Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor believes Hannah Hampton could lay claim to be the best goalkeeper in the world right now.
Hampton, the hero of England’s Euro 2025 triumph this summer, has carried her fine form into the new WSL season.
“It’s really important for a team like Chelsea to have one of the best goalkeepers in the world – if not the best at the moment,’ said Bompastor.
“Hannah is a great goalkeeper for many reasons. She’s a complete goalkeeper, who makes some great saves for the team, but also in possession of the ball brings a lot.
“She gives a lot of strength to the team. She’s really confident right now, not only after last season with Chelsea, but also after the summer at the Euros with England.
“I think we can see that on the pitch, and it’s always really positive for the team to have a strong goalkeeper and to have someone who brings confidence.”
The Blues will be looking for a third straight WSL win, after victories over Aston Villa and Manchester City, when they host Leicester on Sunday.
“I think this league is the most competitive league in the world,” added Bompastor.
“Every weekend you have a different challenge to face, and the other teams are, first of all, really motivated to play against us. They want to stop our run.”
At least one of the other teams with 100 per cent records will drop points on Sunday as Arsenal travel to Manchester United.
England winger Chloe Kelly missed the Gunners’ 5-1 win at West Ham last Friday through injury but could return.
“It was a little knock, but she’s been in big parts of training this week, so it looks very positive,” said boss Renee Slegers.
Arsenal will face a United side with a spring in their step after they qualified for the league phase of the Champions League for the first time by beating Norwegian side Brann 3-1 on aggregate.
“They had to come back from a 1-0 against Brann away, and then they come back to England, win against London City Lionesses, and they turned it around yesterday,” added Slegers.
“So I guess they are positive, but then that is their camp, so I don’t know exactly what’s going on there for us.
“It is focusing on ourselves and trying to prepare as well as possible with all the detail and all the things we think we can expect on Sunday, so we can control as many things as possible.”
Also in action on Sunday, Aston Villa host Liverpool and West Ham travel to Brighton.
