WSL and Continental Cup final: talking points from the weekend’s action

Given that Kim Little is 32 years old, and 17 months on from international retirement, you could be forgiven for thinking her career is easing to its end. Technically, it probably is reaching its latter stages. However, a masterful controlling performance in Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat of Chelsea in the Continental Cup final demonstrated her continuing quality and how big a hole she will leave at the club when she goes. Emma Hayes said Little “ran the show” against her Chelsea side, and she wasn’t wrong. Little was the conductor of an aggressive and passionate Arsenal orchestra. “When you thought she couldn’t get better, she puts on that performance,” said her manager, Jonas Eidevall. “I told Kim straight after the game: ‘I wasn’t sure if it was possible [but] this is the best you’ve been since I’ve been the coach.’ She was phenomenal in the game, how she connects the team, the duels, the work rate, the decision-making on the ball. She played close to a perfect match.” SW

Leicester couldn’t compete with Manchester United’s quality as Alessia Russo bagged a hat-trick in a 5-1 win that extended United’s WSL lead to three points. An unsettled start by United opened up a couple of great opportunities for Hannah Cain – who lacked the clinical edge to punish the hosts. In the second half Marc Skinner’s side worked in numbers to plough through the Leicester midfield, cleverly using the width. Leicester’s WSL debutant Remy Siemsen hit a loopy strike past Mary Earps for 2-1 and gave her side a glimmer of hope. But five minutes later Russo completed her hat-trick before an in-form Leah Galton and Lucía García put the game well beyond reach. Leicester’s defence was far from timid but was overwhelmed by opponents who swarmed their goal