In a pivotal match for their league position, Arsenal secured a vital 2-0 victory over Liverpool, with standout performances from Miedema and Foord.

The win keeps the Gunners in the hunt for the league title, closely trailing behind rivals Chelsea and Manchester City.

BIRKENHEAD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Vivianne Miedema of Arsenal (obscured) celebrates scoring her team's first goal with teammates during the Barclays Women's Super League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Prenton Park on January 28, 2024 in Birkenhead, England. (Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images)
BIRKENHEAD, ENGLAND – JANUARY 28: Vivianne Miedema of Arsenal (obscured) celebrates scoring her team’s first goal with teammates during the Barclays Women’s Super League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Prenton Park on January 28, 2024 in Birkenhead, England. (Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images)

Arsenal, playing last in the day, knew that Chelsea and Manchester City had won, so it was a must-win game at Liverpool. They won 2-0 thanks to the first goal from Vivianne Miedema since her return from her ACL and a tap-in from Caitlin Foord that closed the game.

Arsenal stay in third place in the league, three points behind Chelsea and level on points with Manchester City. Goal difference is a problem as Chelsea have +28, City +25, and Arsenal only +17.

It means there is a need for big scorelines in the upcoming weeks.

For the Liverpool game, Jonas Eidevall had decided to keep faith with the same XI that had defeated Everton the previous weekend. Katie McCabe kept her place ahead of Steph Catley, while the front two of Alessia Russo-Miedema was given another go. Victoria Pelova and Lia Wälti stayed in the double pivot.

Latest Arsenal injury updates and news

What was interesting is two players were left out of the whole squad altogether: Lydia Williams and Jennifer Beattie. Arsenal had the full complement with nine substitutes available, and it shows that the club now has serious depth. This is the benefit of having three of the five ACL injured players back on the pitch.

Vivianne Miedema scored her first goal back with a fantastic strike:

We also saw the benefits in midweek with Leah Williamson sending a beautiful through ball to Beth Mead against Reading.

Liverpool made five changes from the team that lost 5-1 away to Manchester City. Their reaction to that heavy defeat was to go on full defence with the classic 9-1 system with a low block.

As everyone knows in the WSL, Arsenal do not like to face that kind of defence, and it took indeed an hour to break them down. A fantastic run by Emily Fox found Miedema, who made space for herself and sent a rocket past Rachel Laws.

Then Fox again was involved, sending Russo through on the right wing who sent a cutback for Foord to tap in and seal the game.

Emily Fox got the player of the match award from Sky Sports, and her heatmap shows how good she was and a fantastic signing for the club.

Arsenal games are coming thick and fast, next Sunday with West Ham away in the League, followed by the Continental Cup quarter-finals with the draw taking place on Monday. Then, Manchester City at home in the FA Cup and Manchester United in the league before the February international break.

The Gunners are still competing for three trophies, and February will be crucial for progress in both cups, with a need for 100% wins in the league to keep up with Chelsea.

Latest Arsenal injury updates and news