Rosa Kafaji denied Liverpool’s first win of the season after her stoppage time strike despite Beata Olsson’s opener for the reds.
Brighton opened up the chances as both Jelena Čanković and Carla Camacho made Faye Kirby in goal react well to keep her side in it. It was a bright start for both teams with both looking lively throughout but it was Liverpool who got the opener as Beata Olsson got her second WSL goal of the season.
26 minutes in, Sam Kerr found Lily Woodham just inside the Brighton half with her first time cross finding Olsson in the 6 yard box and her effort rolls into the back of the net.
Since Liverpool’s opener, the hosts continued to pile on the pressure with Chiamaka Nnadozie keeping her visiting side in with a chance. Brighton found Liverpool struggling from the back on the half hour mark with them capitalising on it but Faye Kirby reacted on a double occasion.
Rounding off the first half was two shots from Fuka Nagano and Sam Kerr but both long distance strikes found the crossbar.
The second half started as they meant to go on with Liverpool continuing to find a two goal cushion. Attempts from Fuka Nagano and Risa Shimizu saw Chiamaka Nnadozie react quick and kept her side in with a chance.
After the hour mark, Brighton turned it around with chances from Maisie Symonds, Fran Kirby and Kiko Seike made the Liverpool defence nervous. On the other end, Ceri Holland saw Nnadozie off her line by some distance, had a shot but it ended off target.
Rosa Kafaji had the final attempt of the game with it ending Liverpool’s chance of their first win of the season. Nadine Noordam found the loanee in the box around 12 yards out and her first time strike found the back of the net past the keeper.
Despite Liverpools hope of their first win, they remain in 11th place after West Ham also got a point in their game with Brighton in 8th. Liverpool next face Chelsea on Sunday with Brighton hosting Leicester.
Sarina Weigman announced her 23-player squad ahead of the October international window. Who made the cut? Who will we see in the lineup? What did Sarina say about the fans? Here’s everything you need to know
Firstly, she spoke on Millie Bright’s international retirement, saying “she’s been huge for us, for me, for the team, on and off the pitch.”. She also mentioned her career as a whole, stating, “I’m just really grateful that I’ve been just a little bit part of her journey, and grateful that she’s been part of my team…”
There three new faces in the squad: Katie Reid, Taylor Hinds, and Lucia Kendall. Sarina spoke on each of them, saying, “We’re going into a new era. We’re going into a new cycle. Qualifying for the World Cup, hopefully, and then going to the World Cup. So I want to see talented players in some positions.”
A successful start of the season for Reid, playing in 5 and starting in 5. Sarina spoke on how impressed she was, saying, “This season, already of course, a couple of moments last season. She’s done good in the pathway too, and I just see some very good things on the pitch with her, and I hope she can show that in our environment too, because I’m excited to see her in our environment and how she relates to the other players in the squad.”
Taylor Hinds changed her allegiance to Jamaica in 2024, receiving her first call-up for the Reggae Girlz in October last year. A year on from that decision, she’s been called up to the Lionesses. Sarina stated, “At the same time, she’s really excited to come into our environment, too, and she feels connected with England, and she feels connected with Jamaica, which, of course, is totally understandable.”
A call-up that wasn’t on anybody’s radar saw Aston Villa’s Lucia Kendall receive her first senior Lionesses call-up. The manager spoke on why she called her up, “Well, really, it’s like her game understanding. Reading the game really well. Being tough in duels, but also in possession, doing well. I think her positioning, most of her positioning and game understanding, I thought, was really good”
Both Grace Clinton and Lucy Bronze made the cut but won’t be able to play full matches for the Lionesses. Sarina spoke on each of them, outlining, “No, they will not be able to play two games, two full games in a couple of days.”
She also mentioned Grace Clinton, specifically stating, “Grace will be assessed this week. She had a minor injury… I just didn’t want to rule out, because it is a minor injury, and when she progresses really well, she can be available for us.”
She finally spoke about the fans and getting to go to stadiums around England. “It’s exciting. We haven’t played in Etihad, I think. So that’s exciting. Many people come watch us.”. She also commented on the fans as a whole and their support, emphasising, “We just grow. And we were overloaded in the stands all the time in that tournament, even when we were abroad.”
