It has been a great start to the 2024/25 Women's Super League season as Chelsea look to retain their title and Crystal Palace aim to consolidate their place in the top flight.
There were some blockbuster clashes, including Arsenal2-2 draw with Manchester City At the Emirates Stadium on the opening weekend, Liverpool won a last-gasp 3-2 win over Tottenham last October ChelseaWith a 2-0 win over title rival City.
Sonia Bombastor's side lead the way at the top of the table, while several clubs remain at risk of being drawn into a relegation battle in the new year. There has also been a management change already Jonas Edvall vacated his position Back in October and Arsenal are in the process of appointing his successor.
With that said, 90min I have rated the most improved WSL The difference so far this season…
It may seem crazy to suggest that a team that has won six of the last seven Women's Football League titles has improved, but somehow Chelsea have. No one was quite sure how they would go this season following the departure of long-serving Emma Hayes and the arrival of former Lyon coach Bombastour.
But it's fair to say they're absolutely flying in this new era. Before the final international break of the year, Chelsea had won every one of their matches in all competitions and boasted an early five-point lead at the top of the table.
To put that in context, at the same time last season, they dropped points against Manchester City in the Champions League and away to Real Madrid in the Champions League. In early December last year, they also suffered a shock 4-1 defeat away to Arsenal in the league.
Chelsea's tremendous form this season is a testament to the way Bombastor has settled into the London club, and the caliber of the player they signed over the summer. It's worth noting that the reigning champions have had their results in the opening months of this season without the likes of Sam Kerr, Mia Fishel, Sophie Ingle and Niamh Charles, while they also lost Lauren James and Kadisha Buchanan to injury.
Arsenal may not be where they want to be in the WSL standings, but they make this list as a result of the way they have turned things around after a lackluster start to the season. The Gunners have finished in the top three and qualified for the Champions League in the 2023/24 season, but are still far behind their rivals at City and Chelsea.
There is no doubt that the beginning of the current season failed to meet expectations. Under Edival in the opening weeks of the season, they drew at home to City in the league, beat Leicester City a week later, failed to break the deadlock at home to Everton, were thrashed by Bayern Munich away in the Champions League, and were then beaten by ahead of league leaders Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium.
The Chelsea result led to a change in manager as Edival resigned from the position, and it's fair to say that Arsenal have since bounced back under caretaker manager Rene Slijers. In their first seven matches during October and November, the North London club maintained their unbeaten record.
They beat the likes of Valerenga and Juventus in the Champions League to boost their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages, winning three of their four league matches against West Ham, Brighton and Tottenham. They dropped points away to Manchester United, but earned a tough 1-1 draw.
Everything may not have been perfect at Arsenal, but they have turned things around comfortably after such a poor start. They have also done so in a short space of time to significantly boost their hopes of finishing third again this season.
Brighton have undoubtedly been the surprise hit this season under new coach Dario Vidosic. After finishing ninth in the WSL standings last season, starting December in the top three represents significant progress for the Seagulls.
They did their recruitment very well over the summer as they signed experienced figures in Fran Kirby and Nikita Parise. The arrival of Keiko Seki from Urawa Reds also helped facilitate Elizabeth Terland's departure to Manchester United.
Their most significant defeats came at the hands of Arsenal and Manchester City, but otherwise they have had a very strong run of results. If Brighton can maintain this form in the second half of the season, they will certainly be on course to finish as a 'best of the rest' outside the usual top four, and perhaps even higher.
Given that they have been among the relegation favorites this season, it's fair to say they are one of – if not the most – improved teams this season.
