Liverpool Turn Corner. Arsenal Slow City. Madonna At Spurs.

February 09, 2026

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL WEEKLY

The five-minute read for dedicated-ish fans of women’s football.

This week: momentum is building at the bottom of the table (hello, potential relegation battle), Man City were stopped in their tracks, and a surprise, yet inevitable, manager sacking caught us off guard. Plus, we’re booking train tickets to Brighton immediately — there’s a new women’s sports bar in town.

– Jo, founder of Twentytwo

⚽ PICKS FROM THE PITCH

Matchday 15: Liverpool turn corner, Arsenal slow City

Credit: Alan Edwards/Alamy Live News

Arsenal put the brakes on Manchester City’s title push with a disciplined display that disrupted City’s build-up and limited their usual control in midfield. City looked frustrated for long spells and struggled to impose their rhythm.

Elsewhere, Liverpool’s January business paid off in a dominant 4–1 win, West Ham fought back from 2–0 down, and Everton battled their way to a hugely important victory. And yes — Madonna was spotted at Spurs vs Chelsea. You can dig into how the transfer window may have shaped those results in our round-up later in the newsletter.

RESULTS: WSL MATCHDAY 20

🎥 Watch this if you only click one thing: Martha Thomas with one of the most bizarre goals we’ve seen in a while. Crab football anyone?

AS IT STANDS
🚨ICYMI

Top Headlines

🚪 Everton sack Brian Sørensen — timing raises eyebrows: The change has felt inevitable for a while, but doing it days after their first WSL win at Goodison Park (and after the window shut) is strange timing. Still, Everton are riding a bounce, with another three points this weekend.

✍️ Sonia Bompastor commits to Chelsea until 2030: A huge show of faith after two straight defeats sparked plenty of noise around the club. Bompastor had said she’d walk if belief wavered — this deal says it hasn’t. Expect a big summer rebuild.

🏆 The Football Association Cup seeding plan sparks backlash: Plans to seed the top four WSL clubs in the Women’s FA Cup and scrap open draws from the last 32 are not going down well. Fans say it risks losing what makes the competition special: giant-killings, underdog runs and meaningful pay-days for smaller clubs.

💙 Stockport County talk big on women’s game ambitions: The club is eyeing a “superpower” future for its women’s side, with a new advisory board and fresh investment. The goal: proper facilities, long-term backing and their women’s team placed at the centre of the club.

📚 WHAT WE’RE READING

Madonna, soccer mom: Why the Queen of Pop was watching Tottenham’s Under-14 girls’ team – The Athletic via yahoo

✍️ INSIDE TRACK

Where January made the biggest impact

This window’s smartest business was about survival and stability. Here’s who did it best.

  • Liverpool look better balanced already: Their signings have added creativity and goal threat, particularly from wide areas and midfield — two spots they were struggling in earlier this season. The difference is visible: more chances, more intent, and a clearer path away from relegation. Plenty of pundits have flagged this as one of the smartest windows overall.

  • Everton added experience, but face a reset: January brought some calm and quality through the middle, including a late loan move for midfielder Zara Kramžar. That helps on the pitch, but sacking the manager so suddenly adds a different challenge. Avoiding a relegation fight will depend on how quickly things settle.

  • West Ham are tougher to play against: Norway internationals Tuva Hansen and Ylinn Tennebø strengthen the defence, while extra energy in midfield has reduced the gaps teams were exploiting. Staying up now looks far more realistic.

  • The big four kept it tidy: Arsenal and Manchester City focused on cover and depth, Chelsea were quieter with more exits than arrivals, and Manchester United used January to fine-tune rather than overhaul.

  • The main takeaway? January hasn’t changed the title race. But it’s made the relegation fight far more interesting.

👟 KIT DROP

Arsenal’s new Women’s Club World Champions badge made its debut this weekend — and subtle it is not. Sitting boldly on the chest, it’s impossible to miss and very clearly designed to be seen and flexed.

UWCL final ball: The Women’s Champions League returns midweek, bringing adidas’ new final ball inspired by Norse mythology and shield maidens. It’s dramatic, sharp and leans into power and protection — fitting, really, given the knockout football that’s coming. Shop the ball

🛋️ DITCH THE SOFA

Upcoming Events

Footnotes: The Writing of Football - Dr Carrie Dunn
Wednesday 11 February, 18:00-19:00
Footnotes is a live events series that celebrates football writing — bringing fans, journalists and authors together to talk about how the game is told, remembered and debated. This edition features Carrie Dunn, discussing her work on women’s football, storytelling and why who gets written into the game’s history really matters. Reserve your free ticket

The Origins of Women's Football in Sheffield Guided Walk
Starting at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, 16:00 on Thursday 12, 19 and 26 March
Sheffield Home of Football are providing guided football walks to share people, events and locations that link to Women's Football in Sheffield dating back to 1867 and through to the early development of the game through to modern times. The walk ends in time to go to The Ladies Football Club.
Tickets £5 + booking fee

Is there a women’s football event happening near you? Give us a heads-up

📺 WEEKLY WATCHLIST

What We’re Watching

Your what-not-to-miss viewing guide (GMT/BST)

Women's Champions League Knockout Round Play-Off 1st Leg

Wednesday 11 Feb 2026

  • OH Leuven vs Arsenal (17:45, Disney+)

Thursday 12 Feb 2026

  • Atlético de Madrid Femenino vs Manchester United (20:00, Disney+) 

P.S. Chelsea have no UWCL fixture this week — they’re already through to the quarter-finals (first legs are 24/25 March 2026).

WSL
Friday 13 Feb

  • Manchester City Women vs Leicester City Women (19:00, Sky Sports) 

Sunday 15 Feb

  • Manchester United Women vs London City Lionesses (12:00, Sky Sports) 

  • Chelsea Women vs Liverpool Women (12:00, Sky Sports) 

  • Aston Villa Women vs Tottenham Hotspur Women (12:00, Sky Sports, Barclays WSL YouTube) 

  • Everton Women vs West Ham United Women (12:00, Sky Sports, Barclays WSL YouTube)

  • Brighton & Hove Albion Women vs Arsenal Women (14:30, BBC iPlayer) 

👀 FAVE FINDS

New Women’s Sports Bar Alert!

Crossbar Brighton has opened its doors as the UK’s first dedicated women’s sports bar. Built around live sport, good food and an inclusive community, this bar is already iconic thanks to Lesbian Ledge (origin story here), and had a sell-out opening night. Did we mention their merch? No? You can get your hands on it here.

See you next week!

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