Just like that, the Women's Super League (WSL) season is almost halfway through as the players head off for a much-needed winter break.
It has been an exciting start to the campaign at both ends of the table Chelsea lead the way in the title race and many clubs are on the brink of an unwanted relegation battle. Elsewhere, two clubs have already parted ways with their manager and are yet to make permanent appointments.
With no WSL action until the end of January, 90 min have evaluated the first half of the season and picked the five biggest talking points from around the league…
New season, same story. Chelsea lead the way in the WSL title race and have already established themselves as strong favorites to lift the coveted trophy at the end of the campaign.
Sonia Bompastor's side are on course to make it six points in a row for the club as they boast a comfortable six-point lead at the top of the table with 10 games played. It is the biggest lead any club has had going into the winter break since the league was reformed a few years ago.
It would take a second-half slump for Chelsea to disappear from the title race, so those standing will need to be in top form in January to keep the race alive.
Chelsea, Manchester City AND Arsenal all easily advanced to the knockout rounds UEFA Women's Champions League while the group stage ended in mid-December. The Gunners, who arguably had one of the toughest groups to compete in, cruised past Italian giants Juventus to enter the round of 16.
With all three English clubs battling it out in Europe in the second half of the season, it could have a significant impact on the WSL title race. Chelsea certainly have the squad depth to compete on all fronts, but the same cannot be said for their rivals, especially with injuries mounting.
Aside from the regular four, Brighton have been the standout performers in the WSL so far this season. They have caused numerous problems against the top teams and are currently just four points off fourth place.
The appointment of Dario Vidosic has proved to be a masterstroke from the south coast club, while their summer recruitment, which has included the likes of Nikita Parris and Fran Kirby, has been extremely fruitful.
It remains to be seen whether they can maintain such high levels for another four-and-a-half months, but as far as the start goes, things couldn't have gone much better for the Seagulls.
The season of sackings arrived much earlier than expected this season as former Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall was the first managerial casualty of the season. While he wasn't exactly given the boot by the north London club, a poor run of results prompted the Swede to step down from his duties in October.
Renee Slegers has turned Arsenal into a transformed team since taking over as interim manager, but it remains to be seen which direction the club will take long-term. Elsewhere, Aston Villa parted ways with Dutchman Robert de Pauw ahead of the winter break, less than six months after appointing him to replace Carla Ward.
The Midlands club won the first leg under interim manager Shaun Goater 3-1 after beating West Ham at Villa Park. It is important that Villa get this next meeting right as they risk eroding the foundations laid under Ward and her staff.
While the title race seems somewhat predictable, the same cannot be said for the relegation battle at the other end of the table. Typically, newly promoted teams emerge as strong favorites to go straight back in, but Crystal Palace have been able to keep pace with the teams in and around them in the table.
Just four points separate 12th and seventh after 10 games, which realistically puts at least six teams in the relegation conversation. The table positions change almost every game and things can get even tighter depending on each club's January recruitment.
If a team doesn't go all out and endures a terrible run of form, the battle for survival could stretch into the final game of the season and make for a nail-biting end to the campaign.