Arsenal delivered a commanding performance on Saturday, defeating Liverpool 4-0 at the Emirates Stadium to keep their Women’s Super League (WSL) title hopes alive. The victory, witnessed by a crowd of 35,628, reduced the gap to league leaders Chelsea to just five points, with Arsenal now firmly in contention as the season enters its decisive phase.
The Gunners dominated from start to finish, showcasing a brand of football that left Liverpool struggling to cope. Caitlin Foord opened the scoring in the 28th minute, capitalizing on a failed clearance from a right-wing corner to slot home from close range. Just 90 seconds later, Arsenal doubled their lead when Alessio Russo set up captain Kim Little, whose pullback was inadvertently turned into the net by Liverpool’s Jasmine Matthews for an own goal.
Mariona Caldentey added a third just before halftime, curling a superb strike into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area. Substitute Beth Mead then made an immediate impact after coming on, with her cross deflected into the net by Matthews for her second own goal of the match. The result marked a historic milestone for Arsenal, as they became the first team in WSL history to score at least four goals in six consecutive home matches.
Arsenal’s dominance could have seen them score even more, with Frida Maanum hitting the post twice, Leah Williamson striking the side-netting, and Russo narrowly missing with a deflected effort. The performance was a stark contrast to their midweek disappointment in the Women’s Champions League, where they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.
Gunners manager Renee Slegers remained cautious about her team’s title chances but emphasized the importance of maintaining pressure on Chelsea. “We need to push. We can do whatever we can do. If their [Chelsea’s] position slips, we want to be ready, we want to be there,” she said.
For Liverpool, the match was a frustrating setback. Interim manager Amber Whiteley, in her fourth game since replacing Matt Beard, saw her side fail to register a single shot on target. Despite a penalty appeal early in the game, when Taylor Hinds’ cross struck the arm of Emily Fox, Liverpool struggled to create meaningful opportunities. Sophie Roman Haug’s lofted attempt, which sailed well over the bar, summed up their afternoon.
Whiteley defended Matthews after her two own goals, praising her recent contributions. “Jaz has been brilliant the last three weeks. They put us under a lot of pressure. It’s something we will look at and look to work on,” she said. Midfielder Sam Kerr also backed Matthews, stating, “Jaz has been one of our best players since she came back in. We are all behind her, we all support her, and these things happen.”
The only downside for Arsenal was a fifth yellow card of the season for left-back Katie McCabe, who will miss their next league game against bottom-placed Crystal Palace on March 30. However, the Gunners received a significant boost with the return of midfielder Victoria Pelova, who made her first appearance of the season after recovering from an ACL injury sustained 308 days ago while on international duty with the Netherlands.
Liverpool, meanwhile, will look to bounce back when they host relegation-threatened Aston Villa on March 30. Whiteley acknowledged the need for improvement, saying, “We need to be braver with the ball. It wasn’t like us. We didn’t look like we had the same belief going forward.”
Arsenal’s emphatic win not only keeps them in the WSL title race but also sets the stage for a crucial second leg against Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday. With their domestic form soaring, the Gunners will be hoping to carry this momentum into their European campaign..
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