Jess Park at Hill Dickinson Stadium | photo taken by Aimee Reynolds for Constancy Sport
Everton vs Manchester United saw the hosts take the lead but United clawed back to win 4-1 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Honaka Hayashi scored 16 minutes in and gave the lead to the Toffees at half time but goals from Melvine Malard and two from Jess Park (as well as an own goal) secured all three points.
Prior to her move to the red side of Manchester, she made 38 appearances in all competitions and registered 12 goal contributions helping her gain a place in the Lionesses 2025 European Champions squad.
After joining Manchester United on deadline day, Jess Park has shone for her new side and brought a new life to her footballing calibre. The 23 year old winger began her senior career at the blue side of Manchester and had a loan spell at Everton for the 2022-23 season featuring 22 times, and having 10 goal contributions.
She scored her first Manchester United goal against London City Lionesses and made her debut in the opening WSL match of the season against Leicester City. Currently for the red devils, she has helped them a lot and contributed on many levels, in the WSL and in the Women’s Champions League. She got Barclay’s Player of the Match against Chelsea and when speaking to her new club when signing, she said: “I like to beat players and I like to be a bit flary.”
For the Lionesses, she received her senior call up in September 2022, but was an unused substitute across the pair of the matches. She then received her second call up to replace Fran Kirby in November. Park made her debut in the same International Window in a friendly against Japan and scored her first international goal just over a minute later.
Jess made her first senior start in the 2023 Arnold Clark Cup as well as being a standby player for the 2023 Women’s World Cup but later withdrew due to Injury. She was also named in the 2025 Women’s Euro Squad and was named as an unused substitute throughout.
Her style of play is unique and likes to play between the lines of different defenders week in, week out. Her technical abilities, speed and awareness are vital to her Manchester United side and has defensive maturity as well as an aggressive presence about her work.
The Dutch right back has recently made the progression more forward on the pitch into the midfield role, especially in recent weeks. In just 5 games so far this season, she has had four goal contributions (two goals and two assists) as well as three player of the match awards.
The 25 year old joined Manchester City in July 2022 after spending her career in her home country of the Netherlands. She made her league debut against Chelsea on 25th September 2025 and has currently made over 90 appearances for Manchester City in all competitions.
At the start of her City career, she was patient when playing and waited her turn, slowly building up her minutes. She slowly became a massive part of her home away from home.
For the Netherlands, she is close to making 50 appearances after she made her senior debut in October 2021. She rose through the ranks after featuring from the under15’s all the way to the under23’s.
Against Arsenal, she brought flair and progression with the ball along the right side of the pitch giving chances to many of her teammates, including one of the goalscorers Khadija Shaw.
In the game, she played the full 90 minutes, had three touches in the opposition box, five clearances and four recoveries all while being a right back. Adding to her abilities, she also scored and assisted which rounds it up to four contributions in the opening five matches.
Manchester City’s Andrée Jeglertz spoke on Kerstin Casparij and he said: “Kerstin is a great player, and a great team player.”
“She’s really doing everything for the team atmosphere and working hard, but also putting her higher and giving her a little more responsibility to be part of that.”
“Even though she’s been here for a while, to see she still has some steps to take and that she can do it and keep developing.”
When scoring against Everton last season, she kissed her wrist which had the transgender flag on and dedicated it to “all my trans siblings, who’ve had an incredibly tough & heartbreaking week”. She recently announced that she is a patron for the LGBT Foundation.
Alongside her partner, Ruth, the pair share their life on TikTok and Youtube predominantly doing day in the lives and promoting queer things.
Chelsea fc looked to extend their 18 month domestic unbeaten streak this weekend against Leicester City in an exciting WSL clash. Last season saw Chelsea victorious at home with a 3-1 win at Kingsmeadow. However, during the return fixture, Chelsea trailed 1-0 for almost 60 minutes proving the uncertainty of this match up.
Chelsea kicked off dominating with possession however struggled to leave their own half for much of the opening moments.
The first real threat of the game came in the fourth minute where Leicester City won a free kick in the attacking third. This met the boots of Hannah Cain however she struggled to make a shot from it.
Soon after, a promising ball from Baltimore met Kaptein on the wing but was flagged offside before the Dutch international could progress.
In the seventh minute, Chelsea’s Aggie Beever-Jones found the opener, a pass from Erin Cuthbert finding the striker’s feet allowing her to lob Janina Leitzig from within the box.
By the 15th minute mark, Beever-Jones had broken loose again, crossing the ball to Ellie Carpenter on the far side who shot the ball directly into Leitzig’s arms.
