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While much of the pre-season chatter centred on Manchester City’s WSL title defence and how London City’s new-look squad might fare, Tottenham were quietly going about their business, building on the foundations laid under Martin Ho last season.

One of the players who helped do that is Olivia Holdt. When she joined the club in January 2025 under former boss Robert Vilahamn, he described her as having the 'X-factor' and the potential to be one of the best players in the league.

Big compliments, big expectations - and Holdt has certainly shown why Vilahamn described her as such, even if she is rarely in the headlines.

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She has already begun this season with a hat-trick in a 7-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace - something Holdt describes as 'special' - with Spurs yet to lose in the WSL. They sit in second, three points behind Man City and a point ahead of this weekend's opponents - headline-grabbing London City.

"It's really early on, there's still a lot of games to come and it's going to be a long season, but so far, it's looking really good," Holdt exclusively said ahead of that game on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.

"There's nobody thinking it's annoying that we're second right now and we're very happy to be where we are, but it's also deserved because our performances have been really good in the first couple of games.

"I'm looking forward to Sunday. It's going to be interesting to play against London City. It hasn't gone past anyone that they've really invested coming into the season and got some really strong, good players.

"It's going to be a good game. Hopefully, we can continue our boom right now and get three points on Sunday as well."

Such a game could go some way to defining where Tottenham finish come May. So could the following two after the international break as they face Chelsea and Arsenal in successive WSL matches.

They will offer a real insight into this Spurs side. They have scored the most league goals (15) and conceded just twice, seeing the better of the possession and playing quick, attacking football. Come out of these three matches still in the top three and still leading in these metrics, Tottenham surely have to be considered as title contenders.

"It's going to be a good test for us," Holdt said. "And no disrespect to the teams that we have played, but they're maybe more of the games that we expect ourselves to get three points out of.

"So coming up against the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal, it's going to be a really good for us to see where we stand and how we can compete against them. It is a level up.

"If you look at the players, they have been at the top for many years, but whenever we play them in this season, I think we will be able to stand up for ourselves and give them a good game."

How 'mutual respect' with Ho has helped make Holdt key performer

Holdt has been one of the most consistent performers under Ho, and was Spurs' top scorer last season. She netted ten goals in all competitions, with eight in the WSL. It is clear their relationship is one that has been mutually beneficial in Spurs' success.

"He's a great coach and he's helped me a lot in getting my performances good in the league," the Denmark international said.

"I think it's his ability to give the players confidence and energy and believe in themselves. We also have a good relationship outside of the pitch as well.

"We have a mutual respect for each other. I can disagree with him and he can disagree with me. I think that's why it's worked well for us because we can be honest with each other. Martin can tell me the hard truth and I've told him not to beat around the bush.

"Sometimes it can get heated, but at the same time, we both want the best for each other and we have this mutual respect. It's good."

While Holdt has been used primarily on the right wing, she has drifted more across the middle this season compared to last, and says she is happy to play wherever Ho wants her to.

"I feel like since joining Spurs, I've played some different positions," she added. "We're trying to figure out where I can help the team most and where I can get the best out of myself.

"But at the end of the day, Martin is the one who takes the decisions, so if he wants to play me on the right wing, I'm going to do that. If he wants to play me as the 10, then I'm happily going to do that. If he wants me on the left, I can try and do my best there as well.

"I like to see myself as a versatile offensive player, so where I'm exactly positioned on the pitch doesn't really affect me that much as long as the game plan is set, and I have good players around me that can help me find my role.

"It's nice to be everywhere a bit, and maybe it makes it harder for the opposition as well. They never know where I'm going to be."

Holdt and Spurs will be hoping that is the exact case over the next few weeks as they look to maintain their disruption of the WSL order.

Watch Tottenham vs London City Lionesses in the WSL live on Sky Sports Football from 1.30pm on Sunday; kick-off 2pm.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was seen on the practice field in London as he continues his recovery from an elbow injury amid the NFL's return to the UK.

