulls under the lights at St Helens Stadium, and Brighton’s form isn’t the only hot topic as the competition resumes.

Here are five talking points as the second half of the campaign gets under way.

The WSL’s returning weekend concludes with a heavyweight encounter between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on Sunday (18:45 GMT).

City got the better of Marc Skinner’s team twice in 2023-24, defeating the Reds 3-1 in both league fixtures.

United have never won at Manchester City in the WSL, and their only victory over the Citizens came by a 2-1 scoreline in May 2023.

But going into the latest derby, it is the Reds who are in the ascendancy after winning all three of their matches in December.

United have only lost once in the league so far this season, while City – who sit second in the WSL – have been beaten twice.

They suffered back-to-back defeats to Everton and Barcelona, in the Champions League, before the winter break, but Gareth Taylor has backed his players to bounce back.

“We were frustrated with the blip against Everton but that can happen,” he said.

“This group of players tend to go on a good run in the second half of the season. We know we are capable of that and we are going to have to do that. There is work to be done for sure. The margins are really tight.”

Chelsea captain Millie Bright could become the player with the outright most wins in WSL history, should the Blues pick up three points against West Ham on Sunday (15:00).

Bright is currently level with former England captain Steph Houghton on 127.

Sonia Bompastor could also make history in the same game, with the Blues manager having the joint-longest unbeaten start to a manager’s career in the WSL after her first 10 matches in charge.

Chelsea’s tally of 28 points after 10 league games is the best ever by a team at this stage and the Londoners are on track to retain the title once more, sitting six points clear at the top of the table.

Two WSL teams begin the second part of the season without permanent managers.

Arsenal are yet to find a permanent replacement for Jonas Eidevall after he resigned in October, while Aston Villa haven’t named Robert de Pauw’s successor.

Renee Slegers has been in interim charge of the Gunners since Eidevall’s departure and has strengthened her chances of being offered the role permanently by going unbeaten in 11 matches, winning 10 and drawing one.

She will be keen to extend that to 12 when Arsenal face relegation-threatened Crystal Palace on Saturday (14:00).

De Pauw was sacked by Villa in December, lasting only six months following his appointment as Carla Ward’s successor in the summer.

Assistant head coach Shaun Goater took charge of the Villans’ final match before the winter break, a 3-0 victory over West Ham which extended the gap between them and the relegation zone to four points.

Six WSL clubs have been active in the winter transfer window so far, with Everton’s loan acquisition of Barcelona defender Martina Fernandez catching the eye.

The Toffees have also brought Manchester United’s midfield duo Hayley Ladd and Emma Watson (loan) to Merseyside, while Liverpool have signed Chelsea midfielder Julia Bartel and Bayern Munich’s Sam Kerr on loan.

Both Manchester clubs, along with Tottenham, have also strengthened this window.

While new faces look to make their mark, City forward Chloe Kelly has been linked with a move away from the Citizens.

Blues manager Taylor was coy when asked about the rumours surrounding the England star.

“At this moment in time there is no news on any deals at all,” he said.

“While that happens she is our player, she is a part of the team and a part of the squad.”

Crystal Palace were promoted to the WSL for the very first time this season and have struggled in the division, winning only once in 2024-25.

The Eagles are rooted to the foot of the table on five points, one below Leicester City and two below West Ham.

The Foxes and the Hammers finished last season just above the drop, with Bristol City unable to stay up after being promoted the preceding summer.

The only other newly promoted side to go down in the campaign following their promotion was Doncaster Belles in 2016.

Palace’s only win so far came away at Leicester. The return fixture is scheduled for the penultimate matchday of the season.

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