WSL Matchday 3 round-up: Mead says Arsenal return feels like Christmas

Cian Cheesbrough

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Beth Mead marked her return to action by setting up Arsenal's winner

Beth Mead said her return to action for Arsenal felt like Christmas after the England star came off the bench to inspire a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Aston Villa.

The Gunners were heading for their second Women's Super League defeat of the season at the Emirates before Mead entered the field in the 88th minute, for the first time since injuring her ACL in November 2022.

Katie McCabe equalised shortly after Mead's introduction before the returning forward set up Alessia Russo for the winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Mead told Sky Sports after the game: "It's been a long one. Today was like Christmas for me. I've worked really hard mentally and physically during this rehab.

"It's been a tough one especially doing it with your partner [Vivianne Miedema] who has done the same thing.

"So to get that reception from the fans, I had goosebumps. I had to keep the emotion in for that one.

"I was so happy to get that chance, especially at the Emirates where I did my knee [last November]. Get on and get on with it, I loved it being back there."

Merseyside mayhem

Megan Finnigan was delighted to see Everton cause "mayhem" in the Merseyside derby after the captain's header secured a 1-0 victory against Liverpool.

The Toffees recorded their third straight triumph at Anfield despite the Reds heading into the clash as favourites after two wins from two this term, while the away side had lost both of their games.

Finnigan, who scored a header at Liverpool for the second season running, told Sky Sports: "We wanted to cause mayhem and that's what we did.

"It's a massive three points and a big win in the derby. It gives us motivation because people would have predicted Liverpool to win. You have to turn up in the derby."

Finnigan's decisive 31st-minute effort came after an early spell of pressure from Matt Beard's hosts, who had an Missy Bo Kearns effort controversially ruled out for offside.

The aggrieved Reds boss said: "We had a perfectly good goal disallowed which is frustrating because it completely changed the dynamic of the game.

"We should have had a free-kick in the build-up to that goal. I don't think we deserved to lose the game, I think the officiating has had an impact on the result."

Megan Finnigan celebrates scoring Everton's winner at Liverpool

Taylor-made

Gareth Taylor felt Manchester City's performance in their 5-0 thrashing of Bristol City was a perfect example of how he believes football should be played.

Braces from Jill Roord and Khadija Shaw, plus Laia Aleixandri's first goal for the club, saw the Citizens cruise to victory against the newly-promoted side.

Taylor told the City website: "I said recently that the performances we've had this season, including that one today, is exactly my idea on football.

"It's a really intelligent way of playing and we need intelligence on the pitch, we have that.

"I've been really impressed with the girls, this was my idea of how the game should be played."