Women's Super League

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

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Aston Villa's head of women's football Lee Billiard is set to step down from his role at the end of the season by mutual consent.

Billiard ed Villa from Bristol City in 2021 and has overseen the running of the club during their time in the Women's Super League.

He has been a key leader in the team's player and management recruitment, as well as the running of day-to-day operations alongside Villa's board of directors.

It has been a disappointing season for Villa and they are currently fighting to avoid relegation, sitting four points clear of bottom club Crystal Palace.

They hired and sacked former boss Robert de Pauw after less than six months in charge before appointing current manager Natalia Arroyo in January.

A disappointing campaign, including poor results and unsuccessful recruitment, has led to internal frustrations and it seemed inevitable that change would happen.

It is understood Villa are looking at the possibility of bringing across a member of staff from the men's side of the club to fill the role.

The running of the women's team has adapted since the arrival of sporting director Monchi as president of football operations in 2023, with the club attempting to bring it closer to the men's side, but they have struggled for consistency.

Despite a difficult year, Billiard has had huge success previously at the club with the appointment of former manager Carla Ward, who led Villa to a highest league position when they finished fifth at the end of the 2022-23 season.

Billiard also helped consolidate their place in the WSL after they gained promotion from the Women's Championship in 2020 and helped implement an impressive recruitment strategy.

The club have been ed for comment by BBC Sport.

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Manchester United boss Marc Skinner has challenged captain Maya Le Tissier to break into Sarina Wiegman's England squad.

Despite playing in the Women's Super League's best defence this season having conceded just nine goals, Le Tissier is struggling for minutes under Wiegman.

In Tuesday's defeat by Belgium, Wiegman replaced two defenders at half-time but did not turn to the United skipper.

"I won't discuss Sarina's plans because they are hers to discuss," Skinner told BBC Sport. "I see the absolute value in Maya and what she gives to our team.

"She is a fantastic captain and a fantastic person. I can only see growth in that. I don't know where Sarina sees Maya within her plan. I just know when Maya comes back to Manchester United she is going to give the same consistency, the same quality and she is going to keep growing.

"My challenge then goes back to Maya. It's your job to break into Sarina's plans as well. Me and her have a relationship where we can challenge each other. Every day she has got to get better. Even though she is fantastic, she has to get better.

"I want this player, especially my captain, to be one of the world's best. She is proving the consistency but there is much more to come. I am really proud of Maya and the growth this season.

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Michelle Agyemang has "made a name for herself now" with her stunning debut goal for England, according to former Arsenal defender Jen Beattie.

The 19-year-old scored a stunning volley with her first two touches within seconds of coming on in the Lionesses' defeat by Belgium on Tuesday.

Agyemang is on loan at Brighton from parent club Arsenal for the 2024-25 campaign and has made 19 appearances in all competitions for Dario Vidosic's side, scoring three goals.

Beattie - who spent time with Agyemang at Arsenal - told BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly podcast: "She is unreal. She was an Academy player when I was at Arsenal and she used to come up to training and was sometimes involved in match squads.

"I kid you not, she would do that in training. She is an incredible box player, an unbelievable finisher. She doesn't need more than one or two touches exactly what you saw against Belgium.

"It was a hard loss for England, but I hope she gets her moment because that is unbelievable to come on and take 41 seconds to get your first senior goal. And what a goal. She didn't even celebrate. I get it with the context of the game, but I hope deep down she is absolutely buzzing because I am for her.

"She has made a name for herself now. There is no better intro to a senior squad than that in an international debut. I was shouting in my living room for that one."

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Chloe Kelly has left the England camp and returned to Arsenal for treatment on a foot injury.

On Thursday, England boss Sarina Wiegman confirmed the forward would miss Friday's Nations League game against Belgium.

After further assessments she has now also been ruled out of Tuesday's return fixture.

The 27-year-old has scored once and ed four assists in her seven appearances for the Gunners since ing on loan from Manchester City on deadline day.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Andy O'Boyle is set to return to Liverpool to be appointed as managing director of the women's team.

He will replace Russ Fraser, who took on the role in October 2021 and oversaw Liverpool's promotion from the Women's Championship.

Fraser was part of the club's board that signed off the women's team's move to the Melwood training ground and their new stadium in St Helens.

O'Boyle spent two years as Manchester United's deputy football director before leaving the club in September 2024, and previously worked at Liverpool as head of fitness.

There has been a reshuffle at Liverpool as the club attempt to bring the women's team operations closer together with the men's side.

This latest move comes after the club announced long-standing director Susan Black will be stepping down at the end of the season after 14 years in various roles.

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Defender Grace Fisk has signed a new contract of an undisclosed length with Liverpool.

The 27-year-old has made 46 appearances in all competitions since ing the club from West Ham before the 2023-24 season, scoring two goals.

Fisk, who began her career at Millwall, represented England at Under-21 level.

"I've really been happy during my time at Liverpool. I still can't believe it's only my second year here as it definitely feels like so much longer," Fisk said.

"It was a pretty easy decision for me in the end because I've loved my time here so far and look forward to the future.

"We have such a good group of players which is a big part in why I wanted to stay. This year hasn't been what we hoped bouncing off last season, but we want to build on that and we know we have the quality and potential."

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

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A late own goal gave Aston Villa their first WSL win since December and moved them four points above the relegation zone.

When Marie Hobinger converted from the penalty spot just before the hour mark it looked like Villa were headed for a sixth straight defeat under Natalia Arroyo, but going behind seemed to spark them into life.