Minutes later, Erin Cuthbert took a shot from outside the box prompting an impressive save from Leitzig leading to the ball going out for a corner. This was taken short and thus led to nothing.
Chelsea’s counter attack proved dangerous with Carpenter beating the Leicester defence, crossing the ball to Sandy Baltimore in the box who unfortunately hand balled it in the box.
Aggie Beever-Jones’ silky turn met the boots of Erin Cuthbert who shot forced yet another impressive save from the Leicester goal keeper.
Ten minutes before half time, Emily van Egmond earned the first yellow of the game for a nasty foul on Erin Cuthbert that had potential to be a red.
This was followed by a yellow card awarded to Erin Cuthbert who was shoved into Asmita Ale by Heather Payne, opening questions as to why the card was awarded.
A foul from Millie Bright led to a free kick for Leicester in dangerous territory. This was cleared by Aggie Beever-Jones despite the offside flag being raised.
Catarina Macario won the ball moments before half time, breaking through the foxes defence but the ball went straight to the hands of Janina Leitzig once more.
With a minute on the clock, Sandy Baltimore earnt a sneaky corner which was taken by Macario in the dying stages. The attacker crossed the ball straight into the path of Leicester’s defence, which bounced to the boots of Sandy Baltimore once again, the French international shot again and the ball went out for another corner. Keira Walsh shot what looked to be a screamer but Leitzig tipped it over the bar meaning the half time score was 1-0.
As Leicester City kicked off the second half, Maika Hamano and Alyssa Thompson entered the field in place of Catarina Macario and Sandy Baltimore, a home debut for Thompson.
Leicester proved promising in the opening stages of the second half with two set piece opportunities, both of which led to nothing.
Ten minutes into the second half, Chelsea found their rhythm again, having several shots in a short span of time, including an eerily close shot causing Leitzig into yet another impressive save.
Moments later Erin Cuthbert went down injured, requiring medical attention before returning to the field of play minutes later.
Julie Thibaud showed her talent once more, sliding between the Chelsea defence before sending the ball wide from within the box.
Soon after, Wieke Kaptein broke free in the midfield in the 63rd minute before being taken down by Eiriksdottir, prompting a free kick which was hit directly into the path of the foxes defence thus being cleared up field.
Asmita Ale proved threatening on the attack, sneaking close to Hampton’s net before losing the ball to the Blue’s skipper.
At the 70th minute mark, Sam Kerr made her return to Kingsmeadow after suffering a brutal ACL injury in January of 2024. With that, the Chelsea press picked up and so did the atmosphere around the stands, with a standing ovation congratulating the strikers return.
With that came the next substitute, Jutta Rantala on for Hannah Cain, a well earnt rest after today’s impressive display.
At the 80th minute mark Alyssa Thompson earnt Chelsea a free kick in dangerous territory and with Olivia McLoughlin still on the side lines due to a previous collision, Erin Cuthbert’s cross came just centimetres from Sam Kerr’s head, forcing Leitzig into another save.
Moments later, the previously injured Olivia McLoughlin made way for former blue, Rosella Ayanne who earnt the side a free kick with her first touches. Tierney’s ball went short to Rantala before essentially being cleared by her own team mate, Eiriksdottir leaving Chelsea open on the counter attack.
In the 87th minute, Guro Reiten and Johanna Rytting-Kaneryd entered the field in place of Aggie Beever-Jones and Veerle Buurman, the blues desperately looking for a second before full time.
With six minutes added time announced, the momentum of both sides picked up, with Rosella Ayanne shooting from range in an attempt to catch Hannah Hampton off her line, the keeper however shirt her worth , clearing it from the top right corner.
Chelsea were then on the attack once again, Alyssa Thompson breaking free on the wing, crossing the ball to Ellie Carpenter whose shot went wide.
Sam Kerr came close to claiming her second of the season after her return to play last week however was flagged offside, prompting Leicester’s final attack of the game.
The final attack of the game came from Alyssa Thompson on the right flank where the ball was cleared before the final whistle blew.
Chelsea continued their unbeaten streak once more after beating Leicester City 1-0 in west London. The blues will face West Ham in their first London derby of the season next weekend whilst Leicester host Tottenham Hotspur, both teams looking for another win after suffering defeat this weekend.
Chelsea squad celebrating Aggie Beever-Jones goal (image by Lucy Halliday for Constancy Sport 21/09/25)