Daniels dislocated his left elbow against the Dallas Cowboys in Week Two, but has flown over with the team ahead of Sunday's match-up against the Indianapolis Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The former No 2 overall pick was absent in last weekend's victory over the Seattle Seahawks as veteran Marcus Mariota took the reins under center for his side's upset win over the Super Bowl champions.

Daniels wore a brace during a light jog-through on Wednesday, head coach Dan Quinn insistent he would not be rushed back.

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"We won't put him out there before he's ready. That's why it's important to trust the process. But him being back on the field, that's a good step for us," Quinn told media.

Quinn explained it was "too early to call" if Daniels would be ready for Sunday's game, which marks the first of three games being played in London over the next month.

"As we get into Thursday and Friday, we'll see what that load looks like," he said. "By Friday we'll have a definite determination of where we're at. Until then, we'll work and start the process, but it would be too early to call."

Mariota went 19 of 31 passing for 183 yards and three touchdowns to lead Washington to a 33-31 win over Seattle in Week Three.

The Colts are meanwhile coming off a 19-17 win over the Houston Texans, Shane Steichen's side due to arrive in London two days later than their opponents.

Daniels had suffered the same injury in Week Nine last season before hurting it again five weeks later as he missed the final four outings of the campaign.

The same season also saw him miss time with knee and hamstring injuries, disrupting his efforts to build on an outstanding maiden campaign that culminated in him winning Offensive Rookie of the Year.

"His drive is always strong to return to play," Quinn said. "Any athlete would probably tell you when you're going through something a second time there's a known entity of what the road looks like. We all feel that way.

"He does know what that process looks like and the mobility and the strength. There's a known entity of when you're ready."

Sunday's matchup will represent the 43rd regular-season game to be played in the UK since 2007, but a new experience for Quinn.

"This is my first game as a coach in England and I'm pumped to be here," the Commanders head coach told reporters.

"People often ask me or the team, what's different about international games and you say travel or customs or the venue? But the thing I've want to emphasise with the team the most is what's exactly the same, and those are our anchors of what a Wednesday, a Thursday, and a Friday look like in terms of our preparation to get ready. And so that's a lot of the reason for coming early, so we can get back into that process. The quicker we get to that, less focus on what's different."

The siren is going at the Hill Dickinson and that means the players are on their way out.

Chelsea are searching for their first win at Everton since August 2022 but that will be a tough task with David Moyes' side one of three unbeaten after six matches in the Premier League.

This should be a great game. Stick with us. Kick-off is just around the corner.

Analysis by Sky Sports' Vinny O'Connor:

David Moyes remains relaxed about his contract situation. It’s not the most important thing to him at the moment. Getting results and building Everton up takes precedence.

At the same time there was an admission. Talks over a new deal to replace the one that runs out this summer are in a lull. Probably a result of the owners decision to look for a buyer to become the new custodians of the club.

That’s not necessarily a problem at this point, however, as the season wears on, further uncertainty over the manager’s position is far from ideal.

At least the players have not looked at a disappointing end to the window, the owners putting the club up for sale and a manager into the final months of his contract and taken the attitude that they didn’t sign up for this.

“I think we all expect the players to focus on their job, concentrating, hopefully winning, but certainly doing the best you can on the pitch. I think the players are bought into it, they understand it,” said Moyes, suggesting it comes as no surprise.

And the end result is a team that is one of just three to remain unbeaten in the Premier League.

If that’s players and manager demonstrating their commitment to the cause then maybe it’s time the current owners offered more to the man in charge.

Everton manager David Moyes:

"There's been plenty of talks back in the summer, maybe just the way that things have gone at the moment (regarding the potential sale of the club), there is a bit of a lull, trying to get things in order.

"As I’ve said many times the most important thing for me is to try and push Everton on.

"I’m getting on with the job and trying to build Everton and keep things going on the right direction.

"Hopefully, we’ve done some half-decent things in the last year-and-a-half or so. So, we’ll see."

Man Utd off and running at the fourth time of asking

Man Utd beat West Ham 2-1 at Leigh Sports Village to collect their first WSL win of the season.

Eva Olid's side - who picked up just one point from their first three league games of 2026/27 - took the lead inside 10 minutes, when Elisabeth Terland headed in Anna Sandberg's header unchallenged.

