Here’s a team of the week for Matchday 11, comprising the games played on the 17th, 18th, and 19th January 2025. She’s back, and she’s got something to say.
GK: Courtney Brosnan (Everton)
LCB: Grace Fisk (Liverpool)
CB: Leah Williamson (Arsenal)
RCB: Jayde Riviere (Manchester United)
CDM: Olga Ahtinen (Tottenham Hotspur)
LM: Ebony Salmon (Aston Villa)
CM: Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea)
RM: Adriana Leon (Aston Villa)
CAM: Ella Toone (Manchester United)
ST: Mayra Ramirez (Chelsea)
ST: Olivia Smith (Liverpool)
Last season’s stopper of the year Courtney Brosnan is the reason Everton had the chance to escape from their game against a marauding Aston Villa side with anything. Leon and Salmon were relentless, being fuelled by the likes of Maritz in their pursuit of victory, only for Brosnan to halt it. The Villans look revitalised, with every player pouring on a dash of flair to make their season’s second-half something to talk about. Speaking of revitalisation, Liverpool looked to have that hunger back against Brighton, the same one that saw them finish in the top four last season. Grace Fisk went back to front, holding down the fort and springing traps (in other words, back to what she does best) and Olivia Smith was clearly told to just go and do her thing (with Mia Enderby taking over in a substitution for the ages). Sam Kerr (not that one) also had a solid debut in the middle of a reshaped Liverpool team in 2025. Arsenal waltzed to another large victory (and another unbeaten game under Slegers), with Captain Leah leading the way with her positionally advanced performance. Emily Fox and Kim Little made the job of those in front of them look easy, pulling the strings from further back on the pitch. The Manchester Derby was likely the talk of the gameday with a startling display all ovva the shop, and there’s no doubt that a hat-trick hero would normally be at the head of that, but while Toone (obviously) makes the team, it is Jayde Riviere who stood out to me with her passion and fury on display in equal, eruptive measure — each defensive act successfully executed celebrated like a goal, none moreso than the blocking of a cross at the final whistle. Mary Fowler offered some reprieve for the hosts in sky blue, but not enough. Spurs and Leicester played out a bit of a dire game, but these ugly contests can be the toughest to grind out and Spurs did just that thanks in large part to Olga Ahtinen, who didn’t mind getting down and dirty, staying grounded to grind. Finally, Chelsea put West Ham to the sword, continuing to stake their claim to an unrivalled retention. Lucy Bronze and Sandy Baltimore were the wingers who wouldn’t give the claret defence a rest, Mayra Ramirez looked like she could have hassled The Hammers all day, and Erin Cuthbert looks reinvigorated under Bompastor — and she was already pretty feckin’ vigorated under Hayes; loving the Scot’s new, more advanced role.
Goal Of The Week was one of four, with Sarri’s snapshot, Macario’s side-foot, and Beever-Jones’ belter missing out on gold to Olivia Smith’s strong run and finish. Player Of The Week is gonna go to the aforementioned fire stoking The Red Devils — and while it’s harsh on Adriana Leon, Jayde Riviere nips in ahead to take it.
Keep it streets ahead,
C.L.R.
