Liverpool Women 0-1 Arsenal Women: Alessia Russo seals Gunners' victory as Renee Slegers' unbeaten streak reaches 10

Ahead of the winter break, Arsenal secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Liverpool to stay in contention with Women's Super League leaders Chelsea and Manchester City. The win further solidified Arsenal's position in the title race and kept the pressure on the top two teams.

The Gunners move within a point of second-placed Man City, who lost to Everton earlier in the day, but still trail leaders Chelsea by seven points, as Renee Slegers' unbeaten run as interim boss stretches to 10 games.

Alessia Russo scored the only goal of the game via a clever corner routine - to mirror their male counterparts' success from set-pieces - as Katie McCabe's front-post delivery was poorly cleared by Gemma Bonner, allowing Russo to tap home.

Injury-hit Liverpool had their chances but were equally let off the hook by Arsenal as Mariona Caldentey wasted her opportunity from the penalty spot and Frida Maanum ballooned a good second-half opening over the crossbar.

Russo: Slegers makes me feel confident

Arsenal striker Alessia Russo:

"Set-plays are a massive part of football, they can win and lose you games, so I'm really happy to score and get three points.

"I'm feeling good, I play my best when I'm happy. We're finding good connections on the pitch and Liverpool away is a tough game, so the three points is most important.

"[Renee Slegers] has been great, making me feel confident. We know how good we are as a squad and we're keeping our heads down. We're happy as a squad, it's a club decision [whether Slegers makes her interim role permanent], but she's stepped up and we're really enjoying it."

Analysis: Slegers proving readiness for permanent role

All the noises from the Arsenal camp are positive, and recent results back that up. Slegers has done a wonderful job since taking over from Jonas Eidevall in October. Smiles are back on faces and the football is equally beaming.

Arsenal's squad is packed with quality so it is no surprise they are unbeaten in 10 in all competitions, but the real upturn has been in performance.

Slegers told this week that she is not viewing her role as temporary, and, on evidence, nor are her players. Fluency has returned, goals are flowing, and the football is entertaining - all things Arsenal are renowned for.

Slegers' side have even taken a leaf out of the Mikel Arteta playbook and become wizards at set-pieces, scoring from a corner again, predictably via Russo. The striker has now scored in five consecutive WSL appearances.

You wonder why club heads are still hesitating over the head-coach vacancy - because a ready-made replacement is right under their nose.

Story of the game in stats

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