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They might have been 2-0 up had it not been for Hammers goalkeeper Constance Picaud, who brilliantly tipped Hanna Lundkvist's header over the bar in the last action of the first half.

United came out with the bit between their teeth and had three chances in three minutes: Andrea Medina hit the bar, Jess Park shot wide and Terland forced another fingertip save from Picaud.

It took an hour for West Ham's first shot on target, which came when Estelle Cascarino ran through the middle untracked and hit a dipping drive, which Phallon Tullis-Joyce had to be alert to tip over.

With 18 minutes of the 90 to play, the excellent Medina did make it 2-0 when she collected a peach of a pass from Park and found the postage stamp after her initial shot was blocked.

But Viviane Asseyi prevented United from keeping a clean sheet when she rolled a penalty into the bottom left corner after she was tripped by Sandberg.

Dan Long

Chelsea climb as Gunners stutter again

Chelsea extended their unbeaten run in the WSL to 12 games and moved up to third in the table with a 1-0 London derby win over Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

The streak - comprising 10 wins and two draws - stretches back to February 8 and ended the Gunners' own unbeaten record, which spanned 23 games and just under 12 months.

Arsenal were the dominant force for much of the first half and Kim Little, then Mariona Caldentey, were both denied by the woodwork, but they ended the half without a single shot on target.

And they fell behind when Keira Walsh's shot from 20 yards was saved by Anneke Borbe, with the rebound fired high into the net by Alyssa Thompson.

Renee Slegers brought on Chloe Kelly, Caitlin Foord and Stina Blackstenius to freshen things up going forward for the visitors, but to no avail.

As a result, her side have failed to win for the third league game in succession, meaning they trail leaders Man City by seven points.

Dan Long

Liverpool finally beat Everton at Anfield!

Liverpool secured a 2-0 win against Everton to hand the club their first WSL Merseyside derby victory at Anfield.

Liverpool had previously lost eight of their nine WSL games played at Anfield, with five of those losses coming against Everton.

However, a looping header from Beata Olsson gave Gareth Taylor's side the perfect start in just the fourth minute.

The Reds threatened throughout but were denied a second on two occasions due to the stoic defensive performance of Ruby Mace in midfield, blocking Natalia Ramos' goal-bound shot and clearing Cornelia Kapocs' effort off the line.

Kapocs would not be denied on the second time of asking, however, as she swept home the second to seal the win with just under five minutes to go.

Patrick Rowe

Spurs surge to victory against Villa

Tottenham surged to a 4-0 win against Aston Villa following a dominant second-half performance to keep within touching distance of Manchester City at the top of the table.

The victory moves Spurs within two points of the league leaders with 10 points from their opening four games.

Villa, who sit in 13th, kept their opponents at bay before the break but the floodgates would open following Victoria Pelova's opener in the 54th minute.

The 27-year-old doubled the lead with a curling effort soon after before Caitlin Dijkstra's back post header and Cathinka Tandberg on the rebound put the game out of reach.

Birmingham rescue point against Palace in six-goal thriller

Newly-promoted Birmingham are still searching for their first WSL win after rescuing a point in a six-goal thriller against Crystal Palace at St Andrew's.

Suzu Amano came off the bench for the Blues to hit a deflected 87th-minute equaliser to salvage a point in a 3-3 draw.

Birmingham had looked on course for a first win of the season as they led 2-1 at half-time thanks to Oceane Hurtre's double.

The forward hit an opener after just 40 seconds, but Palace equalised in the 30th minute after a goalkeeper howler allowed Shanade Hopcroft's free-kick to go in.

But just three minutes later, Hurtre restored Birmingham's lead with a powerful strike from a tight angle.

Palace, however, mounted a second-half comeback as Bethany England rebounded in a 70th-minute equaliser before Lexi Lloyd-Smith completed the turnaround with a fine one-on-one finish.

But the home side battled back in a topsy-turvy encounter as Amano struck to pick up Birmingham's second point of the campaign and deny Palace their second win of the league season.

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