Kirsty Hanson did brilliantly to latch onto Missy Bo Kearns' long ball, round Liverpool goalkeeper Rachael Laws and slot her strike past two back-tracking defenders.

Arroyo's side refused to settle for a point and got their reward when Liverpool substitute Jenna Clark converted an Ebony Salmon cut-back into her own net.

Villa have had a tough season and have been unlucky at times, but if they avoid the drop and carry the same fight and togetherness into next season then they should be pushing for a top half finish.

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

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Two more wins are all Manchester United need to secure a top-three finish in the Women's Super League and a return to the Champions League.

Marc Skinner's side weren't at their best against Everton on Sunday - Everton had the better of the early stages - but they didn't need to be to maintain the seven-point gap between themselves and fourth-place Manchester City.

The home side were fortunate that Courtney Brosnan spilled a cross at the feet of Dominique Janssen to tap home, but there was nothing lucky about Grace Clinton's clever flicked finish shortly after half-time.

Injuries picked up by Celin Bizet and Leah Galton took some of the shine off a routine afternoon, but United will go into their FA Cup semi-final clash with City off the back of eight wins in their last nine games.

With 14 more points than they had at this stage last season, it's been an impressive season for a team many suggested would struggle following high profile exits last summer. Returning to Europe and qualifying for the group stages for the first time would be just reward.

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Tottenham came from behind to end their five-match losing streak in the Women's Super League with a draw at Leicester City. Here is what the managers said after the game:

Leicester boss Amandine Miquel speaking to Sky Sports:

"I think a draw is OK. We would have preferred to win but we could also lose it so we accept a point and continue for the next games.

"I felt we looked tired, I don't know if it was the sun or the international break. Players were tired and it was hard to follow the rhythm, less energy than last week but got the point so that is good.

"Unbeaten is better than anything but obviously frustrated not to get the second goal but happy to get the point and keep moving forward.

"We have to keep positive, work on what we can improve and make sure that for the next games we look a bit fresher."

Tottenham boss Robert Vilahamn speaking to Sky Sports:

"We got a point which is better than the last games we've had. Good football, create so many chances, had most of the possession. In one way we're doing a good game but we're not really there yet to manage to actually win the game but I'm actually really proud of how we played today.

"If you look at the team they don't have the best self confidence in the world, where we are in the table you can see that it's actually a really good team playing good football so that's why I'm actually quite calm about where we are because we are taking steps in the way we want to play.

"We started the last game against West Ham about how we want to look and how we want to play for the club and develop for next season. It was a good performance but not good attacking football against West Ham, today was better so I hope we can go to Aston Villa in a few weeks and actually win that game by scoring a few goals and looking like we did today."

Elizabeth Botcherby
BBC Sport journalist

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Leicester headed into Sunday's meeting with Tottenham searching for a record-extending fourth home win in the WSL.

But while Drew Spence's 62nd minute equaliser, which cancelled out Josefine Rybrink's own goal, denied them the three points, there can be few arguments about the King Power Stadium being something of a fortress for the Foxes.

Leicester haven't lost a league match on home soil since a 2-0 defeat by Manchester United on 17 November, with two draws book-ending a run of three victories.

Fourteen of their 16 points during the 2024-25 campaign have come at home, placing them seventh in the table for home fixtures.

However, while their impressive home form has seen them move seven points clear of the relegation zone – not quite mathematically safe but almost assured of survival with just four matches remaining – manager Amandine Miquel will be keen to address their away record.

Leicester have ed just two draws from nine matches on the road this season, scoring three goals and conceding 17 - the second-worst away record in the league.

Adam Millington
BBC Sport journalist

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This is unlikely to go down as a game to for Manchester City, but they picked up three points nevertheless.

Brighton were arguably the better side. They had more chances, played with better fluidity and defended well.

City's depleted squad often seemed shaky and found it difficult to get past Brighton as their aim of playing through their defence was stopped by the hosts' organisation and determined efforts to close down any gaps.

The hosts, however, did not make the most of their chances and that is all that matters.

They finally scored in injury time - but they did so after substitute Vivianne Miedema had already put City 2-0 ahead, meaning Charlize Rule's goal did little more than provide a late glimmer of hope.

Seagulls manager Dario Vidosic will be able to take positives from the fact his side performed so well and that better end product would likely have given them a different result.

For interim City boss Nick Cushing, three points keep their slight hopes of finding a path to Champions League qualification alive. They are seven points behind Manchester United with four games left, but have a game against United still to play.

City will hoping their chances aren't over yet.

Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport journalist

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Since losing to Chelsea towards the end of January, Arsenal have been in unrelenting form in the Women's Super League.

The Gunners have won each of their last six WSL games, the first time they have done so since December 2023 under former boss Jonas Eidevall when they recorded seven consecutive victories.

Renee Slegers' side have scored 24 goals in those six games with Alessia Russo on 11 goals for the season, one behind Manchester City's Khadija Shaw in the race for the Golden Boot.

Beth Mead's double against Crystal Palace highlighted her importance as she scored her 50th and 51st WSL goals for the club.

Chloe Kelly provided another assist and her cross in the 77th minute was diverted into her own net by Palace captain Allyson Swaby with the England international excelling in her third consecutive start.

Arsenal couldn't be in better form ahead of the biggest match of their season, when they face Lyon in the first leg of their Champions League semi-finals at the Emirates on 19 April.