Welcome to this week’s edition of Goalside Gossip!

Manchester City just dismantled the WSL title race while Arsenal claimed a historic global trophy at the Emirates. The news cycle is moving as fast as a counter-attack with Crystal Dunn’s sudden retirement, USWNT’s clinical January window, and the WSL’s messy financial reality.

Here is what is in store this week:

• Notable Matches

  • Manchester City vs Chelsea (5-1)

  • Manchester United vs Liverpool (3-1)

  • Arsenal vs Corinthians (3-2)

• News

  • Crystal Dunn Announces Retirement

  • USWNT January Update

  • WSL Reports £8M Loss in 2025

Man City vs
Chelsea (5-1)

Manchester City dismantled Chelsea’s title hopes in a ruthless 5-1 rout at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Despite a balanced opening where Keira Walsh and Erin Cuthbert forced saves, the visitors crumbled once Kerolin opened the scoring in the thirteenth minute. The Brazilian forward on fire, completing a hat trick that included a clinical finish shortly after the restart and a lob over Hannah Hampton, while Khadija Shaw added a first-half strike to put the game out of reach. Alyssa Thompson briefly stopped the bleeding with a long-range effort, but Vivianne Miedema’s late header capped a miserable afternoon for Sonia Bompastor’s squad. The defeat leaves Chelsea twelve points adrift of the league leaders (Man City) with only seven games left on the calendar.

Man Utd vs
Liverpool (3-1)

Manchester United secured a 3-1 victory over Liverpool at Leigh Sports Village on Sunday, breaking open a tight contest with a ruthless second-half display. After a scoreless opening period, the match ignited with three goals in a chaotic eight-minute span. Lisa Naalsund struck first for the hosts, and while Alice Bergstrom briefly leveled matters for the Reds following a scramble in the box, Naalsund responded instantly to restore United's lead. Liverpool pushed for a second equalizer but ultimately lacked the final pass to break down the United defense. Fridolina Rolfo put the result beyond doubt in the closing stages, finishing a Hanna Lundkvist cross to ensure the points stayed in Manchester.

🏆 Arsenal vs
Corinthians (3-2)

Arsenal secured the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup on Sunday, surviving a fierce test from Corinthians to win 3-2 in extra time at the Emirates Stadium. Despite playing on home soil against a team currently in pre-season, the English giants struggled to shake off the South American champions. Goals from Olivia Smith and Lotte Wubben-Moy were canceled out by Gabi Zanotti and a dramatic 96th-minute penalty from Vic Albuquerque, forcing the match beyond the ninety minutes.

The breakthrough finally came from the bench when Caitlin Foord fired home the winner in the 104th minute after Frida Maanum won possession in midfield. The night ended on a somber note as Arsenal goalkeeper Anneke Borbe was stretchered off following a collision (she’s okay!). While the tournament structure heavily favored the hosts, Renée Slegers’ side delivered when it mattered to secure the historic trophy.

Crystal Dunn Announces Retirement

The game just lost its most reliable engine. Crystal Dunn announced her retirement at 33, and it feels like the sudden closing of a massive, decorated chapter. It is a strange thing to process. She was always the one filling gaps, whether anchoring a backline or spearheading an attack. After her move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2025, the minutes dried up, which perhaps signaled this shift. She cited a desire to be more present for her son, Marcel. It is a pivot that makes total sense, though I wonder if the USWNT is truly prepared for the void she leaves behind. She has already climbed every mountain, from the 2019 World Cup to that 2024 Olympic gold.

Her career was a masterclass in professional selflessness. We often overlook that she was the top pick in 2014 and an NWSL MVP as a forward. She moved to defense for the national team simply because the group required it. Most stars would have bristled at that, but she just went out and won NWSL titles with the Courage and the Thorns. It is a rare legacy. She was a constant for Black athletes in a sport that often lacks that visibility. With 160 caps and a MAC Hermann Trophy to her name, she leaves on her own terms, which is the ultimate win in this sport. Check out her farewell Instagram post here.

USWNT January Update

The USWNT closed its January window with a 5-0 win over Chile, bringing the aggregate score for the week to a lopsided 11-0. Emma Hayes continues to treat these windows like a laboratory. She has managed 32 matches and handed out exactly 32 debuts. That is a staggering amount of roster churn. Croix Bethune, Jameese Joseph, and Emily Sams all recorded their first international goals in Santa Barbara.

Trinity Rodman added the final goal and finally convinced Hayes to join a celebration. I wonder, however, if we are nearing the end of this experimental phase. Hayes mentioned that the "real work" starts soon with the SheBelieves Cup and a friendly against Japan. The depth of the NWSL pool is clearly passing the initial test. Still, the true tactical floor of this group will only be clear once the European-based veterans return to the mix and the competition stiffens.

WSL Reports £8M Loss

The English top flight is finally showing us the receipts, and they are as messy as you would expect for a start-up. WSL Football Limited posted an £8.2 million operating loss for its first year as an independent entity. This came on the back of £17.4 million in revenue. It is a staggering deficit for a debut, but the league is spinning it as a calculated investment. Instead of tightening the belt, they chose to maintain distribution levels to the clubs. That meant over half of their total income went right back to the teams. It is a risky play. If they had cut those payments, they might have scraped closer to a break-even point, but the long-term health of the pyramid would have likely suffered.

The real story here is not the red ink, but the trajectory. CEO Nikki Doucet expects revenue to triple in the next two years. That sounds ambitious, perhaps even a bit optimistic, until you look at the new Barclays deal and the upgraded Sky/BBC rights. They are already operating on a £20 million interest-free loan from the Premier League to keep the lights on. It is a safety net that most businesses would envy. Still, the reliance on commercial income, which accounts for nearly half of their turnover, shows just how different the women’s game is compared to the men’s side.